Stunts (also known as 4D Sports Driving) is a 3D racing video game developed by Distinctive Software and published by Broderbund in 1990.
These laps often feature special track areas such as loops, jumps (including over tall buildings), slalom roads and corkscrews.
The game has a relatively advanced pseudo-physics engine for its time which can simulate oversteer and understeer; the grip is also proportional to the banking of a curve.
The game features a 3D engine with flat shading and no textures, it uses polygonal graphics for most objects, including trees and road signs, there are few sprites.
Each time after running the program, players must complete a specific phrase found in the game manual before being allowed to race.
Stunts was developed by Distinctive Software, a video game design company that was established in 1982 and based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
[7] Designer Kevin P. Pickell said Stunts initially began as what he described as "a smash-up derby game in an arena".
[9] Stunts features an unrealistic game engine by design, with the idea that landing from jumps that would easily crash a real car did not sacrifice enjoyment for players.
Due to PC-9801 limitations, this version had the music synthesized and title and menu graphics changed from the previous platform's releases, although the gameplay remained mainly the same.
In FM Towns version, the opponent's photos has been changed, and Bernie Rubber character is replaced by Masahiko, a Japanese guy.
[19] From retrospective reviews, Chris Couper of the website AllGame complimented the game for its general gameplay, the ability to create your own courses and the replay function which he described as "a truly innovative touch.
"[20] In article published in Retro Gamer magazine in 2008, Tim Henderson gave an overview of Stunts saying that while its graphics had quickly dated due to a lack of texture mapping, the game remained "incredible fun to actually play.
"[21][5] He highlighted the track editor in Stunts as what gave the game its lasting appeal and giving it "a surprising amount of long-term robustness".
A fan community surrounding the game involving racing and recording replays to compete with other players and show off their skills.
In the mid-2000s, the game grew popular enough to have a yearly World Stunts Meeting where players would get together in person to throw parties and play live races.