Play Vitua Racing Online

Virtua Racing came out on the Sega Genesis in 1994, published by Time Warner Interactive. It was a big deal at the time because it brought a scaled down version of Sega's arcade racer home, trying to capture that early polygonal look on hardware that wasn't really built for it. It felt like a glimpse into where racing games were trying to go, even if the Genesis was starting to show its age next to newer systems.

You control one of three Formula-style race cars, aiming to finish in the top three to advance through the game's handful of courses. The signature mechanics are the split-screen two player mode, which was a rarity for a 3D racer on the console, and the use of the d-pad for very precise, satisfying drift control around the wide, sweeping corners. The game moves at a decent clip, though it's not overly difficult once you learn the tracks. It feels surprisingly responsive and smooth for what it is, making each clean lap a real accomplishment.