Wreckfest 2 Early Access Review – Flat Out of Launch

Given the immense popularity and acclaim of their initial game, it’s logical for developers at Bug Bear to follow a similar path with “Wreckfest 2“. Currently available on Steam for PC, this sequel boasts improved crash physics and increased realism. However, it still has some distance to cover, even by early access standards.

Not Much Content

Prior to the official launch of Wreckfest 2 during its early access phase, I found myself apprehensive about the game’s content offerings. However, Bug Bear has assured us that an enhanced Career Mode will be introduced later in early access. In the meantime, here’s what you can expect: Quick Races on a single track, the option to create Custom Races, multiplayer matchmaking, and a Server Browser for finding games. Additionally, you can personalize the colors of the four available vehicles. That’s about it for now.

Tracks

Absolutely! It’s clear that the variety in tracks more than compensates for the limited number of modes and vehicles in Wreckfest 2, right? This game offers four unique locations: Savolax Sandpit, Speedway, Scrapyard, and Testing Grounds. Notably, some of these locations have multiple layout options – Savolax has a reverse track variant, whereas Speedway features Race, Derby, and Figure 8 tracks. Similarly, the Scrapyard offers the Main Route and Bonebreaker configurations.

In summary, there are a total of eight different elements in this game. However, some aspects might seem familiar to long-term players due to carryovers from the previous game, giving them a sense of déjà vu. Regarding content expectations for early access releases, I won’t specify, but I want you to be aware that this amount is what you’ll find right away if you join during the initial stages.

Custom Race

If you’re looking for more options than just one track, it’s best to opt for Custom Race instead of Single Race. In Custom Race, you can select a diverse range of tracks, modify various aspects such as opponent class, number of laps, car reset time, damage settings, time of day, and the total number of racers.

In simple terms, Banger Racing is a type of competition where racers circle the track while deliberately colliding with their opponents. The goal is to finish ahead of others, but the action is scored based on the number and severity of these impacts, including head-on collisions known as T-Bones.

Demolition Deathmatch

You might also opt for the Demolition Deathmatch mode. This unique gameplay is exclusive to maps designed like arenas. The goal is to collide forcefully with other racers, causing significant damage to their vehicles. Each vehicle has a sort of health meter, but it can dwindle swiftly due to the extent and number of damaged parts.

The player who accumulates the most points from collisions during the game, or when they are completely eliminated, emerges victorious. Out of all the maps, Testing Grounds might be the ideal spot to satisfy your wrecking ball instincts, as it features ramps, springs, and a sleek design that makes the devastation particularly striking.

Car Handling

A key feature that sets Wreckfest and its follow-up apart is that the cars aren’t the most polished models around; instead, you’re in charge of some rugged, unrefined vehicles. These rides feel robust and powerful on the track, their heftiness evident in the handling. However, once they sustain damage, they become lumbering, ramshackle contraptions – dragging along as if propelled by sheer determination, yet hanging together precariously.

This element infuses a captivating tension into competitions, where you fight seemingly insurmountable challenges to push that rickety vehicle across the line, regardless of your ranking. I also appreciated how the track’s surfaces influenced maneuverability, making the car handle tightly and swiftly on asphalt, while providing less grip and more slippage on sand.

Realistic Destruction and Crashes

It’s clear enough that the improved physics are putting in extra effort (without getting too extreme). Cars can quickly transform from somewhat worn, if battered, to completely wrecked. Tires detach. The hood rises, obstructing your view while driving in first-person, or collapses inward, making that imitation Camaro look like something Mr. Bean would be pleased with.

It’s quite entertaining to observe how a car (and others) can undergo significant changes before it breaks down, and incidents involving numerous vehicles can be surprisingly amusing. However, it’s important to remember that the physics behind these situations is not a laughing matter as they also impact the environment. For instance, tires can fly off due to the force, and in some cases, structures can detach from vehicles if they collide with them.

PC Performance

When trying out the pre-release version before early access, I was genuinely shocked by the poor performance of Wreckfest 2. However, the current build shows no such issues. With AMD FSR 3.0 activated (though you can choose between FXAA, MSAA, or a mix of both instead of DLSS), I set most settings to High at 1440p and noticed a decent performance that matched the graphical quality. The performance dipped slightly during multiplayer matches, but it wasn’t severe enough to make racing intolerable. Bug Bear has assured us that the requirements will decrease as early access continues, which means things can only get better from now on.

Changing Resolution

It might seem unusual, but you won’t find the options to adjust resolution or V-Sync within the game itself. Instead, you need to start the game and then choose “Change Settings” option which opens a separate window. In this window, you can select the graphics preset (which can also be adjusted in-game), as well as screen resolution, aspect ratio, V-Sync, and whether the game should run in Windowed Mode before starting play. It appears that these options are intentionally located outside of the game interface; if you were puzzled about their whereabouts, this is where they can be found.

Multiplayer

Initially, I didn’t anticipate great things from the multiplayer mode, given that its all-time peak concurrent player count at launch was under 3,200. It sometimes takes a while to find a match, but once you do, there’s a good probability of having to wait for the ongoing race to finish before joining. In case there aren’t enough human players, bots are used to fill the empty slots.

Currently, the server performance isn’t top-notch – I got disconnected not just at the start of the race but also towards its end. Although the development team has been addressing other online gameplay concerns, it still seems quite sparse if you’re relying on it to compensate for the underwhelming single-player content. Fortunately, the Server Browser is functioning smoothly.

Future Updates and Conclusion

When will there be more content for Wreckfest 2? The initial update is due in two months and it’s free, featuring the addition of two new vehicles and race tracks. Beyond that, all we can really do is keep waiting and stay tuned for further updates.

For $29.99, “Wreckfest 2” may not convince many at this stage, despite its decent handling and crash physics. In fact, it might even encourage you to revisit the original version if you’re new to the series. The sequel doesn’t quite shine or disappoint; instead, it seems more like a solid foundation for future improvements. If your fondness for the first game is strong enough to back its development, then go ahead, but it’s going to take some time before it reaches the same level of excellence.

2025-03-24 19:42

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