However, you can hardly hear it, because it gets covered up by an announcer who never shuts up. The background music is some generic rock. The audio tries its best to be clever and cool, but ends up getting the mute treatment. None of them stand out and it makes the tracks all sort of blend together after a while. There are races in a desert, on a snowy mountain, and many other locations that you see in every other racing game. There are several different racing locations, but each one is rather generic. The graphics are nowhere near on par with some of the games of this generation, and do come off very dated. There’s so much information available on the HUD, but seeing how you are doing on the optional goals is nowhere to be seen. It can even be as simple, as making sure a certain racer doesn’t finish. To hitting six different racers with a land mine. These can be anything from record two kills. Each race also has three optional goals to help give you other things to do. The HUD tells players where other racers stand in the rankings. It’s all one can ask for in a racing game. Thankfully, the game HUD gives out a lot of information, but never gets in the way. Ultimately, the game is more about weapon chaos, instead of just racing. I would normally say this is a flaw, but since its a singleplayer focused game, it is kinda needed. Only to see them back on the radar by the next turn. On the other hand, you could lay down a perfectly placed smoke bomb and pull ahead by five seconds. You could sit at the start finish line for thirty seconds and catch up to the pack far before the finish line. You are never out of the action for too long as the rubber banding is overly apparent. The power-ups also add a lot of interesting strategy. The controls feel tight and the different camera views allow you to race without having to fight with the camera. The races themselves are quite enjoyable. However, it fades off like the rest of the game. There is even a zombie mode, which is fresh and new the first few times. Those events do help spice things up throughout the career mode, but in the end it also starts to feel repetitive. Most of the match types are based around death matches or capture the flag type games. Not to mention, play different game types. There are random sponsored events that allow you to collect more cash, which I never even came close to running low on that. This unlocks a final tournament where you have the chance to win the cup and move on to the next level of competition.
You then rinse and repeat this process until you move up to first place. Unfortunately, most of the unlockables are cosmetic and don’t effect your gameplay at all. You can unlock brand new cars, tracks, decals, tires and weapons. There are tons to unlock throughout the campaign. After that, collect your money and unlock new items. Once you complete the race, check the standings board. However, there are enough health power-ups during a race that it hardly ever happens. Each of these race types are also built around the rule that if you explode, you are eliminated. Where the last racer to cross the finish line each lap is destroyed.
Finally, there is an elimination style race. Then, there’s a more deadly version of a race, where upgradeable guns can be used. There’s a straight up race, where only power-ups can be used. Pick a car and choose one of three game types. In the career mode, you are signed by a new sponsor and join the first circuit of races. This really is the key word for this game unfortunately, repetitive. There is a career mode, where you climb the ranks to face harder and harder competition, but it gets repetitive. When you take that out, there really isn’t a lot of replay value, unless you are someone who goes after achievements. Even shooting missiles in their direction to try to make their car explode. The charm of games of this genre is the ability to drive around and create chaos with your friends. There is a huge elephant in the room when reviewing the console version of this game, the lack of multiplayer. Release Date: Octo(PC), Novem(Xbox One & PS4) Unfortunately, it misses the mark on several aspects to push it to the level it should be. What’s still there does help fill a void that is missing in gaming where Twisted Metal used to reign. The problem is, it feels like only part of the game has made the crossover.
Gas Guzzlers Extreme debuted on PC back in 2013, but now it makes its way to the console market.