A vintage experience, that reminds us of great moments of what were the old glories of driving.
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Over the years, we’ve witnessed the absence of games that feature that old-school component that sagas like Need for Speed offered, especially the series Underground, one of the most beloved and which remains in the memory of many players (including myself).
And so we arrive at the great protagonist of this analysis: CarX Drift Racing, a game that doesn’t hide its ambitions and, based on elements already known from classic driving games, traces its own path to offer us an experience that, while not innovative, manages to fill the void that many of us missed.
Street racing has returned with CarXStreet - ¡Comparte!
Tech specs
Let’s dive into a section that bets everything to offer us a complete and exciting experience. Just remember that we’re dealing with an independent title that aims to represent an attractive world without the aspirations of a superproduction.
What awaits us is a massive scenario, with a more than worthy visual finish for what it aims to offer. It’s true that we’re not dealing with a AAA game, and that’s evident, but don’t worry: this doesn’t detract from the experience.
The city is enormous and offers a very pleasant visual representation, with day and night cycles, mountains, landscapes, tunnels, bridges, gas stations… The variety of environments is surprising, especially considering its budget constraints.
Additionally, the lighting and smoke effects are very noticeable during each game. The title allows us to choose between two graphic modes: quality and performance. The difference between the two is palpable, as opting for higher visual quality can result in frame rate drops.
If you prefer stability, you know what option to choose. In my case, I opted for the FPS to enjoy more fluid races. All of this comes with English voices and Spanish text, which greatly facilitates immersion.
As for the sound department, I must say that it’s satisfactory, with very catchy themes that perfectly accompany both exploration in the open world and the actual races, where the music takes on a special role.
In summary, the technical balance is correct. It doesn’t aim to dazzle, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a modest but effective game, and what I experienced during my journey reminded me of great references from decades ago, which is always positive.
A solvent experience that reminds us of classics from the era. - ¡Comparte!
Gameplay
This game began its journey on mobile devices, where it gained great popularity. From there, it made the leap to PC with notable success, which has led to its arrival on consoles as well.
We now enter, possibly, the best part of the title: its gameplay. In CarX Drift Racing, this aspect is the true pillar and heart of an experience that doesn’t aim to revolutionize the genre, but has all the ingredients to make us truly enjoy it.
We’ll put ourselves in the shoes of a newcomer to a new suburb, where from the very first moment we’ll launch ourselves into competing in different modes to take control of the territory. To do this, we’ll have to defeat rivals and opponents in the various races that will be presented to us.
And so we arrive at Sunset City, an environment that, at first glance, is very familiar. And it’s not for nothing, since this game takes inspiration from numerous classic titles. In fact, it inevitably reminds us of the Need for Speed saga, especially its beloved series Underground.
We’re facing an open world where we can explore the city from one end to the other. Your curiosity will take you through mountains, remote areas, coastal areas… In short, an extensive environment full of possibilities to discover, which also comes with rewards.
Although it may seem like a simulator in terms of car customization, the game bets on a more arcade, relaxed, and focused gameplay on drift, street racing, and competitions against other players online. The best of many driving titles, all in one.
With this, you’ll already have a general idea of the gameplay: we’ll participate in races against different clubs and their leaders, which will allow us to improve our level and that of our vehicles progressively.
We’ll earn money that we can invest in acquiring new vehicles or improving the existing ones. In my case, I opted to improve a couple of cars as I progressed, adapting them to the specific requirements of each club in terms of level and characteristics.
As we progress, the difficulty will increase, as will the rewards and the pieces we can unlock. It’s here that things become more interesting: each improvement is carefully implemented and can make a difference in the race.
That’s why it’s essential to be prepared, because I assure you that the level of challenge increases. The game offers three levels of difficulty: I started with the easy one, but soon I was recommended to switch to medium difficulty. This already presented a challenge, although not excessive, and soon I was encouraged to try the hard level.
At this point, the player’s skill and the state of their vehicle are crucial to winning. Far from seeming unfair, the game’s system incorporates elements of strategy and requires you to adjust your car optimally for each challenge.
However, there is an aspect that can slightly frustrate: the artificial intelligence of the opponents. Although it tries to offer us a worthy challenge, it can be clumsy at times, crashing into obstacles or other vehicles in an unnatural way. It’s not a major flaw, but it’s an area susceptible to improvement in future updates.
Additionally, the urban environment is alive, with traffic lights, traffic, and other elements that directly affect the races. You can take advantage of this to make your opponents crash and gain an advantage.
You can also acquire houses, which will serve to store your car collection and move between different areas. This is essential, as otherwise you’ll have to spend gas and tires, which are consumed while exploring the city.
We’re facing an experience that evokes the old school. It reminded me of Need for Speed Underground (both), for its focus on tuning and street racing; Need for Speed Carbon, for the emphasis on drift and club leaders; and also Midnight Club 3, for its nocturnal aesthetic.
CarX Drift Racing is a game that, despite its flaws, shines. It adds much more than it takes away and stands out from known formulas like Forza Horizon, The Crew, Grid, or other driving titles. It’s the return of a more classic style, which works and is enjoyable.
Its greatest strength lies in its gameplay, which feels street-like. - ¡Comparte!
Duration
One of the things I’ve appreciated most about the game is that it invites us to regulate our experience, whether through online sessions or through the main mode’s progress. This means there’s a lot to do, and everything flows naturally, without the need to force ourselves to get each piece, car, or property to progress.
CarX Drift Racing is an extensive game, with a vast catalog of vehicles that we can unlock. If we add the multiple improvements available in each aspect of the car, the result is a truly complete experience, even compared to other similar proposals in the genre. In short, get ready to spend a lot of time behind the wheel.
The progression is slow, which makes it a true time-devourer. However, far from being a negative aspect, it’s a quality that extends the game’s lifespan and keeps our interest thanks to its variety of content and challenges.
Much to explore, do, and discover. - ¡Comparte!
Conclusion
We close this analysis with a very positive balance on CarX Drift Racing. Despite not revolutionizing the driving genre, it’s a clear example of how the classic still has a place and can be an excellent source of inspiration for new proposals.
The Need for Speed Underground are an evident influence for this work, which invites us to look back and enjoy in the present a experience that revives with accuracy those golden times of street racing. And far from being a disadvantage, this connection with the retro is one of its greatest virtues.
It’s not a perfect game. We’re aware that it’s an independent title, developed with care and passion, which will conquer those who enjoy this type of experiences. It has the soul of a classic and moves away from modern, more commercial formulas. It’s a recommended proposal for all types of players, especially for those looking for something different within the driving genre.
Thanks to Cosmocover for providing us with the analysis code for the elaboration of this article.
Video game, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch enthusiast. Frank is one of the most active video game news writers on the web. He covers absolutely every topic. In terms of games reviewed, as of 2024 he has already passed the 60 mark and his average score, according to Open Critic is 80.
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