With the consoles versions recently delayed into next year, a reader offers his review of the spiritual sequel to FlatOut on PC.
Wreckfest is the latest game from Bugbear Entertainment and it seems it very nearly didnt happen, thanks to a disastrous Kickstarter campaign in 2013 which raised barely a quarter of its goal.
After cancelling the Kickstarter they focused on a pre-release early access strategy, which allowed a fresh opportunity for gamers to see the impressive soft body modelling and damage technology being used. Within a week of early access release it had raised well over its original Kickstarter goal and allowed Bugbear to make the game they wanted. Thank goodness, as its really rather good.
It can be considered a spiritual successor to the FlatOut series, also developed by Bugbear. A more appropriate connection though can be made to Demolition Derby (not by Bugbear), a seminal game from the PlayStation era and which was the first game I ever bought for the system.
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Wreckfest offers itself up in traditional track racing and demolition derby type setups, some in singular races, some in multi-stage events.
Your first time sat on a grid, or at the edge of an oval arena, quickly develops into a marvellous experience, especially when you get your first look at the excellent damage modelling being used. Equally pleasing is the frankly excellent handling model, along with a satisfyingly weighty feel to the vehicles.
It all seems eminently realistic, yet at the same time the action feels wonderfully random.
There seems to be just the right amount of life expectancy within the vehicles before they conk out and splutter to a halt.
There is plenty of scope for adopting different strategies, such as balls out everything must die, or self-preservation tactics, albeit if you fail to touch another car in Demolition Derby events for too long a countdown timer can disqualify you. The oft-used racing game tactic of adopting an inside line in a corner whilst leaning into opponent vehicles is handy and indeed to be encouraged. All the better if you can do it in such a manner that your opponent performs a barrel roll in your rear view mirror.
A quite extensive campaign mode allows plenty of longevity and involves the use of a decent number of vehicle types. Completing races gives experience points and money which allow purchase of new vehicles. You can also set up custom races to your liking. Owned vehicles can be upgraded in terms of the usual array of parts (engines, springs, filters, etc.) or also armour, the latter of which adds weight and will affect the handling.
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Wreckfest is a very nice looking game, Im going to put it up there with Forza Motorsport 7, and it really shines when you can tweak your settings to allow 60 fps. The inbuilt replay feature along with the wonderful damage modelling are a real treat if you can lock this in.
There are perhaps some optimisation issues here. On my GTX 1070 I will occasionally note dips to around 45fps at the beginning of a race, though after Ive rounded the first corner its silky smooth 60 fps for the remainder.
Demolition derbies tend to dip more extensively, unsurprisingly given the confined carnage.
Multiplayer is on offer and seems to work once you are in a lobby, but long wait times are common.
The sound could also do with some work though.
Comparing Wreckfests engine noises to that of my Dyson hoover renders them barely indistinguishable.
As far as I can tell there are no interchangeable weather effects, every day is fine and sunny. Special mention, however, should go to the Steam workshop page where a vast array of mods are available covering all manner of things, including weather.
I wonder also if the developers could have made an extra mode, such as hardcore, whereby there is more emphasis placed on finishing positions and subsequent winnings, that you then need to strategically decide how/where you spend it. Perhaps require that you have to pay credits to enter events and allow that vehicles can be upgraded and potentially sold on the open market, even online. As it currently is the campaign mode seems rather underbaked.
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In terms of value I think £23 to £30 is the sweet spot for this game. I picked it up for the lower of that price point and its certainly good value at that. It usually retails at £39 which is a bit high. A price point of nearly £40 requires (near) Forza levels of quantity and quality. Wreckfests quality is without question, the quantity however is not in the same league as Forza.
All in all though Wreckfest is a well turned out game and deserves a solid 8/10.
By reader r-s-w (PC)
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