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XENON RACER (PS4)
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Publisher: Soedesco.
Developer: 3DClouds. Released: March 2019. Genre: Racing. Other versions: XONE; PC; SWI. Posted 15th March 2020. By Tom Clare © 2020 |
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Set in 2030, Xenon Racer serves up one of the most plausible depictions so far of what racing may look like in the near future. Featuring superpowered hybrid vehicles not dissimilar to those currently charging around the streets in the emergent Formula E race series, cars even come with a rejigged version of the ERS (energy recovery system) that allows competitors to recharge their deployable boost. Only in this instance, kinetic energy is generated through powersliding, rather than braking. Circuits span the breadth of the Earth, hopping between the urban modernity of Boston, Tokyo and Dubai, before branching out with some more creative interpretations set around the French Riviera and rural Canada. Xenon Racer’s futuristic overtones are a little more considered, at least relatively speaking. It lends its race tracks a little architectural embellished, rather than a complete cultural reboot.
Developer 3DClouds have a solid pedigree in the racing field. Despite being blighted with one of the least inspiring names in all of gaming history, All-Star Fruit Racing turned out far better than anyone could reasonably have expected. Attractive design, challenging but effective handling, strong multiplayer. In short, it ticked all the right boxes for a kart racer. Xenon Racer is a faster, more serious spectacle, but does it manage to build on this previous outing? Not quite, or at least, not quite as much as you’d have hoped.
Xenon Racer's visuals aren't of a world-beating standard, but the level of detail is superb
First impressions aren’t brilliant. The action and the visuals lack the flair of WipEout HD Omega Collection, and indeed the more realistic yardstick of Redout. Craft handling appears stiff, and collisions are clumsy. Even the announcer doesn’t seem entirely compos mentis, erroneously claiming in the build-up that it’s “almost time for the chequered flag of this race”, and sounding like he’d be happier and more motivated elsewhere.
But things soon pick up. Despite its futuristic leanings and space-age vehicles, Xenon Racer is more closely aligned with the slip-sliding arcade spirit of Ridge Racer, as well as evoking the feeling of an extremely rapid kart racer. There are no power-ups as such, save for occasional energy-replenishment strips dotted about the courses, but success requires that the player learn the best and most effective ways to drift around the layouts, whilst picking opportune moments for boost deployment. Just as with All-Star Fruit Racing, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
But things soon pick up. Despite its futuristic leanings and space-age vehicles, Xenon Racer is more closely aligned with the slip-sliding arcade spirit of Ridge Racer, as well as evoking the feeling of an extremely rapid kart racer. There are no power-ups as such, save for occasional energy-replenishment strips dotted about the courses, but success requires that the player learn the best and most effective ways to drift around the layouts, whilst picking opportune moments for boost deployment. Just as with All-Star Fruit Racing, there’s more to it than meets the eye.
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Xenon Racer won’t blow you away visually, though it’s a game that pays appreciable attention to small detail. The free add-ons of the Alps and Nevada courses are very welcome, the former consisting of some picturesque but hazardous, rough terrain to negotiate, whilst the latter includes a spectacular canyon run that’s more than three minutes long. These, along with the rural Lake Louise and the superlative Côte d’Azur harbour run, see the game at both its most creative and its most effective. Shanghai Airport feels like it belongs right at home in the Formula E series, and whilst the USA and UAE courses present over-familiar street racing fare, Tokyo’s metropolis is suitably frenetic and exciting to drive.
The one-player championship consists of a number of events that range from isolated races to checkpoint runs, elimination races and multi-event championships. It acts as an admirable showcase for the game’s broad array of race options, though the delivery lacks spark. Disappointingly, the campaign doesn’t lead to an elite championship, but instead sees things out with a sequence of single races and checkpoint runs. That said, the final level redeems things somewhat, with a thoroughly enjoyable, one-on-one against an unmistakably WipEout-esque airborne race craft. There’s a healthy selection of unlockables and rather neatly, they’re not solely uncovered through the career path, instead encouraging players to sample the various extra modes.
The one-player championship consists of a number of events that range from isolated races to checkpoint runs, elimination races and multi-event championships. It acts as an admirable showcase for the game’s broad array of race options, though the delivery lacks spark. Disappointingly, the campaign doesn’t lead to an elite championship, but instead sees things out with a sequence of single races and checkpoint runs. That said, the final level redeems things somewhat, with a thoroughly enjoyable, one-on-one against an unmistakably WipEout-esque airborne race craft. There’s a healthy selection of unlockables and rather neatly, they’re not solely uncovered through the career path, instead encouraging players to sample the various extra modes.
FOCAL POINT: FUTURE VINTAGE
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How might Monte Carlo look in the near future? Perhaps the most accomplished of Xenon Racer’s imaginings is its depiction of the Côte d’Azur, ten years or so down the line. There are telltale signs of Monaco’s old town in and around the start/finish area, whilst the harbour is unmistakable, dominated by a fleet of gigantic yachts. Its picturesque skyline now comes with a smattering of sleek, modern skyscrapers. It makes for an elegant mix of vintage Monaco, and the kind of opulent, neon-infused constructs more commonly associated with Asia and the Middle-East. It makes for a tremendously cool setting.
A few design troubles set things back a little. Once you’ve loaded a particular event, most racing games allow you to restart them almost instantly, in the event of a crash or mishap. Xenon Racer can take upwards of thirty seconds, which becomes irritating if you’re trying for a no-mistakes lap in a Time Attack challenge. Whilst the trophies represent a step forward from the poorly-judged challenges that spoiled All-Star Fruit Racing’s list, the player is still hampered by peculiar, unnecessary parameters. Whilst ASFR’s absurd 20 hours of playtime trophy (the single-player campaign and all of the online trophies can be finished in less than five) has thankfully been reduced to a 10-hour target, it still doesn’t count the player’s efforts in the Time Attack mode, which makes just as little sense second time around.
Lake Louise's forest surrounds, together with its army of hot-air balloons, evokes comparison with Milestone's rally racer Gravel
Online is nice and immediate, and it’s relatively easy to knock together events of your choice, with A.I. filling any spots not occupied by human players. Two-player isn’t bad, but you could be forgiven for thinking it might have featured a little more prominently. The split-screen setup is quick and smooth, though the visuals suffer a noticeable drop in definition, even should you opt to turn bots off.
Whilst the racing itself lacks a buzz, the driving aspect will be enough to entice committed speed freaks. Though it’s missing the style and polish of its contemporaries, Xenon Racer is still a satisfying experience, especially when you string together that perfect, boost-strewn lap to capture a gold medal in Time Attack. Customising your vehicles is fun and there are some really decent circuits, though nothing quite substantial enough to help Xenon Racer stand out from the crowd.
Whilst the racing itself lacks a buzz, the driving aspect will be enough to entice committed speed freaks. Though it’s missing the style and polish of its contemporaries, Xenon Racer is still a satisfying experience, especially when you string together that perfect, boost-strewn lap to capture a gold medal in Time Attack. Customising your vehicles is fun and there are some really decent circuits, though nothing quite substantial enough to help Xenon Racer stand out from the crowd.
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VERDICT
"Whilst the racing itself lacks a buzz, the driving aspect will be enough to entice committed speed freaks. Though it’s missing the style and polish of its contemporaries, Xenon Racer is still a satisfying experience" OVERALL: 6/10 |