Like other kart racers at the time, Atari Karts features a similar pseudo-3D and gameplay style to Nintendo's 1992 SNES game Super Mario Kart (replicating that game's "Mode 7" effect). Players race around tracks as one of several colorful characters (one of which is Bentley Bear, the hero from Atari's 1983 arcade game Crystal Castles), using various power-ups and speed boosts while avoiding hazards.The studio, Miracle Designs, later made a 3D spiritual successor with the NUON game Merlin Racing, which itself was split into three PS1 games (Rascal Racers, XS Airboat Racing, and Miracle Space Race).It was later included in the 2022 compilation Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration.RacersThe game includes eight characters to start with by default, each with their own advantages and disadvantages in both speed and handling:Regius - A chicken.Skully - A skeleton.Pulpito - An octopus.Miz Tress - A human.Bentley Bear - A bear.Vulky - An alien.Ptarmigan - A snowman.The game also includes four boss characters, each of which can be unlocked by winning specific Miracle Race challenges:Haratari - An alien creature in samurai armor and the Beginner Challenge boss.Pum King - A pumpkin-headed creature and the Warrior Challenge boss.Firebug - A wolf/demon/creature and the Miracle Challenge boss.Miracle Man - A superhero and the Jaguar Aces Challenge boss.StatsEach of the 11 playable racers have different stats based on their max speed, acceleration, and handling:NameMax SpeedAccelerationSteeringRegius537Skelly345Pulpito636Miz Tress375Bentley Bear555Vulky733Ptarmigan643Haratari454Pum King768Firebug778Miracle Man868
