Master Of The Asphalt Fight
HIGH Addictive gameplay wrapped in a simple concept.
LOW The controls take some getting used to.
WTF We really need more arcade-style racing games.
I love arcade-style racing games. Need For Speed and Burnout are the two franchises I have come to enjoy the most over the years because they put an emphasis on reckless driving and collecting the coolest cars, skirting the line between realistic simulator and pure madness.
Sure, some may prefer a focus on real-world driving physics, but I just want to go fast and far. I’m looking for any chance I get these days, but this style seems to have fallen out of fashion. Thankfully, as we’ve learned time and time again, indie games have a way of shaking genres up, and #DRIVE does just that.
#DRIVE is an endless runner in which players select a car and try to get to the end of a level without crashing, running out of fuel or hitting anything on the road. It’s a fairly simple premise, echoing the golden days of similarly-styled games on iOS or Android.
The twist comes in the massive collection of cars a player can amass. More than 90 can be unlocked, each with its own attributes and design. Rides are separated into different classes — mini, basic, dirt, van, special and speed. Modeled after real-world vehicles, I loved their designs and the overall presentation. The bold and striking colors have a distinct ‘comic book’ style to them, and the included photo mode lets players show off just how stylish #Drive is.
If there’s one caveat, it’s that controlling the cars took a bit of getting used to. There are two control schemes, one that allows for steering with the left stick and braking/drifting with the face buttons, while the other scheme uses the triggers and bumpers. I opted for the former and it took me a while to get accustomed to the physics.
#DRIVE is by no means a revolution as far as endless-runner games go, but its simple premise and addictive collection aspect delivers an enjoyable experience. While many big developers and publishers might not feel now is the time to venture back into making explosive arcade racers, I’m happy this one did.
Disclosures: This game is published by PM Studios and developed by Pixel Perfect Dude. It is currently available on Switch, iOS and Android. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the Switch. Approximately 5 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and the game was not completed. There is no multiplayer.
Parents: According to the ESRB this game is rated E. It’s purely racing, so there’s nothing objectionable for kids here.
Colorblind Modes: There are no colorblind modes available.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: There are visual cues for everything and everything is labeled clearly. Audio is not needed to play the game, this experience is fully accessible without sound.
Remappable Controls: No, the controls are not remappable but there is a control diagram and two presets.
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