![]() ![]() There are a ton of great visual customisation options and liveries available, though Wreckfest is definitely screaming for some kind of rudimentary paint editor where we can spray on our own numbers and messages. They all sound as cool as they look, too, from the grumble of a 50-year-old V8 to the buzz of an angry inline-four. Each has been meticulously detailed to look like a hand-painted, hastily-welded rust bucket and – while they’re not licensed – gearheads are sure to recognise a classic Volvo 240 Estate, a Honda CR-X, or a MkI Escort when they see them. This outrageous loop is some of the best fun in the game.That credibility extends to the cars, too, which are some of the coolest vehicles I’ve seen in a racing game. There’s still plenty of wild stuff, though – like an insanely dangerous loop-the-loop track, deadly figure-8s, courses that double back on themselves, and derby bowls that are basically skate parks for cars. There’s a level of authenticity to the ovals, dirt tracks, and rallycross circuits here that really suits Wreckfest’s tone as a serious destruction derby game at heart. “Despite my love for the cult favourite FlatOut Ultimate Carnage, I’m happy Bugbear has opted for a more sanctioned, grassroots motorsport feel here in Wreckfest. Just remember: there’s no penalty for doing the same thing back to them, so have at it. Getting dive-bombed, T-boned, and unloaded in the middle of a drift is all part of the experience and forces us to race defensively and take different lines through corners. They ruined my races occasionally – but remember, that’s the point. The AI deserves a special mention as well for giving as good as it takes, and they’re tough but fallible foes. I’ve had some bad slowdown on Xbox fighting through a full field of tightly-packed RVs tearing each other to bits but, other than that, it’s been extremely stable. The sheer amount of mess left in the aftermath of races is wild, and yet almost never affects frame rate. ![]() By the end of a race it’s likely you’ll be wading through a carpet of metal shards, splintered wood, scattered tyres, and shattered concrete. That's not gone well, then.Debris from collisions is persistent, too, and every new lap lays down more evidence of the high-speed war playing out on track. Normal, which makes cars tough but not invincible, is more fun because you can take a few hits and keep going – but I do enjoy the challenge of playing with realistic damage, where just one mistake can see you limping to the finish line missing a wheel. Wreckfest actually has two damage levels you can pick from: normal and realistic. ![]() It seems just about every panel and part can be punished, pulverised, or simply prised off completely. The level of damage goes well clear of most other driving games certainly most everything this side of the realistic car-crashing sim Beam.NG Drive, which uses similar soft-body tech. Wreckfest’s wonderful soft-body dynamics mean the cars can be bruised, battered, and bent beyond recognition. “Equally smashing, of course, is the actual smashing, whether you’re careening through trackside objects or mercilessly poleaxing your opposition. There are significant differences in grip from mud or gravel to tarmac but, with Wreckfest’s well-tuned sense of weight and friction, the handling overall is smashing. There’s also a motorised couch, which handles a lot better than I’d expected it would (but probably could’ve done with some wheelie bars). The RV is probably my favourite as, despite its heft and relatively low power, it just loves being whipped sideways into ludicrous drifts. Live to race, race what you live in.The special vehicles are another story altogether, from the top-heavy double-decker cars and rollover-prone schoolbuses to the huge harvester with its distinctive rear-wheel steering. Some of the cars feel quite similar to each other but overall there are notable differences between the range of body types, from muscle to family wagons, and from sports coupes to front-wheel drive hatchbacks. Smaller European and Japanese models are nimbler but they’re also lighter, and some are prone to pitching themselves into lethal tankslappers. Hulking American muscle cars and land yachts squat back on their worn springs and need to be wrestled into heroic Hollywood powerslides and steered on the throttle. A fairly typical array of driving aids is on hand to tone it down a little, but I reckon Wreckfest is at its best when most of them are stripped away and we have to work harder behind the wheel. ![]() Play There’s actually a serious driving model beneath all of this over-the-top, elbows-out competition and conquering the cars here requires more than hope and a heavy right foot – you need some genuine skill. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |