png https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/2/23093/3040770-hard%20drivin%27%20%28w%29%20%5B%21%5D006.png Hard Drivin' is a cockpit-view racing game developed and released by Atari for arcades in February 1989.
One of the earliest racing games where everything is 3D-rendered, including the environment and the cars themselves, Hard Drivin' has players driving a red sports car through a looped roadway that's split into two paths: a long-winded "Speed Track" full of curves and straightaways and a fantastical "Stunt Track" with a draw-bridge jump, a banked turn, and a loop-de-loop.
Along with an attention to detail regarding the car's handling and physics, the game was known for its sit-down arcade cabinet that enhanced the simulation of driving a real car, with force feedback steering, an optional 4-speed shifter (with clutch pedal), and an "ignition key" switch for starting the car. It is also known for its cinematic "instant replay" system for car crashes and for its "Championship Lap" mechanic, which makes use of a "ghost racer" that tracks the path of the fastest racer through the lap on the machine.
It received several home conversions in 1989-1991, including the Sega Genesis, Atari Lynx (Platform), Amiga (Platform), Atari ST (Platform), Amstrad CPC (Platform), Commodore 64 (Platform), ZX Spectrum (Platform), and DOS PCs. These ports were mostly handled by Tengen (Company), while most of the computer versions were released by Domark. The original game was later included in the 2004 compilation Midway Arcade Treasures 2 (Game).
It later received two separate sequels in 1990, one for computers (Hard Drivin' II: Drive Harder) and one for arcades (Race Drivin').
