Plane Crazy (video game)
Arcade-style plane racing with power-ups and online multiplayer.
In 1998, Inner Workings released Plane Crazy for Windows, an arcade-style racing game where players fly planes through 3D tracks. It prioritized fast action over realistic flight simulation. The game was originally destined for arcades, using a Windows-based system from Microsoft and Intel. It supported up to eight players online via Heat.net. A PlayStation version was planned but never released.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Inner Workings
- Publisher
- SegaSoft (NA); Europress (EU)
- Released
- April 1998 (EU)
- 30 September 1998 (NA)
- Remaster
- 13 October 2025
- Genre
- Racing
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Plane Crazy offers three game modes on PC: Quick Race, Ghost Race, and Championship. The player pilots a fast, cartoon-like plane built for speed across various levels, with the objective of reaching the end as fast as possible. Planes bounce or explode upon contact with structures, terrain, or other planes, then respawn with temporary invincibility. Three plane types are available: a light and fast plane that cannot take much damage, an evenly balanced plane, and a heavy plane that is slower but can take more punishment. Each plane can be upgraded and customized. Blue vortexes scattered throughout each map grant random upgrades or weapons, such as the Black Cat power-up for invincibility or Rocket Boosts that increase speed. Weapons may fire a random homing missile at an opponent, sending an "Incoming!" message; a hit can temporarily disable the plane or cause it to plummet. Each plane also has three blue torpedoes to trigger environmental hazards or open shortcuts. Online play via Heat.net supports up to eight players per server. In Championship mode, checkpoints grant additional time; running out of time causes the engine to cut out, leading to a crash and game over if the plane touches anything. Completing a level rewards cash for upgrades, with the highest payout being $1000.
Reception
The PC version received mixed reviews according to GameRankings, with comments on its high difficulty and good graphics for the time. IGN noted that reaching the end of initial courses takes numerous attempts and that players with a low tolerance for failure may give up before the game reveals its qualities. Next Generation described the game as promising something grand but ultimately disappointing.
More in Racing Games of the 1990s
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