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0 Wreckfest 2 recently became available in early access on Steam. Developers of the first Wreckfest, Bugbear, return with the demolition derby racing simulator with publishing by THQ Nordic. They feel its initial tracks and vehicles ready for playing and want to share their work with the community for further feedback as development continues. Wreckfest 2 is currently available only on Steam, with console releases with the 1.0 build yet TBD.
I’m gonna wreck it!
One of my core childhood memories is attending a demolition derby with my grandpa. I’m not sure if it was the loud destruction or just the fact that it was something like I’d never seen before. Regardless, any chance to play a game like Wreckfest 2 is one I’m going to take. Come to think of it, it was likely the destruction as I’m much better at wrecking than racing. Check out my thoughts on the current release below.
Gameplay
Much like the original, Wreckfest 2 promises to bring vehicular mayhem into your home. This early access release includes the initial complete set of tracks and stadiums. It also includes a Testing Grounds map with all sorts of obstacles, ramps, and other nonsense to get your crazy demo derby vibes in. As someone that would never drive a derby car in real life, the realism on display here is about as real as it gets for me.
Some features hoping to meet with the 1.0 release of Wreckfest 2 are currently absent. These include the different game modes and things like vehicle customization. I found the current release has the structure for designing your own car laid out but currently cannot seem to use them. It also took me a few rounds of selecting the quick play option to realize I’d have to play custom or lobby if I want to try something else. There I was at least able to find a derby map and the Testing Grounds since I’m not much good at the whole racing bit. Playing around with the damage sliders, Normal, Realistic and Wrecker, is also fun to experiment with for now.
Jason’s First Reactions
A few others of the TC staff have also had the chance to play. Here’s what Jason had to say:
My first reactions of the early access. Wreckfest 2 has certainly had a physics engine overhaul that has also resulted in better detailed damage to vehicles. The amount of parts you can break on the car has certainly increased and you can very easily destroy your car in the first few corners if you are not careful.
The steering feels heavier, almost like how cars feel in Gran Turismo. It is a learning curve and the various surfaces test your skill as to whether you collide with barriers, zoom off the track, or expertly use your foe as a cushion. It is all about the love taps after all!
Being early access, there is a small sample of what the devs will eventually be bringing to the game. With their discord very active with feedback, they are keen to arrive at a game that gamers actually want. It will be interesting as the roadmap unfolds as to how far they can push Wreckfest as well as what new features we get to see that adds to the original foundations. It’s the closest game I have to the old school Destruction Derby and it’s a niche genre that I want to see do well. After all, who doesn’t like de-stressing after a day at work by smashing a virtual car up!
Graphics & Audio
Wreckfest 2 caught me off guard with how beautiful the game is. Without touching any of the default settings, the realism is outstanding. The vehicles provide a satisfying visual feedback for the mayhem and destruction you’re causing. I did find it odd that among the settings I did not find one for a display resolution so I’m not certain if I was playing in 2k or native 4k. Regardless, I hope the screenshots here are proof enough for your own eyes to see just how much quality is present in the current build. And let’s be honest- I was too busy trying not to wreck myself that I don’t even recall if there was much of an audio track present behind the sound of smashing metal and roaring engines.
Longevity
It’s hard to say what the longevity for Wreckfest 2 will be once the game is complete. At this time there’s not much for game modes in place other than single match racing and one full derby map other than the Testing Grounds. The objective goal now is beating a lap record for each track. Otherwise, you have a basic simulator but not much else. Don’t get me wrong – if you love a good physics sim sandbox you will love this game. But if you’re looking for things such as Career Mode, Tournaments, or vehicle customization, you won’t find it right now.
Final Thoughts
Wreckfest 2 is currently fairly light on content, to the disappointment to some that have been waiting for the game. A solid core and clear improvements on the physics and graphics from the original are on display now though. If you’re up for playing around in a new derby game, give it a go. But if you’re looking for a more in depth racing derby sim, give it some time to cook. It’s a near guarantee that whenever you decide to jump in, you won’t regret your decision in the end.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
If you enjoy this review, be sure to check out my other reviews here.
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