We first saw Drive-Buy at EGX 2019, the game delivering fast, frantic vehicle combat against friends or online and includes cross platform play for gamers on Nintendo Switch and Steam for PC. This is a great addition and should be a key focus for any indie developer to maximise their installed base, especially if that player base is spread thinly over different formats.

Glitchers describe Drive-Buy as being inspired by legendary games like Twisted Metal, Rocket League, Vigilante 8 and Mario Kart. Though I also see some Crazy Taxi and Driver in there, all buried within the fast’n furious action. Drive-Buy is positioned a short-session multiplayer vehicle combat game with a delivery twist, a mix of high-speed combat and rivalries with larger than life characters and quirky or potentially mind-bending power up combos.

“At its heart, Drive-Buy is a vehicle-based party game with intuitive, pick up & play controls, we wanted to create an experience which avoids the frustration of track-based racing games – hence a street-based delivery battler was created!” added Hugo Scott-Slade, co-founder “We want everyone to be in with a chance of winning – so even the player in last position can turn it around and steal a last-minute victory. Or they can flood the leader’s screen with emotes and emojis to get revenge”

Game Features:

• 4 Player, head-to-head Online Battles
• Seamless AI Play designed to auto fill the roster during play
• 3 game modes –
Delivery Battle – Hustle the most deliveries and shake down rival drivers with powerups found around the map. Strategic, unpredictable & full of surprises.
PayDay – Hold onto the most coins on the map whilst dodging power ups left, right & centre
Piggy Bank – Tag… with a Pig! Hold the pig to earn coins, other players hunt you down keeping the action really focused and players tight.
• Choose from 6 diverse characters with more added in each season update.
• Vehicles have unique handling and stats so make sure you pick the best for each mode.
• Find and unlock an array of Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary and even Special Giftable Cosmetic Items for every character

So far so good, though there are questions over longevity and lack of variety, especially with what appears to be a limited or similar range of play areas, only played at night. We’ll ber sure to grab a hands-on a later build, Drive Buy will launch for Nintendo Switch and Steam for PC on 12th March 2021.

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In the video preview below, I test the various modes keeping the gameplay raw. Giving a glimpse into my first impressions as I learn to control the various craft. The control being direct and though not as floaty as Wipeout, this is initially a disappointment given the obvious artistic style however, the game delivers an experience of it’s own and as your crafts improve and use of the airbrakes become more essential the approach to controller design becomes more apparent.

Graphics are impressive, craft are well designed, colour palette is the right balance in giving that dystopian feel while the circuits are enormous in scale. A special word must go to the circuit design on the newer circuits, they really are spectacular and a wonder to behold. The solidity, art design and effects combine well, and this never ceases to amaze, especially when considering this is an indie title.

Early impressions demonstrate there is still a lot locked away and this could result in a fair amount of grinding to unlock all the various elements. So, first impressions are good, I’ll be live streaming Pacer on the Team VVV Twitch Channel this week, jump on and give us your impressions and let me know what aspects you would like to see.

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Art of rally is clearly a passion project, and it oozes that passion in every aspect, from the detail of the environment, to the range of cars, the atmosphere of the rally stages, to those small details scattered throughout that give you a wonderful sense that this world has it’s own sense of life to it.  That those enthusiastic but blocky rally fans run around that world inhabiting every aspect. It is a wonderful adventure playground of rally. Art of rally features all of the usual modes, Career, Time Trial, Single Rally options. The career sees the player meeting Buddha and learning about the history of rally, before going back in time and working their way through from 1966 up to present day.

It’s the little details, the cubic crowds splitting apart as you storm though that stage. Giving that wonderful essence of Walter Rohl and those legendary Group b videos that saw the crowd passing just inches from the car. Everyone wants to get closer, to feel the essence of the car, to feel that energy, that danger, the rush that only racing fans will understand. I loved this feature and it is something I’ve wanted developers to include for a long time, if only a compromise could be found. In the case of art of rally the solution seemed obvious due to the nature of the art style and it works perfectly.

I also liked the vision option for seeing through buildings, trees and any objects that could potentially block a player’s vision of the car. Little touches that bring it all together, often design decisions that would be impossible with larger development studios can make all the difference.

