Beetle Adventure Racing

When Beetle Adventure Racing rolled onto the Nintendo 64 in 1999, it surprised just about everyone. At first glance, it looked like a shameless bit of product placement — a racing game entirely built around the Volkswagen New Beetle. But once players actually got their hands on it, they quickly realised it was one of the console’s best racing experiences, blending arcade action, creative track design, and exploration in a way that few other racers on the system managed.

The first thing that stands out about Beetle Adventure Racing is the track design. Instead of bland, circular circuits, the game’s six massive tracks feel more like living worlds. From snowy mountain passes to dense jungles, volcanic landscapes, and city streets, each course is filled with shortcuts, alternate routes, and secrets waiting to be discovered. Exploring them feels almost like playing an adventure game, and the replay value is immense. You might spend hours just trying to find all the hidden boxes scattered around the environments, many of which contain bonuses or unlockables.

The driving itself strikes a great balance between arcade accessibility and satisfying control. Handling is smooth, and the cars feel responsive without being too twitchy. Powerslides are easy to pull off, which makes cornering fun rather than frustrating. Because the game isn’t trying to be a hardcore simulation, anyone can pick it up and enjoy it within minutes, but mastering the tracks and learning their hidden paths still provides plenty of challenge.

One of the quirks of the game, of course, is its devotion to the Volkswagen Beetle. Every car in the game is just a different variant of the New Beetle — some sportier, some faster, some tougher. It sounds like a limitation, but surprisingly, it works. The developers managed to squeeze enough variety out of the Beetle template to keep things fresh, and the novelty of racing brightly coloured Beetles through exotic locales adds to the game’s charm.

The graphics were impressive for the time. The tracks are large and detailed, with a strong sense of atmosphere. The snowy peaks actually feel cold, the lava flows are menacing, and the forests are lush and vibrant. While the N64’s hardware limitations are noticeable today, back in 1999 this was a visually striking title. The soundtrack, too, deserves praise: upbeat, energetic tunes that keep the action moving, alongside satisfying sound effects for crashes, jumps, and boosts.

Multiplayer is another highlight. With up to four players, Beetle Adventure Racing becomes a chaotic, laughter-filled party game. Beyond the standard racing, there’s also a battle mode, where players drive around arenas trying to blast each other with power-ups. It’s not as iconic as Mario Kart 64’s battle mode, but it’s still plenty of fun and gave the game an extra layer of longevity.

In the end, Beetle Adventure Racing turned what could have been a forgettable, licensed cash-grab into one of the N64’s hidden gems. Its inventive track design, fun handling, and sense of discovery made it stand out not only among N64 racers, but within the racing genre as a whole. It’s proof that sometimes the strangest ideas — like building a whole game around a single car model — can produce something genuinely memorable.

Our verdict – A quirky, exciting, and surprisingly deep racer, Beetle Adventure Racing remains a must-play for anyone exploring the N64’s library.