Combat Cars Redux

Combat Cars Redux

Overview & History

Originally unleashed upon the 16-bit Sega Genesis in 1994 by MicroProse, *Combat Cars* carved a niche out of the crowded vehicular combat genre by blending top-down racing with lethal aggression. *Combat Cars Redux* acts as a modern retrospective and tribute to this cult classic, capturing the punishing difficulty and industrial aesthetic of the original cart. Eschewing traditional licensed vehicles, the game drops players into a dystopian 21st-century bloodsport where disgraced racers and mechanized mercenaries pilot rocket-propelled death machines across hazardous, zero-friction tracks.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike standard racers where speed is everything, *Combat Cars Redux* balances velocity with sheer destructive output. Players choose from a bizarre roster of drivers—ranging from cyberpunk punks to rogue androids—each piloting a distinct chassis with unique attributes like top speed, armor plating, and energy capacity. The track layouts are treacherous, littered with oil slicks, landmines, and jump ramps that require precise timing to clear. Throughout the race, drivers collect weapon power-ups floating on the asphalt, deploying homing missiles, devastating plasma mines, and temporary turbo boosts to obliterate rivals or claw their way back from last place. Victory demands aggressive driving; destroying opponent vehicles grants essential cash upgrades for better engines, sharper handling, and heavier ordnance between grueling championship circuits.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Steer vehicle and navigate menus
• Action Keys: Fire primary weapon / Activate turbo boost
• Enter: Start / Pause