Every now and then, there’s a game that surprises every aspect of what’d you’d expect. On the surface, Redout 2 looks like an homage to the old anti-gravity (AG) racing games of the past. Titles such as Wipeout and F-Zero which broke barriers in the idea of conventional racing games may come to mind. Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good car race, but man let me tell you, this game is something else.
The visuals, the music, the environments, and the absolutely insane customizable options make this game one of the best racing games I’ve ever laid my hands on. Redout 2 is a fast-paced, adrenaline-boosting, AG racing game with everything a modern console allows. If you are tired of racing around a regular track, take this one up to the stars cause the galaxy awaits a skilled pilot.
Developed by the Italian indie studio 34BIGTHINGS and published under Saber Interactive, Redout 2 is the long-awaited sequel to 2016’s award-winning game Redout. The sequel expands on the formula of the original while bringing a unique flavor to the series. Fans of these kinds of racing games will surely fall in love with this title and see why I think it’s one of the best.
The main premise behind Redout is that you play as a pilot in the galaxy’s most popular sport. Think NASCAR mixed with the pod racing from Star Wars, just with a more polished retro look. The game gives you an assortment of hover ships to upgrade and achieve, along with solo and multiplayer options. The game has some sort of hypnotic appeal to it and I think playing against other people will make you feel like an actual space racer.
The controls might take some time getting used to, so I highly advise that you do the tutorial races. in the very start of Career Mode you will learn every navigational tool to aid you in your races. This is not your conventional gas, break, drift, kind of game as the controls are more involved and actually require a bit of skill to master. There are four main control options: steering, strafing, pitch, and roll.
Steering requires the use of the left stick while strafing, pitching, and rolling use the right stick. Mastering these controls will allow you to glide and drift past the many different twists and turns along with accessing boosters. Playing on the Xbox Series X, the left and right bumpers are used for two different kinds of boots. I suggest using them sparingly and always watching your boost meter below, if you go into the red too much, your hover ship will be destroyed.
The difficulty options for this game are quite extensive and I think makes it both a challenging and rewarding experience as your skill levels grow. There are 6 difficulty levels along with AI options to make the solo races more immersive or allow you some time to gain the ropes. There are also game sliders that can affect how you drive anywhere from pitch and roll to strafing sensitivity. The sliders can be changed at any time in the game settings as well.
As far as gameplay itself, there are a couple of game modes to chose from, either single player or multiplayer. Career Mode allows you to compete in 3 different speed classes and offers about 250 different events. There are 10 locations with 36 race tracks, all of which can be played in reverse, which makes that 72 different race options.
For players that want to just dive right into the action, there’s an Arcade Mode that has all the ships available along with every track. This is a great option if you don’t want to grind too much in the career mode circuit. Lastly, the most appealing aspect of this game is its Multiplayer Mode which gives you the chance to face off against about 12 other racers. There are regular chances to win new and upgradable content, along with ranked seasons coming very soon.
As for races, there are about 6 different race types to choose from. Each type allows for a variety of racing experiences that you can take to gain status as an intergalactic champion. The first option is Race, which is basically the normal format of crossing the finish line, hopefully first. You can do a Time Attack race, which requires you to finish the track in a certain time and then work towards beating it. The time races are the best option for practicing your skills, and I’m sure you’ll notice an improvement in your group races.
Arena Race is a deadly option, in which you either finish first or you’re the last ship standing. There are no respawns and the damage you take increase with every lap, so good luck. Last Man Standing mode is the closest you will get to a battle royale in a racing game. Each lap makes your ship faster as you navigate the crazy twists, turns, and leaps. Many will get destroyed and only the last man standing will win.
Speed Mode adds additional turbos to each map and you have to stay above the target speed to gain points. The player with the most points will win at the end of that mode. Lastly, there’s a Boss Mode, in which all your skills are tested in a seemingly endless fusion of different tracks with no loading screens. The boss mode is a true test of skill and endurance and I would recommend that you attempt this only after you’ve really got a hang of the game.
I’d like to say that it’s been a very long time since I’ve played an AG racer. For me, this game was a nostalgia trip, but also a breath of fresh air. If I had to give a complaint it would be how dizzying some of the maps can get but I also think it might enhance your reflexes. The music is great too, sometimes the beats get a little thrown off when you go through different turbos, but if you’re a fan of house music you might feel the urge to start shuffling.
Overall, Redout 2 is an incredible game with so many options that it’s impossible not to love it. Every regular racing game after this is going to look like a slow day compared to this. The game goes for $29.99 Standard, $44.99 Deluxe, and $49.99 Ultimate Edition. Redout 2 is available now on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch coming soon. Get your hover ship pilots license and boost your way to be champion of the galaxy now!
This review was written based on a digital review copy of Redout 2 for the Xbox Series X provided by 34BigThings and Saber Interactive.
