Turbo Street

A street racing game with an upgrade economy attached. Races are run on neon-lit city circuits, drifting and close passes pay, and the winnings go into the car — so progression is a loop where the race funds the upgrade that makes the next race possible. The upgrades are specific enough to make decisions real. Acceleration, top speed, handling and nitrous each matter on different circuits, and a car built for straight-line speed loses on a tight street course to one with grip. The game is reasonably honest about signalling which is lacking: a race lost in the corners is a handling problem, and one lost on the straights is not. Drifting is the main earning mechanic, which means the fastest line and the most profitable line diverge — holding a long slide through a corner costs you a tenth and pays for the upgrade you need. Races take a couple of minutes, the career runs for several sessions, and the presentation is a well-executed night-time city. It plays with four inputs on a keyboard or on-screen controls and needs a moderately capable machine.