Hotshot Racing: Big Boss Bundle DLC Available Now for Free

A few months ago I reviewed Hotshot Racing, you can check out that review HERE

Well the great news is that there is a FREE DLC available called the Big Boss Bundle. So that means even more bang for your buck.

As well as new tracks, there is a new game mode called "Barrel Barrage Mode". Here is a quick video of me playing this mode, and also getting one of the new Achievements "Barrel-ly Made It", check out the video, and make sure to like and subscribe. https://youtu.be/M9FE5kipdlo

Available with Xbox Game Pass, Hotshot Racing is the blisteringly fast, arcade racing game from Curve Digital, Sumo Nottingham, and Lucky Mountain games released this past September that takes the iconic arcade racing formula of the 90s and updating it for the modern generation.

Now it’s time to make your gameplay explosive with the Big Boss Bundle! With even more content for all you drift-lovers out there, the new DLC includes four colorful new tracks, a new Grand Prix championship, and a new game mode: Barrel Barrage.

Barrel Barrage Mode

Take Hotshot Racing’s trademark breakneck speed and add explosive barrels to the mix. Launched from the rear of your vehicle, the barrels explode on contact with other racers’ cars, inflicting damage and making each dash for the checkered flag more perilous. 

Boss Level Grand Prix 

You can now expand the roster of championships in Hotshot Racing with the Boss Level Grand Prix including four new high-speed circuits – 8 Ball Highway, Cargo Chaos, Frozen Freeway, and Surf City – each with visually arresting vistas to zip past. All game modes, including Barrel Barrage, are available across all tracks introduced in the Boss Level Grand Prix  

Since launch, Sumo Digital Nottingham and Lucky Mountain Games have pulled out all the stops, addressed your feedback and kept the game up to date with constant patches across all platforms. This includes increased car speed across Normal, Hard and Expert modes, improved multiplayer lobby functionality, controller detection fixes for the PC version of the game and more.

Featuring fast paced full-contact racing gameplay and visuals inspired by arcade hits of racing games past, Hotshot Racing is available now with Xbox Game Pass on Console and PC.

REVIEW: Hotshot Racing on Xbox One - By Jon Donnis

Review by Jon Donnis
I was kindly sent a copy of Hotshot Racing by Curve Digital to review.
What do you get if you take all of the best 90's arcade racers like Virtua Racing, Scud Race, Winning Run, Daytona USA and Burnout, mix them all up and add 60fps? You get Hotshot Racing.

I reviewed Formula Retro Racing last June, a similar style arcade game in that classic 90's polygon style, and I loved that game, but I think that Hotshot Racing is even better.

The graphics are great for what they are supposed to be, for all of you young gamers, these graphics are a perfect representation of the 90's arcade racer. But when done on a modern console, with a high frames per second refresh rate, everything moves so much smoother.

There are 16 tracks spread across 4 distinct areas, coastal, jungle, alpine and desert, each track can also be mirrored.

There is your classic Grand Prix mode whereby you compete in a number of races to hopefully finish atop the podium, as well as your usual Time Trial, and Exhibition race modes, but there are also a few extra game modes thrown in to, which I did not expect, there is a Cops and Robbers mode, where you play as either a Cop trying to take down the illegal racers, or you play as an illegal racer trying to evade the cops. There's also a Drive or Explode mode, in the style of the film Speed, you have to stay above a certain speed or you blow up, but after every lap the minimum speed needed is raised. These are both genuinely fun modes, and never feel like they were thrown in at the last minute. In fact I played these modes more than the basic exhibition mode when I was checking out the tracks.

As well as the single player mode, you can also have up to 4 player split screen, or 8 player online. I was unable to try the online modes at the time of writing, but I did play the split screen mode with a friend and everything ran smoothly.

There are 8 racers to choose from, and as you progress through the game and earn more money you can buy new clothes etc for the characters, you can also buy upgrades to the cars, of which each character has the choice of a different 4 cars than anyone else.

