Vehicular combat isn't everyone's cup of tea but then I would argue racing games aren't for all either. The only exception being Mario Kart. I was terrible at racing games, something about them and me just wouldn't click. So when a younger version of me was looking through the bargain bin of a local retailer and I came across Interstate ’76 I was surprised that I ended up picking it up. Could you blame me though? It had everything: cool cars, explosions, and a promise of pure chaos—they definitely knew their audience.
Released in 1997 for PC and developed by Activision, Interstate ’76 came out at a time when vehicular combat was starting to gain momentum as its own niche. Titles like Twisted Metal were already making waves, but Interstate ’76 stood out by combining car combat with a funky 1970s setting and a surprisingly story-driven campaign.
The game casts you as Groove Champion, brother to the infamous vigilante Jade Champion. Jade was part of a growing culture of vigilantes—people who modified their cars with weapons and armour, taking to the road to fight back against the lawlessness caused by the oil crisis of an alternate 1970s America. When Jade is found dead, it's up to you as Groove to track down those responsible and take your revenge. Thankfully Jade's friends, the no-nonsense Taurus and the eccentric mechanic Skeeter, are on hand to train you up. Soon enough, you're behind the wheel of Jade's trusty Picard Piranha, ready to burn rubber and lay waste.
Interstate ’76 would be familiar to anyone who has played Twisted Metal or Vigilante 8 (the latter actually being a direct evolution of this game, originally planned as a console port before becoming its own spin-off). You’re given a car, a loadout of guns, flamethrowers, and missiles, and then pointed toward the villains of the road. Missions vary—sometimes you’re tasked with escorting an ally, sometimes you need to intercept enemies, other times it’s simply about surviving—but most of it boils down to destroying opponents before they can destroy you. There was even a multiplayer mode, though I never had the chance to try it back in the day.
The story unfolds in-game and through cutscenes. The characters are presented using mannequin-like figures with limited animation, but it’s surprisingly effective given the era. Combined with sharp writing and voice acting that oozes personality, it becomes easy to overlook the stiff presentation. The developers clearly leaned into a 70s exploitation vibe, complete with funky slang and a soundtrack that’s dripping in wah-wah guitar and bass grooves.
Graphically, it’s quite simple for its time, but the setting works in its favour. Rather than dense cityscapes, you’re driving through dusty highways, desert plains, and wide open roads. The maps are often surprisingly large, giving you space to roam and line up those perfect ambushes.
The handling of the cars, though, is a bit iffy. At times they either glide around like they’re on ice or feel like immovable blocks of concrete. This can make combat tricky, especially during the more demanding race or pursuit missions. The AI isn’t particularly clever, but it makes up for it with sheer aggression, often swarming you in ways that can feel overwhelming in the later stages. Still, when you pull off a perfect drift into a missile strike, the frustration melts away.
Interstate ’76 isn’t for everyone, but if you’re the kind of person who gets a kick out of hot-rod death machines, it delivers. Between the funky 70s atmosphere, memorable voice work, entertaining story, and pure vehicular mayhem, this is a retro gem that deserves to be remembered.