Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

CART Fury: Championship Racing delivers an exhilarating blend of arcade accessibility and authentic CART racing elements. From the moment you hit the throttle, the game’s tight controls and responsive handling capture the high-speed intensity of championship motorsport. You’ll feel the buzz as you jostle for position, weaving through traffic and carved turns on official CART tracks like Chicago Motor Speedway and Surfers Paradise in Australia.

The core racing experience revolves around the Boost Meter, a dynamic gauge that rewards you for clean, fast laps. Nail each circuit’s time checkpoints and you unlock Superboost—a fiery trail of raw rocket power that can catapult you ahead of rivals. The boost mechanic not only provides a thrilling adrenaline rush but also introduces a strategic layer: decide when to conserve or unleash your surge for maximum effect.

Multiple modes expand the gameplay well beyond standard races. Arcade mode drops you straight into the action with minimal fuss, while Simulator mode tightens the physics for gearheads craving realism. Season mode allows you to tackle a full championship schedule, complete with dynamic weather and varying track conditions. If you’re after bite-sized challenges, the Sub-Games menu offers Last Man Standing eliminations and high-pressure time trials to test your skills one heat at a time.

Driving 101 serves as a solid tutorial for newcomers, walking you through braking points, cornering lines, and boost management. Season veterans will appreciate the depth of the career progression: unlock 12 hidden cars, earn new liveries, and uncover behind-the-scenes cinema clips in the Danny Sullivan Theater. These extras keep you invested long after the checkered flag waves.

Graphics

The PlayStation 2’s hardware handles CART Fury’s visual presentation admirably, delivering detailed car models and varied circuit environments. Each vehicle sports crisp textures and realistic liveries, accurately reflecting teams from the 1990s CART lineup. When you’re hurtling down the back straight, you’ll notice polished reflections dancing across the chassis as sunlight glints off your machine.

Tracks are brought to life with vibrant scenery and well-defined landmarks—surfers on the Australian coastline, grandstands roaring with pixelated fans, and cityscapes framing tight street courses. Pop-in is minimal, and the draw distance holds up even during high-speed sections. Midway’s flair for arcade spectacle shows in special effects: boost flames trail convincingly, dust kicks up realistically in run-off areas, and explosion-like sparks flicker when cars collide.

Performance remains largely consistent, with frame rates that stay stable around 30fps in most scenarios. During chaotic multi-car battles, minor dips occur, but they rarely disrupt the flow of gameplay. The dynamic camera angles—switching between cockpit, bumper, and chase views—add cinematic flair without sacrificing clarity or responsiveness.

While CART Fury doesn’t aim for photorealism, its stylized approach complements the arcade roots. Colors are bold, UI elements sports-car sharp, and the combination of real-world fidelity with exaggerated speed effects keeps each race visually engaging from green flag to checkered.

Story

As a pure racing title, CART Fury doesn’t lean on narrative depth, but it weaves a loose framework through its Season mode. You step into the role of a rising rookie, competing on a global tour of high-profile circuits. Each race presents its own set of performance goals—finish in the top three, complete laps under par times, or beat rival drivers in head-to-head battles.

The Danny Sullivan Theater provides a playful narrative backdrop, revealing unlockable cinematic clips that celebrate legendary CART moments. These mini-movies add context and reward your in-game achievements, creating a sense of progression beyond mere podium finishes. Between races, you’ll experience snippets of the sport’s history, from unforgettable overtakes to classic car unveilings.

Sub-Games further embellish the storyline by pitting you against thematic challenges—Last Man Standing evokes elimination-style drama, while time trials force you to chase ghost laps and chase personal bests. Though the narrative remains light, these modes give each event a unique focus, simulating the pressures and triumphs of championship racing.

Ultimately, CART Fury’s story functions as a motivational thread. It encourages you to master each car and circuit, unlock hidden content, and build your reputation in the digital paddock. Even without a deep plot, the game’s structure ensures every race carries weight, making victories feel earned and progress tangible.

Overall Experience

CART Fury: Championship Racing strikes a solid balance between arcade thrills and CART authenticity. It’s approachable enough for newcomers—thanks to Driving 101 and accessible handling—yet offers ample depth for veterans eager to fine-tune racing lines and boost strategies. The variety of modes ensures you’ll rarely tire of chasing new records, unlocking hidden cars, or mastering the global track roster.

The audiovisual package may not rival modern simulators, but it captures the spirit of late-90s arcade racers with style and flair. Stable performance, dynamic camera work, and vibrant track designs all contribute to an immersive racing atmosphere. Boost effects and collision sparks keep the action visually satisfying, even during intense multi-car battles.

While the lack of a deep narrative might disappoint those seeking story-driven experiences, CART Fury compensates with its cinematic unlockables and career progression. The Danny Sullivan Theater clips, secret vehicle tiers, and sub-game challenges inject variety and motivation, ensuring there’s always another milestone to chase.

For racing enthusiasts on PlayStation 2, CART Fury: Championship Racing remains a standout title. Its blend of licensed tracks, recognized drivers, and Midway’s signature arcade polish makes it a worthy addition to any collection. Whether you’re craving quick pick-up-and-play thrills or diving into a full-season campaign, CART Fury delivers high-octane entertainment from green flag to checkered finish.

Retro Replay Score

6.5/10