Ocean Blaze

Ocean Blaze asks for a racer name before anything else, and that name then appears in the standings beside three rivals for the rest of the night. Each race runs for three laps around a closed circuit with four boats on the water, and the board in the corner keeps the order updated as you pass or get passed.

Circuits are chosen from a row of cards, and each one highlights its water conditions rather than its length. Sunset Archway is choppy, Arctic Glacier is glassy, and Volcanic Cavern is marked violent. That rating tells you how much the surface will fight your steering before you commit to a lap.

Throttle is on W, braking and reverse are on S, and A and D steer. Boost is on Shift or Space and recharges on its own, which makes it a rhythm rather than a reserve, while the bar in the corner shows when it is ready again. A speed readout and your last and best lap times run along the edges.

A minimap tracks every boat around the loop, which matters more than it sounds once the leader is out of sight. Between races, the shop sells boats and upgrades, and the starter cruiser you begin with is the slowest thing you will ever ride.