MMO racing? "Oh dear," I thought. But I was pleasantly surprised.
When I first played the game, I wasn't all that excited. It ran very well, on high graphics. I tried the single player mission, which gives you a pretty good run-down on what you need to get started. But I got bored with the missions.. A week later or so, I tried it again, and this time tried the multiplayer. Then I realized this game had me hooked!
GRAPHICS
The graphics are really good, especially for a free to play game. The outside camera is nice, but even better there is a very realistic inside camera. You can see the steering wheel, mirrors, even the heater and other dashboard controls are shown! I was also surprised at the character inside the car. His (or her) arms are actually shown moving accordingly to your steering. At the moment, you can only choose male or female for your avatar, but in the future they are going to allow you to customize it. Can't wait!
The cars are all well designed. They are a lot of fun to drive (especially when you have the inside camera on). The maps have amazing detail. It's not absolutely perfect, but when is it ever? It is very nice to drive around.
GAME PLAY
The missions are good for getting you started. They also provide a nice challenge. But the online play has lots of variety. There are a few modes. There is the regular race, of course. There is an explore mode, where you race around large maps and collect little round things (some of them with power-ups, or downs). Whoever has the most at the end wins. There is a stock car race, which is high speed and quite realistic. I didn't enjoy that one, because I was in 1st and crashed into someone who wasn't moving, then was in last... But it is a very intense race. There is also a drift mode, where I assume you drift, and others.
I was surprised at how easy it is to get money (RP) and experience. You could come and last and still get something. There is no pay for gas or repairs, thoug you do have to repair sometimes (I think it adds good realism). The races and explore modes usually don't take too long, but they are lots of fun and you get rewarded nicely. You can easily play a game any time, so casual players or players with ADD can still have fun.
CONTROLS
The controls in this game are quite simple. I believe you can hook up a steering wheel, which would make it very fun. Otherwise, it's not too hard to play. There are good physics in this game, so the races are pretty involving, and you still have to stay on your toes. Drifting can be a bit hard, but once you try it a few times you should be able to make some amazing turns.
SOUND
The sound effects are pretty good. Your usual humming of engines and etc. The music is also pretty good and fits in the game. But if you want more variety you can put your own mp3 files in!
CARS
The cars are a pleasure to look at, and with lots of detailing including interior, you will have fun driving them. Sadly, some of them can only be bought with cash (which is, as with most cash shops, insanely overpriced). None the less, you are given a couple of cars as you play and you can still buy a few. There isn't much customization for performance. There are some nice style features that are very affordable (a couple of races for a spoiler). This is an area they should still expand on.
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All in all, this game is pretty amazing for a free game. I think it can compete with games like Project Gotham Racing and the likes. Plus, it's free! The cash shop is very expensive, as most are, but on the bright side it means that you can still play for free and content is added quite often. Unlike a game you buy entirely, this game will keep getting better and getting updated.
Anyone who likes racing games, or even some who don't really, can enjoy this. It's easy to get into it quickly, which is good for casual gamers, and it's also highly addictive, perfect for more intense players. I suggest you have a good computer to play this, because the graphics are very nice on high. Some people will have trouble controlling cars, but some people will learn it right away.
If you, like me, often come into free-to-play games with low expectations, you will be happy to find this one. And hopefully, because it's online and it's funded by a cash shop, it will keep having new players and new content.
Sound: 8/19
Graphics: 9/10
Gameplay: 9.5/10
Racing: 9/10
Overral Opinion: 9/10
If you have a good computer, give it a try. Lots of people will enjoy it.