An old joke goes that the first race happened only moments after the world’s second car was created. The 1994 game BC Racers playfully suggests that this event took place soon after the second wheel was invented.
Branching out from the caveman-themed Chuck Rock platformer, BC Racers launched as a bike racing game, although the inclusion of sidecars and Mario Kart-style handling blurred that distinction. On PCs, it delivered fast-paced gameplay with delightful cartoon graphics. However, when squeezed onto older hardware like the Sega 32X and Panasonic 3DO, it appeared noticeably slow, especially when compared to more advanced consoles like the Saturn and PlayStation.
Reminiscent of The Flintstones, BC Racers charmed players with pun-heavy names such as Cliff Ace and Brick Jagger. The tracks were filled with obstacles to collide with, a surprising feature given their prehistoric backdrop.
As you'd expect in any engaging caveman tale, dinosaurs were plentiful, adding an extra dose of chaos to the races. Miss a turn, and you might find a pterodactyl swooping in to rescue you from the primordial soup.
While loved by many, BC Racers was soon eclipsed by designer Toby Gard’s next creation, the legendary Tomb Raider series. Its cultural impact was akin to an asteroid’s, famously altering the landscape.
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