Windy Lights Demo

Arcade racing games can have tremendous success if they are designed the right way, since you only need to remember names like NFS: Underground and a few others to realize how much potential there is for the genre. On the other hand, it’s quite easy to go overboard as well, which is not something gamers enjoy at all, especially in racing.

Windy Lights is a 2D racing game with a classic side view and simple gameplay, but which has the potential to keep you busy for a few hours if you have nothing better to do. Although the mechanics are simple and pretty straightforward, the challenge can be daunting sometimes. Moreover, the AI is also very resourceful, which complicates things even more.

In short, you control a vehicle with sails and wheels that must win races by going from one checkpoint to the next faster than the other ships. Since the game is in two dimensions only, the two check points are in opposite sides of the screen, which means that you have to reverse direction whenever you get to one side of the level.

The best part about the game are the power-ups you can pick up along the way, such as pulse rifles, rockets, or even entire thunderstorms that can discharge lightning into every opposing vehicle. Obviously, the AI can take advantage of these power-ups as well, so it’s always difficult to stay ahead for very long until someone makes a move to slow you down considerably.

As for the graphics, the 2D engine is obviously not a marvel of engineering, but the actual artwork can be pretty mesmerizing sometimes, especially when it comes to the backgrounds that scroll in front of your eyes. The special effects for the power-ups look pretty nice as well, and the level design is good enough to feel like a new experience with every new stage.

Even if it appears to lack content as of right now, Windy Lights is a very engaging racing game, not to mention the fact that it’s pretty difficult as well. Hence, if you are up for something to put your racing skills to the test, this may very well be one of your possible options.