Harley-Davidson: Race Across America

If you are not old enough to own a Harley for yourself and get your taste extreme freedom at the cost of windburn and bugs in your teeth, or if windburn and bugs in your teeth are not your thing but you like the idea of extreme freedom, Harley-Davidson: Race Across America might be good for you. The game was released in 1999, but nobody ever outgrows the coolness of motorcycles, and the game is surprisingly well made from the time despite the pixelated graphics. If you like to ride, however, hop on and hang tight because this game is still one worth a mention.

Design

When you boot up the game, you are instantly hit with the classic, nostalgic retro feel of the 90s and early 2000s. With a view similar to the 3D graphics of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator and a style mimicking that of any game around the time, the most known being early versions of Street Fighter, the game brings a good taste of that era to anyone who has the desire to pick it up.

Surprising for its time as well, the player can actually alter the graphics to fit their computer (to the limit of 90s graphics, of course) and can even choose from multiple views including first person, third person, and a behind view. This lets the player choose just how immersive they wish to become inside the game.

Gameplay

The game follows the standard of any racing game, having a big race the player is working toward and small, challenger races to earn qualifications and practice on the user’s skills. One special thing about Harley-Davidson: Race Across America, is that the races take place on roads that actually exist and feature landmarks from around the United States. After topping all of the other roadkill you will be racing against, the player gets to race in the famous Sturgis Bike Rally. While racing in various parts of the nation, players can also customize their Harley and choose from five different models, to give them a unique feel of riding.

With a soundtrack of classic road songs as well, the makers of Harley-Davidson: Race Across America wanted to ensure that players got the full Harley lover experience. On top of all these unique single player features, the game also offers a multiplayer racing mode, where players are able to face off to each other over LAN or Internet connections.

Pros

• Features known roads and landmarks from real life
• Good customization for the time
• Multiplayer (to an extent)

Cons

• Old game, meaning old style, graphics, and bugs
• Many new racing games to overpower this one
• Received many bad reviews from its time