Screamer Preview: Put The Pedal To The Metal In This Anime-Inspired Arcade Racer

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Most racing games prioritize the race itself, with stories often feeling secondary. Milestone is aiming to change that, creating a racing game where what happens outside the races is just as thrilling as the racing action.

Milestone, the studio known for racing games like MotoGP, Supercross, and Ride, is giving a fresh, anime-inspired makeover to one of its classic titles. Screamer combines a compelling story with fast-paced arcade-style racing, drawing inspiration from colorful TV shows and classic arcade games. After a sneak peek at the intense races, racing enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to from this new version of the game.

Screamer Is The Fusion Of Anime And Racing

Screamer combines years of solid racing experience from the developers at Milestone with an engaging story inspired by anime. Set in the future, the game follows a racing team determined to avenge the death of a teammate, Quinn. As they compete in the high-stakes ‘Screamer’ tournament across a sprawling city, drivers Hiroshi, Róisín, and Frederic pursue the man they believe is responsible for Quinn’s death.

Even the demo hints at a captivating story with intriguing mysteries and a darker side waiting to be explored. The narrative unfolds like an anime series, using stylish cut-scenes that perfectly complement the game’s cyberpunk setting and fast-paced racing. Players will experience the story from the perspectives of several different characters, influencing how it unfolds.

Screamer aims to create an exciting racing experience with stunning visuals and a high-energy soundtrack. It embraces the over-the-top style of anime, featuring quirky details like a car-driving dog named Fermi. The game’s unique Echo Engine lets cars and drivers recover from crashes, letting players enjoy fast-paced, dramatic races without interrupting the story to rewind accidents.

How Screamer Takes Arcade Racing To The Max

Inspired by classic arcade racers, Screamer combines several gameplay elements to create exciting car combat and races. Drifting is key to winning, and perfectly timed drifts trigger a quick boost. The game puts a unique spin on drifting by making the right control stick the main way to perform it. While different, this system is easy to pick up and encourages a fast-paced style of racing, eliminating traditional methods of slowing down or sliding. Screamer truly emphasizes full-throttle action more than most arcade racers.

The core gameplay revolves around Entropy, a power source that racers can use in two main ways: a quick speed boost to knock out opponents, or a temporary shield to protect themselves. It shares a lot of similarities with the Burnout series, demanding fast reactions and strategic takedowns of rivals without losing control. The ultimate expression of this is Overdrive, a short-lived super mode that lets you destroy any car you touch, but comes with a risk – crashing into walls or barriers will destroy your own vehicle.

Every race in Screamer feels thrilling because of the high risks and rewards, pushing players to make daring moves. This keeps the racing fresh and connected to the story, even when you’re not actively racing. It all works together to create a visually exciting experience that fits the anime style, making the drifting and combat feel over-the-top and unique. While it’s clear what inspired Screamer, it still feels like something special – a great choice for fans of fast-paced racing and dramatic anime. The game has a compelling story and memorable characters, especially Fermi – you’ll quickly fall in love with this car-racing dog! Screamer has the potential to really leave a lasting impression on players.

Screamer comes to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows on March 26

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2026-02-17 22:11