History VideoGame / Interstate76

* AlternateHistory: It's the gas crisis in TheSeventies, [[CrapsackWorld only things are so bad]] that the criminals are using {{Weaponized Car}}s to raid gas stations for fuel, and the cops [[PoliceAreUseless can't]] or [[DirtyCop won't]] give a damn. [[VigilanteMan So ordinary folks must take matters into their own hands]].

[[ScreeningTheCall Groove never wanted to be a hero.]] He just wanted to race, but even in that, he lived in the shadow of his sister Jade, who is more or less described as Daisy Duke with a set of [[VideoGame/DukeNukem steel spheres.]] That is, [[PosthumousCharacter until Jade was murdered in a junkyard]] outside Lubbock, Texas. Taurus, certified [[AfroAsskicker afro-sporting]] badass and Jade's former teammate, introduces Groove to the secret life his sister led as an [[VigilanteMan auto-vigilante]] and takes him under his wing as Groove sets out to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge find his sister's killer and avenge her death.]]

Sound like a standard old-school action film to you? [[{{Troperiffic}} Well, that's because it is.]] The whole game is presented in the style of a [[TheSeventies '70s-era]] action TV series, replete with [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed made-up actor names]] arrayed over a {{Montage}} intro, a ''Series/CharliesAngels''-inspired logo and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome one hell of a funkalicious soundtrack]] (which, bizarrely enough, was composed by Arion Salazar, longtime bassist for Music/ThirdEyeBlind).

Later received a stand-alone expansion called the Nitro Pack, which introduced a series of interconnected missions that took place over the course of several years leading up to the events of the original game, new cars, new weapons and new environments, as well as a [[spoiler: secret playable villain.]]

* AbnormalAmmo: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]], no [[EnergyWeapon lasers]] here folks. Not until the sequel, anyway. However, in addition to landmines, {{oil slick}}s and ''napalm'', one of the available droppables is ''cinderblocks''. Unique in that they deal damage directly to a car's chassis rather then its armor.

* AlternateHistory: It's the gas crisis in TheSeventies, [[CrapSackWorld only things are so bad]] that the criminals are using {{Weaponized Car}}s to raid gas stations for fuel, and the cops [[PoliceAreUseless can't]] or [[DirtyCop won't]] give a damn. [[VigilanteMan So ordinary folks must take matters into their own hands]].
* AncestralWeapon: Groove inherits Jade's screaming orange 1970 [[BlandNameProduct Picard Piranha.]] Qualifies as a CoolCar what with Jade's aftermarket modifications and... well, [[WeaponizedCar it has guns on it.]]

* BadAssCrew: Mess with Groove, Taurus, or Skeeter, and the [[TrueCompanions other two will make sure]] you'll end up looking like a [[EveryCarIsAPinto Pinto]] after TheWarSequence.
* BadAssDriver: ''Everybody.''
* BadAssMoustache: Groove rocks TheGunslinger look. Malochio's might count, though his is closer to [[Series/{{Jeopardy}} Alex Trebek.]]

* CloudCuckooLander: Skeeter, although he occasionally says [[ObfuscatingStupidity some pretty deep shit.]] The second quote above is his CatchPhrase. Groove also exhibits this from time to time.

* CoolCar: The [[BlandNameProduct Picard Piranha]] you drive in the single player is a prime candidate. Virtually every car in this game is a WeaponizedCar and even the {{Mooks}} have custom rides, [[AvertedTrope averting]] MookMobile.

** It's later revealed that [[DeadAllAlong Patriot was killed by Jade years ago.]] Sharp-eyed players will notice that his name appears next to a picture of the model of car he drives in Jade's old AVG notebook, and it's been crossed out.

** Amusingly enough, you can actually drive a Pinto in this game, in the guise of the Phaedra Pony... [[TheAllegedCar and it's an absolute piece of crap.]] To reinforce this, a lot of {{Mooks}} in the early levels drive these. No such luck later. Can result in CherryTapping if you use one successfully in multiplayer.

