Pulse Racer is a racing game set in 2024 in futuristic vehicles that resemble karts. They have weaponry power-ups, where the car is linked directly to the driver, allowing the player to speed up at the cost of the character's heart rate and to race on life energy instead of fuel.
The gameplay revolves around quick races, time trials, career modes, and multiplayer options. The INFINITRAX system generates custom tracks that can be saved on the hard disk, while unlocking more sliders allows for heavier customization of the maps.
Players must manage their character's health by using speed boosts carefully, as excessive use can lead to a heart attack and temporary loss of control. Characters can be pulled out to shoot beams at orbs around the track, aiding in navigation through turns and corners. Up to four players can compete offline on a split screen, with nine vehicles and fifteen tracks available.