Rollcage

When it comes to late-'90s racing games, Rollcage stands out as a wild, high-octane experience that pushed both gameplay and visual design to new extremes. Developed by Attention to Detail and published by Psygnosis (famous for Wipeout), Rollcage took the arcade racing genre and flipped it—literally—on its head.

At the heart of Rollcage is its unique vehicle physics. The cars—more like hybrid tank racers—have massive wheels and are designed to flip, bounce, and continue driving at full speed regardless of which side they're on. This means crashes and flips don't break momentum, adding to the frantic pace and non-stop action. You can drive on walls, ceilings, through destructible environments, and even leap through building facades without a hitch.

Tracks are designed with this in mind: inverted roads, twisting tunnels, and gravity-defying loops are common. The sense of speed is incredible, often enhanced by motion blur effects and detailed background environments that whip by in a blur.

Combat plays a big role in Rollcage. The game features a variety of pick-ups, including homing missiles, ice blasts, earthquake shockwaves, and speed boosts. It's not just about being fast—it's about outgunning your opponents. Many of the tracks are destructible, and you can use weapons to collapse parts of the environment and block rivals. It adds a strategic layer to the races, similar to Mario Kart, but in a more gritty, futuristic setting.

For 1999, Rollcage looked phenomenal. It made the most of the PlayStation’s hardware and looked even better on PC with hardware acceleration. The frame rate was fast and smooth, which was critical for a game moving at such speeds.

The soundtrack is worth highlighting, too—it features licensed drum & bass and techno tracks from artists like Fatboy Slim and EZ Rollers, giving the game an edgy, club-like vibe that perfectly matches its futuristic setting.

Rollcage is tough. The AI opponents are relentless and the physics-heavy gameplay means it's easy to lose control if you aren't careful. Mastering the handling and learning the best racing lines through the game’s twisting courses is key to winning.