* JiveTurkey: Auto-Mercenary Disco Kat oozes this trope. Surprisingly, [[AvertedTrope averted]] in the case of Taurus, making him less of a SoulBrotha and more of a regular ScaryBlackMan. He can get a bit sassy at times, but doesn't use much slang.

* NightmareSequence: There are a handful of odd [[CutScene cutscenes]] wherein [[spoiler: Malochio]] does some off-screen JustBetweenYouAndMe with the VoiceOfTheLegion, with a nondescript reddish vortex for a background. It's unclear whether this is actually Groove dreaming, or it's [[spoiler: Malochio]] [[ExpositionFairy expositing ]] [[BreakingTheFourthWall directly at the player,]] as there's some details mentioned that Groove [[MindScrew couldn't possibly know for fact, and yet are.]] And then of course, there's the entire business with [[DeadAllAlong Patriot...]]

* NoFairCheating: The game actually has a built-in cheat menu with options such as [[GodMode invulnerability]] and [[BottomlessMagazines unlimited ammo,]] but using any of these besides the "arcade physics" (makes your car immediately flip over if you land on your roof, instead of blowing up) option prevents you from progressing through the campaign.

* NoKillLikeOverkill: [[spoiler: When Groove finally takes his revenge on a trapped Malochio, he does it point-blank with his .45 pistol ..... ''thirteen times''.]] Of course, it's possible it's the same couple of shots, just replayed from a different angle to up the satisfaction.
* NonStandardGameOver: Unlike ''[=MechWarrior=] 2'', where you could stomp off the edge of the map into infinity, in this game if you drive down a road off the map too far, Groove will remark that he isn't heading the right way. If you keep going, the mission ends with Groove driving off into the distance thinking aloud that he'd like a popsicle or Taurus [[WhatTheHellHero asking him where the hell he's going.]]

* VideoWills: The training mission features an audio tape made by Jade, to be played in the event of her death. She bequeaths her car to her brother, tells him the basics of car combat, and [[TearJerker says her goodbyes.]]

* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: Many characters, primarily Taurus. However, since this is TheSeventies, it's not high-speed internet but good old Citizen's Band Radio. Everyone has a callsign, Groove is "Swinger", Skeeter is [[MeaningfulName "Monkeywrench"]] and Taurus is [[IncrediblyLamePun "Stampede"]]. Jade went by the callsign "Vixen" before she was killed.

!!'''The expansion provides [[IncrediblyLamePun Nitro-Packed]] examples of:'''

* AxCrazy: Most of the creepers in this game are less straight-up evil then [[PsychoForHire batshit insane.]] Skeeter exhibits some of this in his {{Bond One Liner}}s. As his description in the character select menu says, "Should be medicated... but isn't."

* EvilArmy: Several missions pit the vigilantes against US Army forces in armed Jeeps, referred to as [[Film/FullMetalJacket Gomers.]] Something is also implied to be "going down" with the army, evidenced by the presence of a military quarantine in one mission being some sort of front. This is not further explored, [[WildMassGuessing but it might have to do]] with the [[KillSat LARS superweapon]] in the sequel.

* ForeShadowing: Many missions seem to portray the dwindling power of the vigilantes and the rising strength of autovillains, who are apparently being recruited for some sort of army. In particular, the mission "Two Days Before" (which quite literally takes place two days before the original game) involves a raid on a munitions dump strongly implied to have been owned by Antonio Malochio.

* IncrediblyLamePun: One auto-vigilante goes by the CodeName "Hell Toupee."

* SinisterMinister: Autovillain Preacher. He and his goons are found terrorizing the defenseless town of Claremont in the mission "Peace Be With You." Spouts [[Literature/TheBible bibilical verse.]] Said to have murdered his own family. May be BackFromTheDead.

* AbnormalAmmo: The sequel gives us [[IncrediblyLamePun Karpoons]], car-mounted harpoon launchers that have various effects on enemy vehicles. One fries their electronics and shuts off their car, while another fills the interior with gas, forcing them to exit the vehicle.
* AbsurdlySpaciousSewer: Also without a doubt the game's ScrappyLevel. Features federal Agents who have been convinced that our heroes are a bunch of DirtyCommunists.

