Putt-Putt Enters the Race
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Putt-Putt Enters the Race (among others) |
Putt-Putt Enters the Race is an educational adventure title created and distributed by Humongous Entertainment, debuting on January 1, 1999. This game represents the fifth entry in the Putt-Putt collection.
Production
Crafted by Humongous Entertainment, Putt-Putt Enters the Race joined the widely popular educational Putt-Putt lineup. The game was reissued in 2014 for iOS, Android, and Steam, broadening its availability to mobile devices and digital storefronts.
Plot
Putt-Putt is invited by Redline Rick to participate in the Cartown 500 race. To qualify, he must collect specific items throughout Cartown: special fuel, sturdy tires, a safety helmet for Pep, and a racing flag. Upon gathering these essentials, Putt-Putt enters the competition. Depending on his finishing position, he either receives a trophy for placing within the top three or a ribbon recognizing sportsmanship if finishing between fourth and seventh place. The game underscores values like teamwork and active involvement regardless of race results.
Most gameplay elements remain consistent with earlier series entries, except the ignition key on Putt-Putt’s dashboard, which now functions as a menu access point for saving progress, loading games, or exiting.
Promotion
The title was introduced at the 1998 Electronic Entertainment Expo held in Atlanta from May 28 to 30 at booth 5626. Ralph Giuffre, Humongous Entertainment’s executive vice president of marketing and licensing, emphasized that the game was tailored specifically for young audiences. On January 14, Humongous launched an online week-long event featuring complimentary demos, interactive games, contests, and additional promotions at Putt-Putt's Pit Stop.
In December 1999, Humongous collaborated with the Make-A-Wish Foundation for a holiday fundraising initiative where customers could contribute $10 or pay $2 and receive $8 back at select retailers. This campaign included Humongous’s top 16 software offerings, including this title, supporting charitable efforts while encouraging purchases.
Commercial performance
Data from PC Data in Reston revealed that during the week ending January 16, the game ranked fifth among educational software across 13 retail chains and secured ninth place among home-education software sales for the week ending May 1.
Critical reception
Sonic commended the game for combining enjoyment with educational content while stimulating children’s creativity. Superkids observed it is well-suited for inquisitive and patient youngsters. The Eugene Register-Guard described it as both "challenging and entertaining," while The Bryan Times praised its intuitive user interface. The Lakeland Ledger referred to it as "charming," and Ouders Online highlighted its entertaining qualities alongside a positive protagonist. The Boston Herald lauded its "smooth animation and appealing characters," noting that its complexity attracts older players as well. A critic from The Colombian valued its interactive features, mentioning a favorable "Giggle-to-Click Ratio." Star Tribune characterized it as a "high-quality" and "engaging" experience with excellent replay potential. The game also appeared in research conducted by The Mirror. The Daily Herald labeled it "above average" and "pleasant," while PC Mag recommended it as a dependable choice for children aged three to eight.
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1999 video games
- Android (operating system) games
- Classic Mac OS games
- Infogrames games
- IOS games
- Linux games
- MacOS games
- Putt-Putt (series)
- SCUMM games
- ScummVM-supported games
- Single-player video games
- Tommo games
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video game sequels
- Windows games
- Works about friendship