You'll be raging by the end of it.
*NOTE: This review was undertaken on the PC version of the game. The reviewer purchased a discounted copy (60% off) from EB games which also included the Sewer Missions DLC pack. The PC version does have severe technical issues such as graphical hitches,frequent freezes and crashes. A game 5 years in development should not have such a poor launch and thus, purchasing the PC version is at your own risk. Make sure the game runs well with the latest patches and driver fixes from AMD or Nvidia before you rip off the price tag. If you cant fix it, return the game. You're not missing out too much. Buy it on consoles if you can. DONT BUY IT ON STEAM -> NO REFUNDS IF THE GAME DOES NOT WORK WELL ON YOUR PC*
Rage is a disappointing title by id software who seems to be only a shadow of its former self. Ripping off Borderlands, Fallout and Bioshock, Rage is an amalgamation of some of the highlights of modern shooters and demonstrates the
(to be continued)
Couple these with one of the worst PC ports Ive ever played (technical issues abound), Rage isn't the blockbuster AAA title that id promised it was. Despite this, if you can overcome the technical issues, appreciate the racing elements as well as bear with the first 2~4 hours of the game, Rage is a lot of fun. It does what it promised well and handles what it does at offer superbly. The gunplay is tight, intense and at times, I actually found this a lot of enjoyable than the games it ripped off with. For example, its racing and world components while being ripped straight from Borderlands, proved to be far superior. Enemies behave realistically and intelligently. And there are plenty of interesting NPC's to interact and areas to explore. Sadly, fun is all it is, and frankly with gameplay that's been ripped off other games, a poor story and short campaign (Does 25 GB of content equate to just around 16 hours of SP gameplay??), Rage is a depressingly mediocre title from the likes from id software. What happened? Maybe Carmack just RAGE-quitted from being a gaming entrepreneur and moved on to merely a money-grabbing poster for id.
Recommendation: BARGAIN BIN. I bought my copy for steal but pretty soon it will revert back to its full price tag. People who missed out on EB Games' mad sales should hold until the game is on $19.95 'classic' status.
Bugs/Glitches/Technical Severity: HIGH - The engine is so poorly optimized for PC and is virtually broken. Recent patches and drivers from AMD/Nvidia have quelled these issues but there are still a lot of gamers experiencing issues.
Better than: Borderlands
Worse than: Fallout (yes, EVERY Fallout game, even New Vegas)
VERDICT: 75% (PC)
Most disappointing game by id software to date. But nevertheless, it's enjoyable to a degree...once you have overcomed it hitches.