* BluntMetaphorsTrauma: Hinckley is a bit of a CloudCuckooLander, and talks a bit like Creator/ChristopherWalken.
* BookEnds: What happens in Vegas...

* DarkAndTroubledPast: Taurus again. The first time we see him, it's a nightmare about Jade's death, [[ContinuityNod echoing the first game's intro.]] He lets out a BigNo and then [[CatapultNightmare leaps awake.]]

* ForTheEvulz: It's not really clear what the BigBad is trying to do [[OnlyInItForTheMoney beyond make a lot of money.]]

* GoshDangItToHeck: The pseudo-swearing in this game may seem a bit odd compared to its predecessor. As it turns out, [[DummiedOut the original dialogue]] [[{{Bowdlerise}} was much cruder.]] Applying the optional "language patch" turns the whole damn game into one big incredibly vicious ClusterFBomb.

* GreaseMonkey: It just wouldn't be the same without good ole' Skeeter. He's traded in his Dodge Van for a 1940 pickup and comes off as more as more of just a dumb hick then a CrouchingMoronHiddenBadAss, but he still fixes the cars and can fight as well as anybody else. Think ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'''s Ellis plus about ten years.

* HumongousMecha: [[spoiler:See that ChekhovsGun entry up there? Well, it's the FinalBoss. And it's piloted by [[PresidentEvil Ronald Reagan).]]]]

* KillSat: LARS, an orbital laser cannon that was apparently an outgrowth of the Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as "StarWars." In multiplayer, an uplink dish can be equipped on the roof of your car, essentially precluding you from mounting any other roof weapons but enabling you to summon LARS at will.
* LampshadeHanging: Taurus comments on how one level is suspiciously similar to [[StarWars a scene from a popular science-fiction movie]]:

* LighterAndSofter: The tone of this game is decidedly less dark then the first game. Another possible cause of TheyChangedItNowItSucks.)

* OutRunTheFireBall: The escape from the abandoned mine.
* PreAssKickingOneLiner: Tired of being chased by creepers, [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Taurus delivers a truly epic speech culminating in the threat of him crushing their very souls with his bare hands.]] They promptly run away afterwards. As it turns out, they were made aware of LARS being deployed in the area and simply retreated. Doesn't make Taurus' speech any less epic though. Bonus points for when he tells [[spoiler: PresidentEvil]] that he's going to spank his white ass from here to the [[MonumentalDamage Washington Monument.]]

* RetiredBadAss: Taurus gave up this circus a long time ago. Skye drags him back to help look for Groove, who has gone missing at the beginning of the game.

* ShutUpHannibal: Taurus is quite fed up with Rank Dick's [[JerkAss rampant uncouth behavior.]]
* [[spoiler:PresidentEvil: Ronald Reagan as a JerkAss MotorMouth. He is implied to have had various important figures assassinated, including [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp Leonid Brezhnev]] and [[Music/TheBeatles John Lennon.]] Taurus non-fatally shooting him results in a hilarious, long-winded speech on his part. [[HistoricalInJoke The event is publicly blamed on John Hinckley Jr.]]]]

''Interstate '76'' is a VehicularCombat simulation developed and published by Activision in 1997. It used the same graphics engine as an earlier Activision title, ''[[MechWarrior MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat]]''; when they finished that game, the team started to wonder what else they could do with the engine. Set in the American Southwest during the oil crisis of TheSeventies, the game puts you in the bellbottoms, tinted aviators and blonde handlebar mustache of one [[AwesomeMcCoolname Groove Champion]], son of a two-time stock car championship driver and a former Miss America.

The game billed itself as an auto-combat ''simulator,'' and it went long way towards living up to that claim. The game featured a range of authentically-rendered seventies-era American vehicles ([[BlandNameProduct fictionalized names notwithstanding]]), with all the associated roaring engines, fishtailing, and cornering like a garbage barge involved. It also had an intricate location-based damage system (borrowed from ''MechWarrior'') and you had to salvage weapons and car parts from the field between missions.

