![]() When races are 5 or 6 minutes long, that matchmaking time is just too long. ![]() There were times when the game would take a full 2 or 3 minutes to match up a race. I’m hopeful that when the game launches fully there will be more people playing and faster matchmaking. My biggest issue during the beta was the length of time for matchmaking. As the full game releases, there is a ton of potential for variety between racers. It plays a lot like other online free-to-play games, with daily and weekly goals that unlock skins, abilities and more. Off the track, the game feels a bit generic. But the non-item racing is where the game really shines for me, as it’s left to the players’ skill on the track. With items, I felt like the racing was actually pretty fair, and there aren’t too many “blue shell moments” that just ruin your race. There are two racing modes - with items and without. The racing was largely pretty close among my human opponents, and the track layouts kept the racing frenetic. There’s an art to drifting around a corner and releasing your slide at just the right time for a boost. On the track? It’s actually pretty fun, once I got the hang of the physics. Recently, the game opened up a second beta on the Xbox One, and I had the chance to give it a spin. The game stars a colorful - if generic - cast of characters that players can customize in looks and abilities. The latest contender is a free-to-play entry, KartRider Drift, which allows for crossplay action across Xbox One and PC. I’d argue that it’s impossible to beat Mario Kart - really, the only contenders strive to do some things just enough differently from the stalwart Nintendo franchise. The problem that basically every kart racer runs into is that it’s just hard to beat Mario Kart. We're intrigued to learn more, and enjoyed our time with the game.Author: Kevin Austin Category: Articles, XBox One News, Date: 18th June, 2020 KartRider: Drift isn't trying to reinvent the wheel (sorry) from a pure gameplay perspective, but the business model (free to play) and multiplayer feature set (crossplay) make for eye catching ideas in a kart racer that isn't relying on an established license to set tills alight. Despite some bugs that need squashing, generally speaking it's in a pretty good state. It's an Unreal Engine 4 title, with a solid framerate another critical box tick for a competitive title. That kind of attention to detail is always appreciated. You'll find different tracks mixing up aesthetic elements (such as item box design) to be in keeping with the theme of that particular race. Graphically speaking, character designs have an exaggerated look that is absolutely in keeping with the bright, technicolor environments. You can tweak your kart stats with unlockable parts, but this is earned through gameplay and thankfully avoids any nasty pay to win scenarios that would undoubtedly leave a bad taste. ![]() The drifting itself is extremely sensitive, and should only be used in very short bursts we found the turning circle to be way too extreme, often leading to unintentional face plants in level geometry or track side barriers. Items are a mix of familiar (boosts, rockets etc.) and more unique fare, with a magnet that you can use to quickly close the gap on nearby rivals ensuring plenty of close finishes. There's a sense that developer Nexon are in it for the long haul, and considering that the barrier for entry is pretty low at this point, there's ample opportunity for players to dip in and take things for a spin. ![]() Regular content drops have also been promised, with everything from new customisation to themed tracks planned for release down the line. Sound bugs are persistent too, with disappearing effects and missing music all coming in to play.īut, as we've already noted, this is a beta after all, and there's no doubt plenty of time for any kinks to be ironed out. Eight players can race online in up to teams of four and face off in item or drift focused races with karts and characters you personalize. We were given access on Xbox One, and there were a couple instances of locked forever loading screens where the game refused to proceed any further. KartRider: Drift is the only online free-to-play, cross-platform kart racer with deep kart and character customization in stunning high-definition and vibrant Dolby Atmos. Matchmaking times seemed pretty quick, although with this being a beta, there were some glaring issues that definitely need to be resolved before it jumps out into the wild. One big marquee feature is its eventual launch as a free to play title, supporting cross platform interaction between Xbox One and PC. It adds an appreciated level of control that helped turn the tide in our favour on more than one occasion. While you can stack weapons in much the same way as other similar titles, you get to select when to deploy your boost from a successful drift. There's weapon pick ups aplenty, drifting as expected, but also one or two interesting tweaks that skew toward a slightly fresher approach. ![]() Right off the starting block you'll notice an immediate familiarity, as KartRider: Drift offers mechanics that would feel right at home alongside Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |