Classic Games Database
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Hi-Octane

Review
Also known as
Hi-Octane: The Track Fights Back ハイオクタン 狂野飙车

This futuristic combat racer challenges you to master hovercraft handling and weapon systems across nine intense tracks.

Hi-Octane was developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts in 1995. The DOS version was released in 1995, the same year as the original game's debut on PC platforms.


							Hi-Octane cover
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Platform
MS-DOS
Released
1995
Genre
Perspective
1st-person, Behind view
Size
12.21 MB
Version
AUTORUN.BAT
Rating
0 votes

About Hi-Octane

Hi-Octane is a futuristic racing title where players pilot armed hovercraft. The setting and vehicle design place it within a genre similar to games like Wipeout.

Control is handled through directional keys for steering and acceleration, with separate keys assigned for weapons and a booster system. The primary minigun has unlimited ammunition, but other resources like fuel, armor, and missiles must be collected during a race. These can be obtained from designated track areas, power-ups, or defeated opponents.

Racing dynamics are influenced by track surfaces, as vehicles will slow on dirt and water despite hovering. The nine circuits feature alternate paths and shortcuts, some containing power-ups, and certain tracks include gates or ramps that operate randomly.

Six distinct hover cars are available, categorized by their base performance. The Flexiwing and Outrider are fast, the KD-1 Speeder and Vampyr offer balanced stats, while the Berserker and Jugga are slower but heavily armed. During a race, a vehicle's weapon and booster capacities can be enhanced by collecting power-ups.

Players select from eight teams, which determine the vehicle's color: white, aqua green, purple, orange, blue, yellow, red, or black. Several game modes are offered, including single races with adjustable laps, a Championship series, and Split Screen multiplayer. Additional modes, available on certain platforms, include Clone Race against a ghost, Death Match where kills are the objective, and a Hot Seat mode for up to eight players taking turns.

Hi-Octane Screenshots

10 images
Intro sequence
Title screen
Main menu
Track selection
Ready to go!
Heavily battered
Cool jump (SuperVGA mode)
Enemy to shoot
Water road
Tunnel's end