* HumongousMecha: As a nod to the [[MechWarrior preceding game]], the characters stop at a diner whose sign/mascot is a giant Seventies-style robot. Skeeter seems fascinated by it.

* NonStandardGameOver: Unlike ''MechWarrior 2'', where you could stomp off the edge of the map into infinity, in this game if you drive down a road off the map too far, Groove will remark that he isn't heading the right way. If you keep going, the mission ends with Groove driving off into the distance thinking aloud that he'd like a popsicle or Taurus [[WhatTheHellHero asking him where the hell he's going.]]

* IdiosyncraticDifficultyLevels: Wimp, Champ and BadAss.

[[ScreeningTheCall Groove never wanted to be a hero.]] He just wanted to race, but even in that, he lived in the shadow of his sister Jade, who is more or less described as Daisy Duke with a set of [[VideoGame/DukeNukem steel spheres.]] That is, [[PosthumousCharacter until Jade was murdered in a junkyard]] outside Lubbock, Texas. Taurus, certified [[AfroAsskicker afro-sporting]] BadAss and Jade's former teammate, introduces Groove to the secret life his sister led as an [[VigilanteMan auto-vigilante]] and takes him under his wing as Groove sets out to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge find his sister's killer and avenge her death.]]

* BadAss
** CoolShades: Groove, Taurus and Malochio.
** CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass: Skeeter, who is actually a competent driver and auto-combatant. He is also a complete [[CloudCuckooLander space cadet]] and possibly narcoleptic.
** BadAssCrew: Mess with Groove, Taurus, or Skeeter, and the [[TrueCompanions other two will make sure]] you'll end up looking like a [[EveryCarIsAPinto Pinto]] after TheWarSequence.
** BadAssDriver: ''Everybody.''
** BadAssMoustache: Groove rocks TheGunslinger look. Malochio's might count, though his is closer to [[Series/{{Jeopardy}} Alex Trebek.]]

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Taurus suffers this at the hands of Malochio's goons. Groove saves him from becoming TheObiWan (pulling his almost-lifeless body from his bullet-ridden wreck of a Jefferson Sovereign), but he loses his car and is forced to ride with Skeeter in the van for the rest of the game. [[ItsUpToYou You are basically on your own from then on.]]

Sound like a standard old-school action film to you? [[{{Troperiffic}} Well, that's because it is.]] The whole game is presented in the style of a [[TheSeventies '70s-era]] action TV series, replete with [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed made-up actor names]] arrayed over a {{Montage}} intro, a ''Series/CharliesAngels''-inspired logo and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome one hell of a funkalicious soundtrack]] (which, [[HeyItsThatGuy bizarrely enough,]] was composed by Arion Salazar, longtime bassist for Music/ThirdEyeBlind).

** With one exception, as revealed in the Nitro Pack: ''[[spoiler:LoveStory]]''.

* NoKillLikeOverkill: [[spoiler: When Groove finally takes his revenge on a trapped Malochio, he does it point-blank with his .45 pistol ..... ''thirteen times''.]]

* BondOneLiner: Groove sometimes utters a pithy quip upon destroying an enemy car. This also happens in the Nitro Pack with Taurus, Jade and Skeeter.

* DeadpanSnarker: Groove is a ''motherlode'' of snark. Listen to him carefully whenever he defeats a creeper. Particularly the corrup cops: ''"I've been drinking! I'VE BEEN DRINKING!"'' and ''"Do you know how fast you were going?"'' are but the tip of the iceberg.

* TheAllegedCar: The AMC Gremlin (ABX Leprechaun) and Ford Pinto (Phaedra Pony) are both driveable, and [[CannonFodder highly expendable]]

-> "Somewhere in the Southwest..."

-> "It is 1976. A [[AlternateHistory different 1976...]]"

-> "''Never'' get out of the car."

* EvilArmy: Several missions pit the vigilantes against US Army forces in armed Jeeps, referred to as [[FullMetalJacket Gomers.]] Something is also implied to be "going down" with the army, evidenced by the presence of a military quarantine in one mission being some sort of front. This is not further explored, [[WildMassGuessing but it might have to do]] with the [[KillSat LARS superweapon]] in the sequel.

