ESPN Speed World on the Genesis is one of those early '90s racers that somehow makes blocky cars feel fast as hell. You pick from a handful of rides—nothing fancy, just different handling styles—and then it's straight into tight, technical tracks where every missed turn sends you skidding into the grass. The AI drivers actually put up a fight, nudging you off the racing line if you're not careful.

What surprised me was how much the little details matter. Drafting behind opponents gives you a speed boost (a nice touch for the era), and the tracks have these sneaky alternate routes that shave off precious seconds. The music’s pure adrenaline-pumping synth, exactly what you’d want from a game where you’re basically pretending to be an ESPN broadcast. It’s rough around the edges now, but back then? This felt like the future of racing games.