Handling works well but does take some getting used to and there always is room for further refinement. It is all a matter of weight; the undulation of the road can sometimes be difficult to see or determine. This can affect braking besides under or oversteer depends on if you a going up or down hill. Weight can also carry a player clean off the track. The makes understanding your car key in getting around safely.

I’ll continue to work my way through the game and update this review but you can see my initial impressions in the video below.

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You could be forgiven for mistaking this with Wipeout, indeed some of the Wipeout developers were involved with the Formula Fusion development and no doubt there was inspiration. The big difference comes in the handling, it is less ‘floaty’, less fluid and more ridged. As a fan of the classic Wipeout this initially appeared disappointing but as development moved on it became part of the unique identity of this particular gaming experience. Now with mere weeks till release we see the release date announcement trailer for PS4. So far everything is looking good and we are expecting a full 60fps presentation on both the PS4 and PS4 Pro. No word on the Xbox conversion but we’ll keep our ears to the ground (or floating slightly above it) for more news.

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Now traditionally I see Spintires as a big truck game, that big truck that is usually pulling huge logs with a largely impossible yet realistic terrain to traverse. This requires, skill, experience and dexterity. However, when you set eyes on the SHERP® N 4X4 ATV, this amphibious vehicle has more in common with a tank or military vehicle rather than your standard truck challenge.  Besides the addition of vehicles SHERP® N 4X4 ATV and seemingly unstoppable SHERP® the ARK 10×10 ATV, the additional DLC map was inspired by the Yugyd Va National Park in the Ural Mountains. Picturesque yet tough terrain to maximise the limits of the SHERP in all condition.

This update also includes amphibious vehicle support, self-inflating tires that are controllable, differential steering, vertical steering for articulated vehicles and rather surprisingly, entirely rewritten mud physics. The DLC costs $3.99 or £2.99 and is available now for PC via Steam, meanwhile you can check otu the latest trailer of the SHERP in action below.

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This week Lion Castle and GS2 Games announced Speed 3: Grand Prix, referred to as an ‘action-packed arcade track racing game’ with a release date tentatively set for the end of 2020 on Nintendo Switch with conversions for PS4 and Xbox One to follow, no date for those has yet been given.

In terms of circuits, it appears to be just the three, though that could be locations, they are American Wastelands, German circuit and Tokyo. The game also features a split-screen multiplayer option, but given the limited nature of the details supplied it does appear this will be rather bare bones. Speed 3: Grand Prix will be distributed by Mindscape in Europe, rather interestingly the Japanese and Asian versions will be published by EpicSoft and distributed by SEGA.

Let’s face it, the trailer is basic, the gameplay shown is pretty dire and it looks like Speed 3: Grand Prix will quickly drop without trace when it hits retail. I certainly wouldn’t want to be holding onto physical stock past week 1. But that’s just my initial impression, what do you think of the game so far? Let us know on the comments or via our social media.

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Sold Out and No More Robots have also revealed additional pre-order bonuses: Players who pre-order Descenders on PS4 and Nintendo Switch will receive a day-one unlock for a set of rare, glow-in-the-dark customisation items for their outfit, helmet and bike: the ‘Legacy Lux Set’ on PS4, and the ‘Descent Lux Set’ on Nintendo Switch. These items can also be unlocked in the game by player progression. Adding a bit of additional customisability from day one.

“We’re so excited to finally get Descenders into the hands of PlayStation 4 gamers,” said Mike Rose, Company Director at No More Robots. “It’s been a long time coming, but we know it’s going to have been worth the wait!” It’ll be interesting to see what changes there are and if the conversions accurate use the performance of the PS4 and Switch formats respectively.

If you haven’t seen it before, No More Robots have outlined some of the core features you can look forward to. Descenders is extreme downhill freeriding for the modern era, with procedurally generated worlds, where mistakes have real consequences. Take on different jumps, slopes and hillbombs every time you play, and control every subtle movement of your rider, with an in-depth physics system made for slick whips and scrubs. Build your rep in a fully-featured online Rep system that lets you show off your worth and earn new bikes and threads. So, lots to look forward to, and we’ll be keeping an ear to the bumpy ground for more next in the coming weeks.

