Screamer Interview – Anime Inspirations, Bringing back a Classic Series, Story, and More

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Those who enjoyed older racing games will likely remember Screamer, a popular title from the 1990s MS-DOS era. Now, Milestone is reviving the series with a fresh, anime-inspired look, and we had several questions about how the new version would play. Luckily, the game’s director, Federico Cardini, answered them, covering everything from why they brought the classic back, to how the unique Echo System will work when racing against others, and the game’s overall story.

What inspired the decision to bring back a classic 1990s era franchise like Screamer?

We’ve always wanted to revive Screamer after the last version. We often discussed new ideas, but none felt right – we were looking for something truly unique to make it stand out in the racing genre. Everything changed when we combined the core Screamer concept with our passion for Japanese animation and fighting games.

The Echo system is a key feature of Screamer. When did the development team decide to focus on it, and how did it shape the game’s design?

The core idea for the Echo System was around from the very beginning of the game’s development, though it looked quite different at first. We were inspired by fighting games and wanted to include vehicle combat, but we needed to make sure that racing remained the main focus and wasn’t overshadowed by these other features.

“Screamer has been a game that we wanted to bring back since its last installment.”

How does the tug-of-war style gameplay function in Echo when there are several players competing?

Winning in Screamer requires smart use of the game’s features. Using a Boost on a straightaway, activating a Shield just before an attack, hitting an opponent with a Strike at the perfect moment, and skillfully managing your Overdrive can all give you the edge you need to win.

The story of Screamer is rumored to have taken inspiration from classic anime about racing. What were the main anime that shaped its story and overall feel?

As a huge anime fan, I can tell you we really drew inspiration from all sorts of anime – not just racing stuff! We wanted our game’s story to stand out and feel fresh, different from what you usually see. Since we’re all big fans ourselves, we really wanted to capture that anime storytelling style. Get ready for some unexpected twists and turns, and a story that tackles some pretty mature topics.

Beyond racing and story, how important is customisation to the overall experience?

We’ve focused heavily on customization because we want players to be able to personalize their cars, even though each one is designed with a specific style in mind. The best part is, customizing your car won’t affect how it handles – you can choose from tons of options and create a unique look without worrying about performance.

The game has a really interesting mix of settings – a futuristic, gritty city and beautiful natural landscapes like forests. Could you talk about how you created a consistent story and mood across these very different environments?

We drew ideas from all sorts of anime, not just racing shows, to make our story stand out from typical racing games.

Creating a cohesive world with diverse environments was a challenge. We started by developing detailed backstories for each location to give our artists a strong sense of the atmosphere we wanted. We realized the locations were intentionally very different from each other, so we leaned into that contrast and used it as a guiding principle throughout the game. You can see this in many details, like the anime-inspired visual effects combined with realistic lighting, the painterly skies alongside realistic cars, and even in the characters, whose contrasting personalities drive the story. We put a lot of effort into making all these elements work together, and we hope players will notice and enjoy it.

What core multiplayer modes can players expect at launch?

I’m so excited that when the game finally comes out, we’ll be able to take the action online! We can play through a bunch of different game modes with friends, and even set up our own private lobbies. Plus, the developers told us that Ranked Team Race is coming really soon after launch, which is awesome!

In online races using the Echo system, how does it work when each player controls their own Echo gauge?

As a player, I’ve noticed that the online scene really changes how you approach the game. It’s not just about being good at the core mechanics anymore. At higher levels, a huge part of winning is outsmarting your opponents. Things like pretending to launch a Strike just to make them waste their energy become super important. It’s a whole new layer of strategy!

What resolution and frame rates will the game run at on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro?

The game runs at 60FPS with enhanced frame rates on Series X and PS5 Pro.

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2026-03-26 16:12