As you play through the levels you will notice that drifting is a big part of things, not only does it look and feel great to effortlessly drift around a corner, it also charges your boost, another way to charge your boost is by slip-streaming an opponent, once your boost meter is charged you can then use it to give you that much needed catch up if you fall behind a competitor.

The Good
The game looks great, it is easy to get the hang of it, and it really is a game you will come back to.

The Bad
I really cant think of anything, the game is great, perhaps more cars or more tracks, although there already is plenty.

Summary.
This is a great arcade racer, one of the best I have played in a long time. This is better than Formula Retro Racing which I gave a 8 out of 10, so this I have to give a 9/10

Hotshot Racing Release Date Announced (Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4)

Hotshot Racing will launch on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4 on 10th September worldwide and will be priced at £15.99 / €19.99 / $19.99 USD.

Developed by racing game veterans Lucky Mountain Games and Sumo Nottingham (Outrun 2, Sonic & SEGA All Stars Racing Transformed), Hotshot Racing is an all-new driving experience which revives the classic arcade gameplay of the 90s and thrusts it into the modern era. Featuring sharp retro visuals, sleek 60 frames per second gameplay on all platforms, multiple single-player championships, 8-player online game modes and 4-player local split-screen play, Hotshot Racing is sure to appeal to both veteran racers and those looking for a more casual pick-up and play experience.

“This game has been on a massive journey for the past decade from the initial concepts to Kickstarter pitch and now on the final stretch to launch,” said creative director Trevor Ley of Lucky Mountain Games. “We can’t wait to see all the in-game leaderboards light up with the fastest times from players and see multiplayer servers full to the rafters! We have plans for this game past launch as well, so it’ll be great to see what the world thinks of the game post-September 10th,” he added.

“As soon as we saw Hotshot Racing we absolutely fell in love with the concept, and working with Trevor on the game’s development has been a fruitful and joyous experience,” said Tom Turner studio production director at Sumo Nottingham. “Sumo Nottingham is known for producing some of the most beloved arcade racing experiences on the planet and we believe Hotshot Racing stands proudly side-by-side the best racing games we’ve developed."

Lucky Mountain Games, Sumo Nottingham and Curve Digital are also proud to confirm that Hotshot Racing will be available via Xbox Game Pass. All active subscribers from launch day onwards will be able to access the game on Xbox One as part of their ongoing subscription.

All those looking for a fresh injection of colourful, speed-fuelled nostalgia into their lives will be able to pre-order Hotshot Racing starting today on PC via Steam with pre-orders hitting other platforms prior to launch.

For the game’s full feature breakdown, please see below:

GAME MODES
Time Trial and Grand Prix modes cater to those who like to compete in classic racing formats, while ‘Cops and Robbers’ and ‘Drive or Explode’ modes offer exhilarating new ways to play. Each mode is available in single-player, four-player split-screen and eight-player online, while Time Trial is single-player only. Single-player modes run at a blistering 60FPS to deliver one of the fastest depictions of racing possible. Smash lap records to rise-up the global online leaderboards or download ghost laps to match your racing lines against the very best.

THE CIRCUITS
16 racing circuits provide the twists, turns and straights conducive to searingly quick racing. Take in coastal, jungle, alpine and Las Vegas desert environments, with each course modelled with the most vivid colours and blue skies for miles.

MEET THE HOTSHOTS
Keiko, Xing, Mike, Alexa, Aston, Toshiro, Marcus and Viktor - eight speed addicts that have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of being the greatest racing driver in the world.

CATCH THE DRIFT
Drifting is crucial in Hotshot Racing. Boost charges as the player drifts, so maintaining it for as long as possible is vital to preserving maximum speed throughout a race.

DRIVE OR EXPLODE
In this mode each car has a bomb attached to it. Drop below a certain speed and BOOM! The trigger speed gets faster and faster, forcing players to maintain impossibly high speeds.

COPS AND ROBBERS
Robbers evade the cops. Cops catch the robbers, and in doing so convert them to the police side, leading to an exciting test of skill for the surviving criminals.