Screamer

Screamer was released in 1995 for MS-DOS by the Italian developer Graffiti and published by Virgin Interactive. It was a fast-paced arcade-style racing game that stood out for its impressive visuals and pure, adrenaline-fueled gameplay. At a time when the racing genre on PC was increasingly split between simulations like NASCAR Racing or IndyCar Racing, and the more relaxed arcade action of console racers, Screamer leaned heavily into the arcade side—but with technical ambition rarely seen in its category. The game was released around the same time as EA's The Need for Speed.

The game featured six fictional tracks and a selection of sports cars that mimicked real-world models in performance and design without using official licenses. The physics were simplified, aiming for fun over realism, with tight drifting, exaggerated speeds, and AI opponents that aggressively fought for position. Screamer was clearly inspired by classics like Ridge Racer and Virtua Racing, and brought that style of high-speed racing to the PC market, which had lacked this type of title.

What truly set Screamer apart in 1995 was its cutting-edge graphics. The game supported SVGA mode at 640x480 resolution—an unusually high standard—and boasted smooth, detailed 3D environments using software rendering only. Though it lacked hardware acceleration (since 3D accelerator cards like the Voodoo 1 were just beginning to appear), the engine was well-optimized, delivering responsive gameplay on higher-end 486 or Pentium systems. The framerate and visual clarity gave Screamer a distinctive edge over many of its contemporaries.

The sound design also helped create a whole arcade experience: roaring engines, tire squeals, and intense rock-style music tracks elevated the action and emphasized the game's fast rhythm.

Screamer didn’t offer multiplayer in its first version, which was a common drawback for the time, but it was otherwise a complete package. Later entries in the series, like Screamer 2 would build on its legacy with improved physics and multiplayer support.

Critically, Screamer was well received, praised for bringing high-speed arcade racing to the PC with polish and style. While it didn't aim for the realism of Papyrus sims, it captured the thrill of racing in a vibrant, instantly accessible way. Its legacy lives on as one of the more memorable 90s PC racers—an early sign that Europe, and Italy in particular, could produce technically ambitious, globally relevant video games.

To control the car use the Cursor Keys (Up = accelerate, Down = brake) and W (gear up) + S (gear down)