New Star GP

Smoke is shooting out of Sebastian Vesper's ears. I only see it on the starting grid, but Vesper is my "nemesis". That I haven't noticed until now must be infuriating. Sure enough, once the race starts, Vesper is swerving around in front of me in a frantic attempt to prevent me passing him. I do so anyway, a few corners later, but Vesper keeps close behind despite typically being one of the slower racers this season.

Arcade racing games almost always start you at the back of the pack. Your opponents are then barely sentient obstacles to be steered around as you slip into a flow state and slalom towards your inevitable victory. Not so in New Star GP. This is an arcade racer that looks at home alongside Virtua Racing, right up until it asks you what your pit strategy is going to be. Minutes later you're halfway through a Grand Prix and realising that your fuel load is making you slow, your hard tyres are carrying heavy wear, your gearbox is on the fritz, there are rain clouds on the horizon, and that you insulted Sebastian Vesper so hard in the press that his hatred for you is making his car faster.

I'm not sure there's a genre name that fits New Star GP. "Simcade" suggests it's much more of a simulation than it really is. Arcadulation gets closer, but let's not injure ourselves. New Star GP is fundamentally still as colourful and approachable as any other arcade racer, it's just one that's built layers of character and systemic consequence into every decision you make in its career mode.