The only vehicle game available on the PS4 at launch due to the delay of Driveclub, but a good one! Certainly not regretting buying it and I’ve enjoyed it a lot although it does have a few tiny bugs.
Overall the game strongly reminded me of Burnout Paradise although with the theme of Cops vs Racers. The game world is open with various activities and missions dotted throughout. Unlike Burnout Paradise though you’re never quite free to just enjoy the world, especially when playing as a Racer as cops will almost always try to take you down.
Presentation is great with lovely graphics and constantly changing weather effects including day and night. Night-time, while very nice visually, can be frustrating when trying to complete a mission as visibility is hugely reduced. It would be nice to have this as a setting. The world has all basic terrain types, from city to desert to alpine mountains and even redwood forests which ensures good variety.
The online component is great fun and works well, either working together as Cops to take down Racers, or racing each other. The matchmaking facilities are quite limited though and there’s no good way to play with friends while also allowing strangers to join in. Game sessions allow people to join and leave anytime, and the single-player missions can be played even while in multi-player mode.
Pros:
- Great racing game in the vein of Burnout Paradise, but with a theme and better graphics.
- Open-world gameplay.
- Good online play.
Cons:
- A few bugs.
- Limited matchmaking.
- Cannot turn off Cops vs Racers theme to just enjoy the world.
- Weather effects can get in the way of missions.
Bugs:
- Jumps sometimes not registered.
- After being taken down, car is not always oriented properly on road.
- Very occasional crashes.
Personal Score: 8 / 10