* MoreDakka: Some cars have more weapon mounts then others. The Courcheval Manta, for instance, has two forward mounts and two on top, making it possible to have four fire-linked machine guns or [[MoreDakka automatic cannons.]] One of which can be ''[[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill turreted]].''

Sound like a standard old-school action film to you? [[{{Troperiffic}} Well, that's because it is.]] The whole game is presented in the style of a [[TheSeventies '70s-era]] action TV series, replete with [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed made-up actor names]] arrayed over a {{Montage}} intro, a ''Series/CharliesAngels''-inspired logo and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome one hell of a funkalicious soundtrack]] (which, [[HeyItsThatGuy bizarrely enough,]] was composed by Arion Salazar, longtime bassist for ThirdEyeBlind).

* ArtficialStupidity: High framerates (caused by modern hardware) break the game's singleplayer AI, causing them to violently swing their steering wheels back and forth every frame and drive at 10kph.

Sound like a [[SeenItAMillionTimes standard old-school action film to you?]] [[{{Troperiffic}} Well, that's because it is.]] The whole game is presented in the style of a [[TheSeventies '70s-era]] action TV series, replete with [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed made-up actor names]] arrayed over a {{Montage}} intro, a ''Series/CharliesAngels''-inspired logo and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome one hell of a funkalicious soundtrack]] (which, [[HeyItsThatGuy bizarrely enough,]] was composed by Arion Salazar, longtime bassist for ThirdEyeBlind).

* GeraldFord: He's mentioned briefly during an in game radio broadcast as taking part in Bicentennial celebrations.

Sound like a [[SeenItAMillionTimes standard old-school action film to you?]] [[{{Troperiffic}} Well, that's because it is.]] The whole game is presented in the style of a [[TheSeventies '70s-era]] action TV series, replete with [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed made-up actor names]] arrayed over a {{Montage}} intro, a ''CharliesAngels''-inspired logo and [[CrowningMusicOfAwesome one hell of a funkalicious soundtrack]] (which, [[HeyItsThatGuy bizarrely enough,]] was composed by Arion Salazar, longtime bassist for ThirdEyeBlind).

* TalkingToHimself: One mission has Skeeter battle Natty Dread and the two actually trade comments. Both characters are voiced by TomKane.

See also ''{{Vigilante 8}}'', a SpiritualSuccessor (that was arcade-ish from the start) also by Activision.

* AbnormalAmmo: Mostly [[AvertedTrope averted]], no [[EnergyWeapon lasers]] here folks. Not until the sequel, anyway. However, in addition to landmines, [[OilSlick oil slicks]] and ''napalm'', one of the available droppables is ''cinderblocks''. Unique in that they deal damage directly to a car's chassis rather then its armor.

* AlternateHistory: It's the gas crisis in TheSeventies, [[CrapSackWorld only things are so bad]] that the criminals are using [[WeaponizedCar Weaponized Cars]] to raid gas stations for fuel, and the cops [[PoliceAreUseless can't]] or [[DirtyCop won't]] give a damn. [[VigilanteMan So ordinary folks must take matters into their own hands]].

--> [[spoiler: [[TheReveal '''Malochio:''' Are you surprised?]]]]
* BigBrotherMentor: Taurus clearly has a soft spot for Groove, him being the little brother of his dead love. Even if he talks to him like SamuelLJackson [[ClusterFBomb on a bad day]].

* CallForward: "Damn, I'm so good they should name a car after me." - Taurus.

* CupHolders: An optional extra. [[TruthInTelevision Stated in the manual to eliminate the annoyance of having to hold your drink in one hand while you drive.]] Actually does confer an in-game benefit in that it protects you from other players sidearms in multiplayer.

--> '''Skeeter''': Jade, she built a good car.
--> '''Groove''': Yeah.
--> '''Skeeter''': But she got ''out''.
--> '''Groove''': [[FlatWhat What?]]
--> '''Skeeter''': [[ArcWords Never get outta the car.]]

