I have never learned how to drive, but from time to time, a well-meaning friend will tell me that I would be good at it because, ‘look, Edwin, you play all those driving games, surely they’ve taught you the basics’. Here’s what driving games have actually taught me: traffic lights are just for show; drifting is the same as cornering; and other cars are there to cushion your bumps when you overshoot a turn. Needless to say, someone whose knowledge of automobiles comes from playing Wreckfest in 2018 should probably not be trusted with the school run. Speaking of which, THQ Nordic has just announced Wreckfest 2 – a new installment of destruction derby with upgraded visuals and animated drivers who react when they get hit by other drivers. Check out the chaos in the announcement trailer below.
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You can almost smell the burning rubber, right? Real cars involve rubber, don’t they? The trailer showcases a mix of live-action antics and in-game footage of cars wrecking each other. At a recent THQ Nordic preview event, I also got a glimpse of the game’s car customization – a “big new feature” that allows you to paint individual car parts, add decals, impact damage, and rust. I wouldn’t want to be driving a beat-up car when it gets wrecked. In terms of gameplay modes, expect a single-player career, multiplayer, tournaments, regular challenges through updates, and modding support.
The game is powered by a new version of Bugbear’s ROMU engine, which seems capable of more detailed vehicular destruction effects – doors and exhaust pipes flapping, tires coming loose and bouncing away like rats fleeing a sinking ship (which is actually a truck with an extremely lifted suspension). It’s all wonderfully chaotic, but it seems like the racing experience won’t be drastically different from the 2018 game, which was highly praised by John Walker (Rest in Peace, RPS). “There’s so much fun in this, and it manages to make failure an entertaining part of racing, which is a rare feat,” he wrote. “Wreckfest is a great alternative to the serious tone of current Need For Speed and Crew games. It holds its own in that genre while offering something unique.” I believe Wreckfest 2 faces less competition now, as both Need For Speed and The Crew series are currently on hold, giving this pumped-up road-racer a clear path to win our hearts. Learn more about its wild car antics on Steam.
