Rally-X

The original Rally-X is a brutal game that wants to murder you.
While the game has 4 map layouts, each consisting of levels that get increasingly harder, it is very difficult to even reach the 4th map.
The sequels are easier, which makes sense, as perhaps this game was a bit much.
However, those that know me, know that I love difficult videogames. In this case, I think the difficulty is actually a good thing, as the core gameplay is quite simple and would get old quickly without the difficulty.
You could criticize some of the ways the difficulty is implemented (the game is completely unfair) but you can't claim the game is boring. The game is in fact a bit exciting.
The core gameplay is driving through mazes and collecting flags before running out of fuel. When you've collected all flags, you advance to the next level. The mazes are intricate and large, but can be memorized. Other cars will chase you and try to kill you. As you progress through the levels, enemies become more numerous, and faster (although your own speed also increases, the enemies become faster than you). The fuel runs out fast, and the flag locations are random, so you you need to both learn large mazes well to plan out your routes, while also adapting to the flag positions and the enemies. There is an important mini-map to look at while playing. Although the mini-map is huge and perhaps should be referred by another name...
The enemies behave very strangely and might chase your very obstinately, but sometimes they just do whatever they want. I don't really understand them, to be honest.
On later levels, there's so many enemies that it becomes a bit unreasonable. Your only methods for defending yourself are trying to take the most clever routes you can and using your smoke screen (which does cost precious fuel, so best to use it as seldom as you can). The enemies can crash into each other. Sometimes, two enemies can crash into each other, and hug each other for the rest of the round. Sweet mercy!
The game also spawns rocks in randomized pre-determined spots on the maps. Best to learn where these can be as the developers really love to put rocks in places that will block you out of nowhere.
The levels also contain many traps, that you simply should never go to unless the last flag(s) are there. The last level of each map is a Charanging stage. Basically a bonus stage.
Rally-X has a scoring mechanic where one of the flags is a 2x multiplier for future flags. Unfortunately, the flag cannot be identified on the map, and is mostly just luck.
Speaking of the mini-map, using it during gameplay is an integral part of playing Rally-X. Because of the high speed of the enemies and low vision in the game area, you have to keep track of them on the mini-map. Because your fuel runs out so fast, you need to look at the map to plan your route throughout the stage to gather flags as soon as the information is available to you. While playing the game, you should in fact primarily be paying attention to the map unless you don't know what's going to be happening and the enemies are visible on the screen and aren't predictably trailing behind you. In that case looking at your own car makes sense. In all other cases, you should be looking at the map and using your peripheral vision to drive through the maze and collect flags. Using the smokescreen properly takes more strategy than you'd think, too. Trying to get the most out of the fewest smokescreens is an art.
While my favorite Rally-X game would be Arrangement, I do think the first one is a neat game for players with masochistic tastes. It's a very inconsistent game difficulty-wise though, sometimes I get earlier game overs, and sometimes I make it much farther. Rally-X is a mixed bag but you gotta remember it came out 1980 and it is very playable today and honestly can be a pretty fun time. If you want a similar game which is easier, check out New Rally-X. If you want a freshened up game in the series which is tighter on all fronts other than the difficulty being too low on the early levels, check out Rally-X Arrangement from Namco Classics Collection Vol.2. That one is legit good. This one is just, kinda sorta good if you have the right appetite.

You drive a racing car in a maze and collect flags following coordinates on the mini-map(while also avoiding jarringly suicidal enemy cars along the way that hate your guts), and the lock and chase provided in the game is exhilirating. Especially enjoyable is that your car is not entirely defenseless, as it can emit gas or dust that can block enemy cars from catching up and crashing into you. Think of the enemy cars as ghosts from Pac-Man, and you can get a sense of direction the people there were aiming for(and it comes from Namco anyway).

The lock and chase mechanic provided in the minimap is the key component that makes Rally-X engaging. It also included novelties of its own, like the very first background music and bonus round. If only the game could've been more fair by making the enemy cars the same speed or at least made the viewport wider, it would lend itself to more repeated playthroughs.