Super Cars II

Super Cars II is a top-down racing title that, on the Atari ST, followed up on the successful first installment and expanded it with new tracks, cars, and gameplay options. The player races small, nimble vehicles along tracks full of turns, jumps, and obstacles, and can invest earned points and winnings into upgrading their car – a faster engine, better tires, or a sturdier chassis. This progressive upgrade element gave the game a sense of continuity across individual races and motivated players to keep going through the championship series. The tracks ran through varied environments from city streets to country roads and contained shortcuts that could be discovered through repeated play and used to gain an advantage over opponents.

The game's graphics on the Atari ST were colorful and clear, with a well-readable track despite the top-down view, which demanded quick orientation. The controls were straightforward, but mastering drifts and racing lines in corners required practice, giving the game a pleasant learning curve and rewarding players who practiced the tracks repeatedly. The game also featured weapon-based duels between cars, which brought it closer to zany arcade fun than to a serious racing simulation. It also supported two players competing at once, which, together with the car upgrade system, made it a popular choice for repeated gaming sessions with friends, who could also compare their accumulated winnings and upgraded cars.

Super Cars II was well received at launch for its fun factor and variety of content, and it was among the popular titles of its genre on sixteen-bit computers. It is still seen today as an enjoyable example of top-down arcade racing, combining speed, car-upgrade strategy, and a bit of chaotic fun from the combat elements, which is why it retains its playability even years after release.

Why play: For fans of lighthearted arcade racing with car upgrades and a bit of chaotic combat fun that has held up well even years after release.