Stainless Games is finally back with its fourth instalment of Carmageddon; 18 years after SCi let them do the last one. After a lengthy production process the developers finally have a final product that looks very promising, but does it live up to the expectations of the old games?
Right off the bat, you can tell that this is a true to its roots, vehicular combat game that the Carmageddon series was best known for. It features a collection of 27 cars, all with their unique stats and some that are downright insane (such as Vlad and the Annihilator top fuel dragster which is just as mental as it was in the previous iterations).
The fine details from the sound effects to the jargon seen in previous games also shines through and forms for a nice but somewhat disturbing nostalgia of the days when you used to rampage the streets and demolish everything and everyone in your sights.
There are a number of settings you can play through to progress through career mode, these include Classic Carma (race, destroy or kill the peds), Checkpoint Stampede (capture the flag) and Death Race (which is just a normal, untimed race) with each one being as mental and disturbing as the rest.
Seeing as we’re in 2016 and not 1997, things are a little less conservative which is why, although still notably disturbing, Max Damage doesn’t do much to shock even after including disabled and elderly peds. On the plus side, it is massively chaotic, especially if you play it on its hardest mode (which isn’t even that hard to begin with, all it seems to do is increase the aggressive nature of the AIs).
In its classic mode the game finds you fighting for your life as you rampage against the clock. Gaining time can be earned by knocking opponents or killing peds just like before, but this time it seems to be a little easier. Classic Carmageddon would have you scurrying around the map, frantically looking for ways to increase your time whereas this game sort of hands it to you every chance it gets, which isn’t as frustrating as before but does redact from the challenge.
Admittedly this does give you move time to adventure through the vast settings and test your car’s capabilities through a series of jumps and stunts when the destruction has bored you out. Speaking of which, although there is no collective in-game currency (cash is used to purchase in-race power-ups if you can’t find them on the map and to repair your car if it gets too damaged.) cars can be upgraded by collecting upgrade tokens which can be found on random points on the map. As some of the opponents are tough it is a good idea to invest time in finding these.
The power-ups also make this game a blast. The old favourites such as ‘ped repulsificator’ and ‘mine s***ing ability’ are back but there are also a few new interesting ones such as ‘peds vacuum’ and an effective ‘anvil launcher’. Power-ups are scattered through the map as generously as before and add to the lasting effect of gameplay.
Finally, if you want to take a break from the extensive career you are also given the choice to participate in a free play mode in which you can customise the game to you own preference by alternating settings, game modes and other random details.
Presentation
From the get go you are greeted by that classic Carmageddon gore and heavy metal. Everything is bold and in your face which relates the nasty attitude that the game is trying to set.
The menu is easy to navigate through and will have you playing in no time. In-game presentation can be chaotic as the HUD spews information, some of which can be redundant or overwhelming.
In addition to this, the game is constantly throwing hints, tips and information at you which is incredibly annoying. It’s a very simple game and I don’t want all of these words being thrown at me, let me just play or at least give me the option to turn it off.
Credit however, must be given to the damage model which is well-done. The manner in which cars can get wrecked is extremely entertaining and even more so when the parts are magnetised back onto the body through the repair mode.
The cars are also well-designed and really bring forward that post-apocalyptic theme which is hilariously ironic seeing as they are placed in extremely standard civilian-like settings. Basically, everything regarding the presentation of this game is ostentatious and in your face which works in some places but comes to its detriment in others.
Graphics
Unfortunately the game looks about 10 years old. The textures look flat and pixelated which is understandable when you look at the relatively limited resources that Stainless Games had to work with but in an age where graphics are now one of the key points of gaming and other publishers are making strides in visual appeal, it will work against Carmageddon.
The game does have incredible depth and allows you to see far into the horizons, which isn’t necessary in a game like this, because everything is close range, but it is a nice touch.
Building on from this, the attention to detail is very admirable. Every piece of detailing from a setting point of view is almost completely unique to the next which means you aren’t seeing the same buildings and billboards over and over again.
Sound
This is the games weakest point which is a pity because I was expecting a lot from this department. All of the cars sound exactly the same and just tend to drone on and on. The background music is also just there as somewhat of an ambiance rather than being there to set to mood, much like Iron Maiden did back in Carpocalypse Now.
It doesn’t invite players in immerse themselves into the game or create that chaotic and destructive feel but rather, just gives the effect that the game is dragging on. The choice of music is metal and drum ‘n bass which does fit the element of the game well, but it doesn’t feel as if it has been mixed in properly.
The sound direction is pretty impressive as you can hear opponents charging towards you in the line that they are approaching and the sounds of destruction add further to this experience. The metal-on-metal and explosion effects aren’t exactly realistic but they do improve the destructive nature of the game.
Gameplay
This is where Max Damage works. The gameplay is just as it is supposed to be and is a perfect homage to the games of the past but with the added benefit of it being playable. The cars are still a challenge to control and maintain low levels of grip with high levels of sway but correcting this is possible with a short amount of practice.
Crashing into opponents, ramming into the air or even just racing the course are all possible tasks to accomplish if you use the correct car. It is also jam packed with power-ups which provides you with many different entertaining ways to slay your opponents or innocent peds and it is an easy game to get the hang of.
Despite being destructive, the gameplay isn’t intense and doesn’t wear its player down. Because it’s so far away from being a serious game, you spend most gameplay just having a good time and wondering about the map, seeing what destructive acts you can commit next.
Customisation of cars is disapprovingly limited but if we’re honest, this is and never has been the rationale of Carmageddon so it is hard to criticise them for this.
In terms of general gameplay this game is bad but looking at it through the scope of what Carmageddon fans would want, it hits the nail right on the head.
Lasting Appeal
You will play this game for hours and not want to put your controller down because of what a stress reliever Max Damage is. The game is packed with different cars, modes and settings to keep you occupied and although it will more-or-less be the case of doing the same thing over and over again, each time it is done will be different to the next.
There’s no story or lengthy campaign to burden yourself with or get attached to and miss once it has ended. Its main focus is destruction and if you are anything like me; this goes a long way. For some, however this game can become very redundant which is why this only applies to gamers with a destructive nature.
Summary
Although as a game it isn’t exactly well polished, I have huge respect for Stainless Gaming to pull off what they did considering that part of this game was crowdfunded. They have created a fitting tribute to the original Carmageddon series, and although this doesn’t captivate me as much as Carpocalypse Now, it has made an impression on me.
Sadly it is a game that is no longer a head of its time but rather quite a bit behind and with the gaming world as competitive as what it is now, and with Carmageddon being out of it for as long as it has, it’s going to have a rough time gaining traction.
It definitely is a good reboot to the franchise and I am excited to see what the guys at Stainless Gaming come up with next.
Basically, if you loved Carmageddon back then, you will most certainly love it once again but if you’re new to the series, you will have a difficulty in understanding its true nature.