Ultra Nitro Racers for Windows

Ultra Nitro Racers lets you test your racing skills on various tracks and against different types of competition right from your PC. You can choose the best car, decide what kind of race you'd like to run, and then turn on the Nitro to blow everyone else away.

Pros

Easy controls: The controls for this game are straightforward even if they're not fully explained, with the arrow keys controlling your general direction, and two other keys, Alt and Ctrl, for Nitro and Brakes, respectively. The game also lets you know when to step on the Nitro when you first start playing, which is a nice way to ease into the dynamics of the game, especially for inexperienced players.

Types of races: There are several different types of races you can choose from in this game. The Quick Race option lets you learn the courses and get the hang of the controls before you enter real competitive races. For that, you'll want to choose Competition mode, but there is also a Time Attack option if you're more interested in maximizing your time away from other cars.

Cons

Control issues: Although they're not that complex, the controls for this game are a little clunky and over-sensitive, and you also have to hold down the Alt button to use the Nitro, which isn't clear in the instructions. That wouldn't be such an inconvenience except that only pressing Alt and then letting go pauses the game, making it harder to figure out how to use the feature correctly.

Trapped mouse: You have the option of playing this game in Windowed or fullscreen mode, but even if you opt for the Windowed selection, you won't be able to use your mouse for anything else on the screen while the game is open. Even with the game paused or from the main menu, your cursor is trapped in the game's window.

Bottom Line

Ultra Nitro Racers is a fun diversion whether you have a few minutes or a few hours to kill. And while it's not as feature-packed as some other racing games, it does work well and it's free. So if you like these types of games, it's certainly worth a try.