This.... this game is brutal. Its magnificent, a bit frustrating and overwhelming but at the same time the pure joy and adrenaline injection I had this year.
Its a simple arcade racing game, with little to no interface, and a brown (well known as "piss filter" of ps3 times, remind you the game is from 2010), but the twist is what makes is standing out of almost every other racing game out there. Instead of nitro, you get energy bars, that could be used as triggers for explosions on the map, as the whole road is packed with freaking tons of explosives, to create new obstacles for opponents, blow them up, or even change the route completely by detonating the biggest objects on the map. It is spectacular, unique and not very well known, that's why i strongly suggest to try it out.
- the cars (and music) are not licensed. From one perspective it means the game will never be delisted in the way old NFS's did, but the original cars are not iconic (still resemble some details from real ones, I found out DB9, Bugatti Veyron, etc, but only in appearance)
- the music (and especially main theme) is good, but the problem is that its not enough. Because when you listening to a nice track once in a while - is ok, but when you listen to it on all 12 races and cant win some of them for some time - and the track is not swapping - it could trigger some people
- the constant comeback mechanics and rubberbanding. You mostly cant overtake all and expect to drive away from them, since the 1st place is most vulnerable, as you will face all the explosions and events with your face first, which leads to some strange logics and moves like slow down a bit just to destroy your opponents right after they overtake you
- Vixen and Raptor. It will make sense, believe me
- graphical artifacts (maybe my system is just too weak, idk)
- !!!! ATTENTION the game has a game breaking bug, that KILLS your saves! to avoid your saves corruption - back up your autosave once in an episode/chapter AND - when you reach episode 5 (or unlock Ryback Thunder) - you must proceed till unlocking any other car and at least Episode 7. At some point you save could broke (you can check it in foulder, the regular size of 57 kb will change to 1 kb), but will fix itself after reaching ep 7
- difficulty curve (for me that hardest episodes where 5-7)
- vague cars specs - its very hard to understand what 1/10 speed means, and it definitely now twice as slow as 2/10, same goes for every characteristics. Only trial and error will provide some information
+ absolutely spectacular and magnificent visuals and effects, my favorive map is a dam
+ SPLIT SCREEN for 2 people! very nice, I had a lot of good time with my brother playing it
+ different race types, some of them are unique to this game (like detonator, where control points/toolboth changes to an explosive solorace where everything that can be triggered - will, based on your proximity)
+ good length (6*12 races = 72 for campaign, and multiplayer (havent played it yet + split screen)
