No, not the MS-DOS version…
Racing games used to have gimmicks. During the 360/PS3 era, there were a ton of games that added more than just checkpoint racing, and I loved it. While the genre is still around, very few games actually add something interesting to the mix. Screamer brings that feeling back with anime cut scenes, combat racing, and plenty of style. The game simply oozes uniqueness, and I was all here for it. Developer MIlestone has built a ton of different racing games, but this one might be their most ambitious title to date. There are some caveats to the formula, but what is here is the most original racing game I have played in a long time.
The core mode of Screamer is its tournament mode. This is where the story plays out. The narrative revolves around several teams in a futuristic racing tournament hoping to all be the best and win the competition. As I progressed, I unlocked new teams and racers that can be used in other modes. The action is broken up with tons of dialogue sequences intermixed with some surprisingly impressive anime cut scenes. One thing Milestone nailed is the presentation. The voice acting is good, the animation is excellent, and it really keeps things interesting as I progressed through each race.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99
The tournament mode starts off fairly simple with races focusing on the action and unlocking new teams, but as it progresses it starts to overcomplicate some of its systems. With each new section the game introduces new mechanics that start to detract from the fun of just mastering the cars and courses. Combine this with the fact that the characters each have their own unique traits and things become overly complex too fast. Think of it in terms of something like a hero shooter, you will have to learn the ins and outs of each character to know which best fits your playstyle, but at the same time knowing the others to best compete in races.
Combine all of this with the difficulty curve and the game gets frustrating fast. The rubber-banding in arcade racers is standard fare, but this game was brutal. Before patches I struggled to maintain a top five finish in early races. It got a little better after some updates, but this is still a brutal experience. If that wasn’t enough the race types introduce mechanics that are simply not fun. Having to juggle multiple styles while tackling the unfair AI had me tossing my controller more often than not. I applaud the unique mechanics, but it needed more refinement to make it less frustrating. People play arcade racing games to have fun, and I found myself having less and less as the tournament mode went on.
The other modes are a little more forgiving. Arcade mode allows for difficulty settings, and I could focus simply on the race types I wanted to actually play. The track designs are good, but it has a sort of generic muted color palette that is a staple of Milestone games. The drifting mechanic also takes some getting used to. The game introduces independent wheel control with both analog sticks. This means you control the front wheels with the left, and the back wheels with the right. It was awkward at first, but once I got used to it, it was quite fun. I still had issues with some corners and slamming into the wall happens far too often. Combine that with aggressive AI and basically, I got to the point where if I hit more than 2-3 walls, I simply started the race over.
Multiplayer is also a big part of the game. Screamer includes a four player splitscreen mode, which is not nearly as common as it should be. This used to be a staple of the genre, but developers have since omitted it more often than not. Online play supports up to 16 players, which is awesome, but I did have issues finding matches. Not really sure anyone knows the game came out, and I know I am in a minority when it comes to the genre. I love these games, but the landscape has changed and the idea of an arcade racer is less and less appealing to today’s gamers.
Visually the game looks good if a bit muted as I mentioned. The anime cut scenes are the highlight for sure, but the track design is decent. There are a nice variety of locations to race in and it all has the dark, neon-dripped style you would expect from an anime combat racing game. Framerates are mostly stable and the music is techno-drenched tracks that match the intensity well. As I mentioned earlier, the voice acting is very well done.
Screamer is one of Milestone’s most interesting games for sure, but it has a laundry list of issues that hold it back. These could all be addressed with patches, and some have shortly after launch. I just wonder if players will stick around long enough to see them all. I will definitely keep my eye on it over time, as I do adore a great arcade racing game. Where it stands, Screamer is an interesting game with a few setbacks. Definitely recommend waiting for a sale before diving in.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