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Psyonix have provided a range of information as to what should be expected, adding cross-platform progression for players’ item inventory, Rocket Pass progress, and Competitive Rank, by linking to an Epic Games Account. Rocket League will also make its debut on the Epic Games Store when it goes free to play. It will be identical to the version on other platforms and will feature cross-platform play with all Rocket League platforms.

Another boost for the Epic games store, PC players note: Once Rocket League goes free to play, anyone who already owns it on any platform (including Steam) will be able to play the game with full support for future updates and features. However, the Steam version will no longer be available to download for new players. So, if you’re a steam diehard, you can buy it now or wait to get it for free on Epic Games Store.

Anyone who has played Rocket League online prior to free to play will be rewarded with Legacy status, which includes: All Rocket League-branded DLC released before free to play; “Est. 20XX” title that displays the year when the player first started playing Rocket League, 200+ Common items upgraded to “Legacy” quality, Golden Cosmos Boost, Dieci-Oro Wheels, Huntress Player Banner.

Psyonix are certainly pulling out all of the stops to welcome new players, it can feel rather daunting coming into an established online world like this. Additionally, players who played Rocket League before today’s announcement will receive an extra item, the Faded Cosmos Boost. These items will be awarded to player accounts when the game goes free to play.

That’s everything we have for now, more information is being promised in the next few weeks on the free to play and Tournament and Challenge systems, meanwhile we’ll keep our ear and wheels to the ground.

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Being published by Marvelous Europe and developed by HONEY PARADE GAME, Kandagawa Jet Girls is an action adventure driving game. With various weapons and mini games to explore. Besides the obvious arcade influence, there is that vibe of titles such as N64 classic, Waverace. In terms of modes and content Marvelous have revealed the following details:

Multiple Playable Characters: Seven teams, seven Jet Skis and fourteen different characters will be playable; with each Character and Jet Ski being interchangeable and selectable in offline and online gameplay modes. Choose your favourite characters and race to victory.

The Fun of Water Guns: SHOOTERS on each team can use one of many different water-based weapons including Dual Handguns, Gatling Gun, Sniper Rifle and Missile Launcher. Each weapon also has their own unique firing style and cool-down; so choose wisely.

In-Depth Customisation: Dress up your character in more than 60 outfits, and customise the Jet Ski with over 50 machine parts, to express your passion for the sport and to gain the attention of your rivals.

Mini-Games Galore: Trying to be the best at Jet Racing can be tiresome; so relax with four fun-filled mini-games that will help train the body and soul.

Ryōbi and Ryōna from SENRAN KAGAURA are here: The infamous sisters Ryōbi and Ryōna will be included as playable characters in Kandagawa Jet Girls on the PlayStation 4.

The game will also offer a detailed Story Mode, offline racing in Free Mode, including Time Attack and Quick Race, there are also four mini-games and competitive online multiplayer modes for up to four players. Kandagawa Jet Girls will be released digitally on STEAM for Windows PC and PS4 on 25th August.

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Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Tracks Edition will include the Gear.Club Unlimited 2 base game along with the legendary track from the 24 Hours of Le Mans as well as some new iconic race cars. With a real focus on a more authentic motorsport experience, the Tracks Edition includes pit stops, tyres and fuel management, race strategy and more.

Take a look at the trailer below.

The expansion features five racing machines including the Ford GT40 MK I, winner of the 1968 and 1969 Le Mans. Four other racing cars joining Gear.Club Unlimited 2’s roster includes the Nissan GT-R LM Nismo, Porsche 919 Hybrid, Mercedes AMG GT3 and the Bentley Continental GT3-R. Besides the new additions, 13 of the cars already present in Gear.Club Unlimited 2 will be available in their “motorsport” version.

We’ve listed the upcoming title’s features below.

Gear.Club Unlimited 2 – Tracks Edition Content:

• All previously released Gear.Club Unlimited 2 content including the following DLCs: Packs Arrows, Checker, Hazard and Wings
• The DLCs Gear.Club Classics and Ace of the Road
• A brand new campaign
• 5 new tracks, including the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit
• 5 new cars built for motorsport and 13 cars prepared for the  «Endurance Championship» campaign
• A new time attack mode. Challenge the fastest racers in the world and get your name on the leader board! – Every combination track/car will have its very own leader board.

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