Super Burnout

The roar of an engine, blurred asphalt and a sense of speed that pins you into your seat – that is exactly what Super Burnout promises, one of the highest-rated arcade games on the Atari Jaguar. This motorcycle racing game bet on pure speed and smoothness and became proof that the Jaguar could deliver brisk, addictive driving action.

In terms of gameplay it is pure arcade motorcycle racing. You climb aboard a super-fast machine, tear through a series of tracks, shift gears and try to overtake rivals and beat the clock. The key is maintaining top speed, taking the bends correctly and avoiding collisions that slow you down. The game offered several circuits and game modes and relied on instantly graspable fun without complications, purely about how quickly you can reach the finish line.

Super Burnout came out for the Atari Jaguar in the mid-1990s and belongs among the titles often cited as some of the technically most accomplished racing games on the platform. At a time when the Jaguar was fighting for players' attention, smoothness and a sense of speed were exactly what the console could use to impress, and Super Burnout handled that discipline above average.

Culturally, the game is interesting for how well it fits into the tradition of arcade racing, where the point is not realistic simulation but adrenaline and immediate fun. In the Jaguar's library, which suffered from a shortage of genuinely quality titles, Super Burnout stood out as one of those the console's owners could point to with a clear conscience and say their machine could deliver a proper ride.

Today Super Burnout is a sought-after title among fans of the Atari Jaguar and collectors who appreciate its clean gameplay and technical maturity. It is a game that ages gracefully, because brisk arcade racing needs nothing more than a good sense of speed to entertain.

Why play it: For clean, fast and smooth arcade motorcycle racing that ranks among the technically best titles in the entire Atari Jaguar library.