Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Death Race’s gameplay is a faithful homage to the 1976 Exidy arcade original, reimagined here as a fan project built in DarkBASIC. You start by pressing “5” to insert virtual coins and “1” to get your engines roaring. From there, your objective is simple: drive your car(s) over pedestrians for points, listening to their unmistakable screams as they turn into tombstones.

Controls feel responsive and arcade-like, though there’s a slight learning curve to mastering the dual-vehicle option. The right car navigates with the arrow keys, while the left car is steered via “Z,” “X,” “C,” and “S.” Juggling both vehicles simultaneously rewards dexterity but can quickly become hectic during busy pedestrian crossings. The time limit adds urgency—each successful pedestrian hit grants precious extra seconds, encouraging riskier maneuvers.

What elevates the gameplay is the frantic energy. The road is a gauntlet, with tombstones gradually littering the asphalt to serve as obstacles. Each run feels unique as you weave between obstacles, maximize your point spree, and fight the clock. Although simple in concept, Death Race thrives on its pick-up-and-play appeal, offering a satisfying blend of challenge and nostalgia for arcade enthusiasts.

Graphics

Visually, Death Race opts for minimalist, pixel-art style that mirrors the limitations of its 1976 predecessor. The color palette is deliberately basic: a black road backdrop, white tombstones, and blocky cars in contrasting hues. While there are no advanced shaders or 3D models, the retro charm is undeniable.

Pedestrian sprites are tiny but recognizable, and their transformation into tombstones—complete with a brief scream animation—is both humorous and macabre. The cars themselves are simple two-color rectangles with minimal detailing, yet they convey motion effectively through smooth, consistent frame rates. Occasional flicker and aliasing are more faithful than distracting, reminding you of classic CRT arcade monitors.

Given its fan-made nature and DarkBASIC foundation, graphical polish is understandably limited. There’s no parallax scrolling or dynamic lighting, but the straightforward visuals keep the action clear, even when the screen fills with tombstones. This aesthetic might feel too rudimentary for modern gamers seeking hi-res textures, but it’s a deliberate choice that pays tribute to the original arcade era.

Story

Death Race isn’t a narrative-driven title; there’s no branching plot or character development. Instead, it relies on a single concept: drive over pedestrians for points before time runs out. This premise, though simplistic, established controversy back in the 1970s and remains provocative in this fan recreation.

The game’s dark humor emerges through its audio cues. Every pedestrian you flatten emits a high-pitched scream, and the sudden appearance of tombstones adds a tongue-in-cheek sense of morbidity. There’s a certain satirical commentary here—an undercurrent of absurdity that frames the carnage as an over-the-top arcade pastime rather than a grim act.

In the absence of a formal storyline, the “story” becomes your own high-score chase and the legacy of Exidy’s original Death Race. You’re part of an ongoing tradition of gamers who revel in simple yet controversial gameplay. This fan remake doesn’t expand on lore or characters, but it captures the raw, reckless spirit that made the prototype infamous.

Overall Experience

Death Race is best enjoyed as a bite-sized nostalgic trip rather than a deep, modern gaming experience. Its straightforward mechanics, retro visuals, and dark humor blend into a compact arcade romp. Sessions tend to last just a few minutes—enough time to chase a new personal best or challenge a friend to beat your score.

The dual-vehicle feature adds replay value, especially if you’re gaming with a buddy. Alternating control schemes keeps each run fresh, and the constant race against the clock ensures that no two plays feel identical. While there’s no online leaderboard, local high-score bragging rights will appeal to arcade purists.

As a free fan-made project, Death Race delivers more than the sum of its DarkBASIC parts. It’s a nostalgic tribute that doesn’t overstay its welcome. If you crave old-school arcade thrills, can appreciate minimalist graphics, and don’t mind a bit of macabre humor, this Death Race remake offers a fun, fleeting ride down memory lane.

Retro Replay Score

null/10