Ever wished that you and three of your friends could race through a jungle with dozens of different vehicles and compete to acquire a hundred different upgrades for your automobiles – all on your Game Boy Advance? Neither have I, but now that Penny Racers has been introduced, it does seem pretty tantalizing.

Penny Racers is a combination of a kart-style racer and a full-blown upgrade-your-car-or-simply-buy-another-one serious racer. Think of it as a cross between Super Off-Road, Mario Kart, and even a bit of Gran Turismo 3. The idea is pretty traditional: Race toward the championship by winning challenges and earning cash. But that’s just the beginning; each time you place third or higher, you’ll earn extra cash which can be used to purchase parts and upgrades for your vehicle. Starting to sound a bit more like Off-Road? Maybe. But get a load of this:

The game features 50 different vehicles with other 130 different interchangeable parts, a few of which include brakes, engines, tires, and even weapons (hence the Mario Kart reference). Players can race through 40 different courses, with environments ranging from deserts to tropical jungles to blue waters – the game offers everything from street tracks to off-road challenges to even watery endeavors. Build the ultimate car and then use the built-in battery save to record your progress.

As a matter of fact, you’ll have to upgrade your vehicle significantly or you won’t be able to get anywhere in the championship mode. Certain tracks force you to improve your vehicle or you’ll end up in fifth place every time. For example, you’ll need to pick up a set of dirt tires for mud tracks, and wet slicks when you end up in one of the game’s water tracks.

Apart from the game’s championship mode, there will also be numerous mini games, as well as a battle mode. Up to four players can take part in the high-octane racing action.

Penny Racers is currently slated for a European release only... but since Game Boy Advances have no territorial lockout, importing isn't a big deal. We’ll have more on Penny Racers as it becomes available.