After initially releasing into Early Access on PC, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks is now racing onto consoles! Available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, is this multiplayer-focused combat racer worth a look for both 40k fans and newcomers? Let’s take a look!
Developed by Caged Elephant, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks is available now, and priced at a very reasonable £15.99 on the PlayStation Store.
Dese Speed Freeks Are Gunna WAAAGH!
The Warhammer 40k universe is big. Like, really bloody big. I’ll admit, I don’t know all there is to know about this long-running franchise, so I pose a question to you, reader! Which 40k game would you recommend? From real-time strategies to boomer shooters, the series has had a plethora of videogames across many genres. I’ve played a fair few, but which are your favourites? Let us know down below, ya gitz!
Gameplay
This isn’t your typical arcade racer. These Orks prefer war and destruction across open environments over lap times and precision driving. This is reflected in the game’s two modes. That’s right, Speed Freeks only has two modes to play. This isn’t nearly enough, and pretty disappointing. Sure, they’re fun, but not enough to keep players engaged for extended periods.
First is Deff Rally, which is the closest mode to a traditional racer. You’ll race between checkpoints scattered across the map, taking out the opposition as you go. Kustom Rally also allows you to play this mode on user-created maps, although no AI bots are available. There are some genuinely creative ones out there, and are worth checking out!
Kill Konvoy is just as hectic, which has both teams attempting to bomb each others “Stompa”. These crudely constructed mechs wander the battlefield, and you’ll need to collect bombs from around the map and drive into them to slow them down. First teams Stompa to cross the finish line wins! It’s essentially Capture the Flag with a twist, and was easily my favourite of the two modes.
Each of the 10 available vehicles all handle well, and feel suitably weighty. They’re controlled solely using the left analogue stick (like the Warthog from Halo), freeing up R2 and the face buttons for weapons. From the nimble Scraptjet to the heavily armoured Trukk, there’s a decent variety for all types of players. There’s even the Deffkopta, for those who want to rain down hell from above! Each machine has a standard weapon as well as three abilities that range from a quick dash to a barrage of homing missiles. I definitely found myself sticking to certain vehicles with my preferred loadouts, though there isn’t that much in terms of customisation when it comes to abilities.
Graphics & Audio
The presentation is arguably Speed Freeks‘ strongest aspect. Developer Caged Elephant clearly know their stuff about 40k, and it shows. The over-the-top, often crude humour and personalities of the Orks are on display throughout the game. Vehicles, for example, are patched together with scrap metal and prayers and sound like they may or may not explode at any second. This design also extends to the various maps you’ll be racing across. Like a mishmash of scrapyards and war-torn landscapes, each environment feels well-crafted in looking like they belong in the 40k universe.
There’s a decent amount of customisation, as well. There are plenty of cosmetics to unlock that allow you to personalise each vehicle.
Audio design is a bit of a mixed bag, unfortunately. Explosions, weapons firing, screeching tyres, it’s all as you’d expect. The grunts and one-liners of the Orks are humorous and add to the mayhem too, but that’s about it really! The soundtrack that plays through the menus is fine, if a little generic-sounding.
Longevity
Personally, I can’t see myself playing Speed Freeks for a long time. I primarily play single-player titles, and there isn’t enough content here to keep me entertained. Yes, bots and private lobbies are fine, but that still doesn’t solve the issue of a lack of game modes.
The “WAAAGH! PATH”, this game’s take on a battle pass, didn’t irritate me as much as I first thought it would, thankfully! There are no microtransactions, so you earn everything in each of the four paths just by playing. It essentially just unlocks new customisation options, so it doesn’t give other players an unfair advantage. Similarly, each vehicle has its own unique challenges: score kills on airborne enemies, fire a certain amount of bullets, etc. These, again, just unlock more items to customise your machines with, although some of these tasks will take a long time to finish!
Playing online does make for a more enjoyable experience, especially if you can get a group of friends together. However, as of this review, there were a maximum of around 60 people playing the game. I knew the game was all but dead on PC, but a new release on consoles, and the max player count is that low? It doesn’t bode well for Speed Freeks‘ future. Thankfully there are bots that will fill up empty team spaces, but they’re pretty mindless!
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, I enjoyed my time with Speed Freeks. Mostly… It’s hard to be too critical of the lack of solo content and game modes, especially for the price. There is fun to be had here, especially with friends. Plus, the creation utilities work surprisingly well using a controller, and was something I didn’t even expect to be included in the console version.
The love for the 40k universe is on display in full force; there’s no doubt about it. Franchise veterans will absolutely get a kick out of burning rubber as a bunch of Orks. That aside, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks is still a competent vehicle combat game with some genuinely good ideas. It’s just a shame there isn’t more of it.
So, with all that said, Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks receives the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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