* KillItWithFire: There are flamethrowers available, [[VideogameFlamethrowersSuck but their short range limits their usefulness.]] The napalm dropper weapon, however, is very effective at outright destroying pursuing Mooks, where oil slicks and landmines tend to simply knock them off course.
* LampShadeHanging: The following exchange lampshades ''the entire game.''
--> '''Groove''': I dunno man, this whole thing feels like a movie.
--> '''Taurus''': I ''hate'' movies.

* NoKillLikeOverkill: [[spoiler: When Groove finally takes his revenge on a trapped Malochio, he does it point-blank with his .45 pistol ..... ''thirteen times''. Meaning he loaded a full magazine ''and'' put one in the chamber before he let him have it.]]

--> '''Groove''': Why?
--> '''Malochio''': ''Muh-ney''. They pay me well, young Champion.

--> '''Taurus''': What was that?!
--> '''Groove''': (offhand) Flying Saucer.
--> '''Taurus''': (calm) Oh.

* AxCrazy: Most of the creepers in this game are less straight-up evil then [[PsychoForHire batshit insane.]] Skeeter exhibits some of this in his [[BondOneLiner Bond One Liners.]] As his description in the character select menu says, "Should be medicated... but isn't."

--> '''Skeeter''': You got out.
--> '''Taurus''': Come again?
--> '''Skeeter''': [[ArcWords Never get outta the car.]]

* [[MissionPackSequel Mission Pack Prequel]]
* NotQuiteDead: Several Autovillains in this game are implied to have had previous entanglements with the protagonists, often resulting in their apparent deaths. In addition, [[spoiler: one Natty Dread mission involves hunting down and apparently killing Taurus, who appears in the end CutScene of the mission to announce he is NotQuiteDead.]]

* {{Area51}}: Called Area 49 in-game, the approach to the site is ripped straight from the Death Star Trench Run in the original ''StarWars'', complete with an unnamed, gravely-voiced Autovillain who has VaderBreath. Area 49's FinalBoss is a twin-rotor helicopter disguised as a flying saucer.
* BluntMetaphorsTrauma: Hinckley is a bit of a CloudCuckooLander, and talks a bit like ChristopherWalken.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Arcade-style controls, simplified damage and salvage systems, and other changes all led people to generally dislike this title in comparison to its predecessor. [[FranchiseKiller It is likely this game killed the series.]]

* HeyItsThatVoice: GregEagles voices Taurus, whom you may recognize as Peter Stillman and the DARPA Chief from the Franchise/MetalGear series, and Sergeant Morris from ''VideoGame/QuakeIV''. TomKane's voice for Callisto is basically [[ThePowerpuffGirls Professor Utonium]] with a Scottish brogue; he's a bit less recognizable as Skeeter. And of course, there's John "[[Franchise/StarTrek Q]]" [=DeLancie=] as Malochio.

* MyNameIsNotDurwood: Taurus is getting pretty sick of being called "Mr. Tortoise."

* NoKillLikeOverkill: [[spoiler: When Groove finally takes his revenge on a trapped Malochio, he does it point-blank with his .45 pistol ..... ''thirteen times''.]]

[[ScreeningTheCall Groove never wanted to be a hero.]] He just wanted to race, but even in that, he lived in the shadow of his sister Jade, whom is more or less described as Daisy Duke with a set of [[VideoGame/DukeNukem steel spheres.]] That is, [[PosthumousCharacter until Jade was murdered in a junkyard]] outside Lubbock, Texas. Taurus, certified [[AfroAsskicker afro-sporting]] BadAss and Jade's former teammate, introduces Groove to the secret life his sister led as an [[VigilanteMan auto-vigilante]] and takes him under his wing as Groove sets out to [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge find his sister's killer and avenge her death.]]

* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Malochio's cool demeanor cracks when Groove challenges him, and is gone by the end cutscene.]]

* TheVietnamWar: Malochio served two tours of duty, and is stated in the manual to have signed up for the second one because [[SociopathicSoldier he ''liked'' it]]. He also had some dealings with Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge.