Blaze Rush

 
Developer: Targem Game

Steam Release: Oct 2014

Hours Played: 3.7

Similar To: Death Rally / Pressure Overdrive

Rating: 5/5 Parsnips

GAMEPLAY

There are very few top-down racers adorning the Steam Store for starters but Blaze Rush joins Death Rally, Pressure Overdrive and Obliteracers in the very short list of those that include combat racing. Thrust onto alien planets in an unknown solar system you take part in a series of deadly races where achieving objectives and hence winning gold trophies allows you to climb ever higher up the list of further unlockable tracks. Races are super-intense and, if played with a controller, will have your thumb trying to push that left stick out of its socket in an effort to stay ahead of the pack. Yep, it's the left-stick for acceleration and forward movement here rather then the trigger. Weapons such as circular saws, mini-guns and globs of goo help you slow down competitors while thrusters and nitro boosts give you that welcome kick when needed.

 

BALANCE & PACE

Along with your conventional first past the post and time-trial events, you get a few novelty races thrown in. First up comes the elimination race. Here, you race as normal but with the back-markers getting crushed one-by-one by an intimidating mashing machine made up of a giant roller with spikes that gradually speeds up behind you. The race ends with first place going to the last car standing. Points are awarded according to where you were placed and you repeat this about four or five times for an eventual overall winner. Second there is the stay-in-front the longest round where you have to hold first place for 50 seconds; no mean feat with missiles and explosions flying everywhere and as all other cars desperately try to do the same. The A.I. does an excellent job in keeping things exciting with just a few races seeming a little bit unfair.    

PRESENTATION & DESIGN

As an explosive racer with loads going on, the graphics stay crystal clear throughout and everything is silky smooth with not a single hit to the framerate in sight. With a certain Mad Max vibe, your car will gently sway and rock authentically as you trundle along. An outline of the full track is shown at the bottom of the screen and with just enough of a view to anticipate the turns, Blaze Rush's camera does a fine job in presenting the action. The game needs to show all cars on screen so if you lag behind it will ping you back into the action giving you the feeling that there's always a chance for a top three place. On a different note, this one does away with any sort of upgrading like there is in Death Rally or Pressure and keeps the focus entirely on winning races and crushing opponents.

 

PROGRESS SYSTEM

The game is presented like a campaign where tracks get unlocked as you go. These are represented by squares or cards with the title of the race and an appropriate cartoon-like illustration. Each race gives the possibility of winning three to five golden cups with each cup being an objective. Clicking on the square reveals these objectives which usually means coming in the top three places, killing three opponents or hitting a certain number of points. There are around 50 races altogether with the possibility to win 209 trophies in total. Before each race you get to choose from a large roster of drivers who have their own unique stats according to car mass, acceleration and handling. More drivers get unlocked as you play.  

CONCLUSION

For a top-down racer with combat (best played in small doses), Blaze Rush is up there with the rest of them. Personally, I prefer those with straightforward racing and with an importance attached to best times like Little Racers Street or Reckless Racing but that's just a matter of taste. This is pure arcade racing where the A.I. allows the first place position to change constantly, and whereas this can be seen to keep the action exciting more cynical players might consider this to be taking something away from the effort of winning through skill. Still, although there are a few time trial races that address that issue, it means the game is not to be taken seriously and puts the goal of having casual fun way ahead of realism in racing... and for a video game that's absolutely fine.