After Fallout3, New Vegas and Borderlands, "RAGE" is simply too late to be relevant.
Let me try again, this game is FPSer with light rpg elements, in which you take on a series of random fetch and hideout clearing missions, collect upgradable loot, and occassionally engage in vehicular combat via mad-max esque buggy outfitted with guns. No, this isn't a review for Borderlands.
I know its a fairly obvious and well-stated opinion that this game is a regurgetation of those other titles, but it simply must be said, because it becomes the only reason not to play this game.
The graphics are nothing short of fantastic, the gameplay is smooth, and the whole package maintains a high level of professional production. The problem is, once the glossy presentation wares thin, there is little else of any level of uniqueness here. Even once you get passed the obvious visual and gameplay parallels to Borderlands, New Vegas and Fallout3, many of the other features are plucked right from those games aswell. Recipies to build new equiptment, racing buggy circuit, scavenging for parts, random job board side missions, plethora of mini-games....ithere just isn't anything original or unique here. Even the various locales are regurgetations; junkyards, garages, sewer tunnels, abandoned hospitals etc. The story? The vault survivor begins helping local survivor settlements fight off bandits until you get involved with a larger plot involving a higher evil-government type organization trying to.....okay, noticing a pattern here?
The thing is, this is actually a good game. Had Borderlands and Fallout3 never happened, it would be interesting, fun, and garner a much higher rating. As it stands however, you just can't escape the "been here, already done this" feeling rampant in the game.
Furthermore, if you haven't played those other titles, I still can't recomment this title, as its not as good as the games it mimics. RAGE's story and atmosphere do not come close to matching Fallout3's, and without the co-op multiplayer options in Borderlands, RAGE's can't offer much variety in its action segments. Its simply an adequate shooter that borrows heavily from superior games, and is too late to be relevant.