Arcade racer with 8 tracks (plus reverse variants) and 321 fictional cars spanning different performance tiers. You pick a racing team at the start, which determines your car progression path through a Grand Prix season structure. Two handling models let you toggle between grippy arcade physics and a drift-focused style where you feather the throttle through corners to maintain speed. Gouraud shading was cutting-edge in 1998, giving cars and environments smoother lighting than the series' prior flat-shaded look. Split-screen supports two players locally. Each manufacturer in the roster has distinct visual design—some boxy, others sleek—but handling differences matter more than badges. The GP mode's branching team contracts add light career structure. If you want accessible drift mechanics without simulation fussiness, this nails that balance.
