Stunts, also known as 4D Sports Driving, is a 3D racing video game that made its mark in the gaming world back in 1990. The game was developed by Distinctive Software and published by Broderbund. The game became known for its emphasis on racing across tracks filled with stunts, extreme maneuvering, and the innovative track editor feature. It was part of the larger 4D Sports series, which includes titles like 4D Sports Tennis and 4D Sports Boxing. Let’s take a deep dive into the world of Stunts and the cheats, tips, and tricks available for this amazing racing game.
Stunts Premise
The core of Stunts revolves around racing laps on various circuits, with the primary goal of completing each lap as swiftly as possible without crashing. The game is famous for its challenging tracks that feature loops, jumps, slalom roads, corkscrews, and more. Players are confined within a large square area edged by a fence, which prevents them from leaving the track. The game offers a single-player experience where players can race against the clock or compete against AI opponents. Players can have up to six opposing computer drivers challenging them. Stunts has a selection of 11 different cars, each with the option of automatic or manual transmission.
A major part of the popularity and attraction of Stunts is its track and terrain editor, allowing players to create or modify tracks, adding a layer of customization to the game. Thanks to its advanced physics engine (for the time period), the gameplay is exciting and offers a competitive aspect and replayability. Players can choose to play against the time in a time trial format or six different opponents with different cars and specialties. It also simulates different driving conditions and car behaviors like oversteer and understeer. The game graphics use a 3D engine with polygonal graphics and flat shading, which creates a unique visual style combining the realism of 3D graphics with an arcade-like touch.
Stunts Characters
The game places a greater emphasis on the cars rather than the characters, each of whom has attributes like age, height, driving experience, expertise, and a background description. After all, it focuses primarily on the racing and track-building aspects. However, there are unique vehicles in the game that make it stand out against menu early competitors. In addition to the original list of 11 distinct cars, all listed below, the community has modded the game with many more.
Cars
- Acura NSX: Also known as the Honda NSX, the Acura NSX is an iconic sports car that combines sleek design with great performance. It has an impressive top speed of over 200 mph and a 5.3-second acceleration to 60 mph.
- Audi Quattro Sport: The Audi Quattro Sport, famous for its rally dominance in the ’80s, features a rugged design suitable for off-road conditions. It achieves a top speed of 218 mph and can get from 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The Quattro is included in the game thanks to its revolutionary all-wheel-drive system.
- Corvette ZR1: The Corvette ZR1 is the representation of American muscle in the game. It can get to a top speed of 245 mph and accelerate in exactly 5 seconds to 60 mph. The car is known for its power but not necessarily for its controllability.
- Ferrari GTO: The Ferrari GTO is a classic supercar, known for its design and speed. In the game, it reaches a top speed of 245 mph and accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The real-world counterpart of this model is one of Ferrari’s most iconic and collectible cars with prices often in the millions.
- Jaguar XJR9 IMSA: The Jaguar XJR9 IMSA is designed for racing, and while it doesn’t have the highest top speed (at 212 mph), it is one of the fastest accelerating cars in the game. The real-life Jaguar XJR9 made its mark by winning events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- Lamborghini Countach: One of the most coveted cars in history, thanks to its unique and aggressive design. In the game, Lamborghini Countach hits a top speed of 245 mph and goes from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
- Lamborghini LM-002: The Lamborghini LM-002 is an unusual combination of off-road capability and performance. However, this unique Lamborghini only has a top speed of 125 mph. Known as the Rambo Lambo, this vehicle is designed for the toughest terrain in Stunts.
- Lancia Delta Integrale: The Lancia Delta Integrale is a rally car, just like the Audi Quattro Sport. Similar in both performance and handling, it’s a great option for a variety of track surfaces.
- Porsche 962 IMSA: The Porsche 962 IMSA is built for speed and precise driving. It reaches a top speed of 212 mph and accelerates from 0-60 mph in just over 3 seconds, which is the second-best time among the default cars.
- Porsche Carrera 4: Unlike other Porsches in the game, the Porsche Carrera 4 is a little bit more mundane vehicle. This sports car has fairly average performance compared to the other cars, but a good driver can definitely compete with most of the other cars, depending on the track.
- Porsche March Indy: This Indy car from Porsche is designed for a single purpose: high-speed racing. It has a top speed of 245 mph and the best-in-game 0-60 time of 2.6 seconds. This vehicle is amazing at hitting high scores but it is also easiest to crash due to its immense speed.
Games in the Series
The 4D Sports series, including Stunts (also known as 4D Sports Driving), 4D Sports Boxing, and 4D Sports Tennis, focuses on sports simulation with 3D graphics, a feature that was uncommon at the time. Stunts, as a part of this series, shares this innovative approach to sports gaming. Here are the games in the series with the release year of each one.
- Stunts (1990)
- 4D Sports Tennis (1990)
- 4D Sports Boxing (1991)
Stunts Cheats
Stunts includes a form of copy protection but no traditional in-game cheats. Each time players start the game, they must enter a specific phrase from the game manual. Failing to do so correctly three times results in the car crashing four seconds into the next race, followed by a return to the main menu. However, thanks to online resources, passing this protection these days is easy. There are also a few glitches that we’ve decided to mention.
Completing the Race
It is possible to complete each track without going around. You can simply turn around and drive a little behind the finish line, turn back, drive through the finish line, and complete the track in just a few seconds. However, there’s protection against it, which will add a penalty to the time. This means that while you can technically finish the race in seconds, the time reflected is likely slower than the actual time going around the track half decently.
Repair the Vehicle
When you crash the vehicle during a race, this ends the race and one has to start all over. However, with the replay tool, you can rewind before the crash and continue from there. Note, though, that the high scores are protected, and completing the race this way will not give a score.
Stunts Cheat Codes FAQ
Can Stunts be played on modern computers?
Playing Stunts on modern systems is indeed possible. The original game was created for DOS and doesn’t run on a modern Windows system. However, there’s an emulator that allows players to play the game on modern systems. Simply downloading DOSBox, installing, and starting the game works as originally intended.
Does Stunts support multiplayer gameplay?
Stunts does not offer real-time multiplayer gameplay. It focuses on single-player races against AI or the clock. However, players can still compete against each other either on the same computer by trying to beat the high score or sharing their scores.
Can players save and watch replays of their races in Stunts?
Yes, Stunts allows players to save replays of their races, offering four camera views during replays and actual driving. This feature was revolutionary at the time of the release.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©CheatCC/Matti Robinson.