Smoke Screen

A defensive vehicular weapon used to obscure the vision of pursuing enemies by releasing a thick cloud of smoke.

Driving

Racing

Action

Simulation

8

Games

1992–2007

Years

5

Platforms

$16.15

Ø CIB

-2.2%

24M change

About

The Smoke Screen is a tactical defensive item featured in vehicular combat and racing games including Super Battletank 2, Auto Destruct, Antz Extreme Racing, Spy Hunter, Biker Mice From Mars, and Hot Wheels Beat That. When deployed, it releases a dense cloud behind the player's vehicle to temporarily blind opponents and disrupt their targeting systems. It is a signature defensive tool within the Spy Hunter franchise and similar action-oriented driving titles.

Originating as a core countermeasure for the G-6155 Interceptor in the classic Spy Hunter arcade entries, this defensive tool evolved significantly across subsequent generations of hardware. In the 2001 reimagining of Spy Hunter, the mechanism was upgraded to function alongside advanced counter-weapons, requiring players to balance ammunition reserves during high-speed pursuits.

The item's application varied by genre and developer design. In the military simulation Super Battletank 2 (1994), it served as a critical countermeasure to break incoming enemy radar locks. Conversely, in the combat-racing title Auto Destruct (1998) and the whimsical Antz Extreme Racing (2000), the mechanic was adapted to disrupt computer-controlled opponent AI, causing rival vehicles to lose traction or veer off course. By 2007, releases like Biker Mice From Mars and Hot Wheels Beat That standardized the weapon as a collectible track power-up. Across these diverse titles, the item maintained its legacy as a vital tool for shifting the momentum of vehicular combat, transitioning from a specialized spy gadget into a universal racing game trope.