An old-school experience, which reminds us of great moments of what the old driving glories were.
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Over the years, we’ve witnessed the absence of games that feature that old-school component offered by sagas like Need for Speed, especially the Underground series, one of the most beloved and still remembered by many players (myself included).
And so, we arrive at the main protagonist of this analysis: CarX Street, a game that doesn’t hide its ambitions and, based on elements already known from classic driving games, forges its own path to offer us an experience that, while not innovative, manages to fill the void that many of us missed.
Street racing is back with CarX Street - ¡Comparte!
Technical Aspect
We’re going to delve into an aspect that bets everything to offer us a complete and exciting experience. Keep in mind that we’re dealing with an independent title that seeks to represent an attractive world without the aspirations of a superproduction.
What awaits us is an immense scenario, with a more than worthy visual finish for what it intends to offer. It’s true that we’re not facing a AAA game, and that’s noticeable, but don’t worry: this doesn’t detract from the experience.
The city is enormous and provides 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 limitations.
Additionally, the lighting and smoke effects are very noticeable during each game. The title gives us the possibility to choose between two graphic modes: quality and performance. The difference between them is palpable, as opting for higher visual quality can lead to frame rate drops.
If you prefer stability, you know which option to choose. In my case, I opt for FPS to enjoy more fluid races. All this comes accompanied by English voices and Spanish texts, which greatly facilitates immersion.
As for the sound aspect, I must say it’s satisfactory, with very catchy themes that perfectly accompany both the exploration in the open world and the actual races, where music takes special prominence.
In summary, the technical balance is correct. It doesn’t pretend to dazzle, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a modest but effective game, and what I’ve experienced during my journey has reminded me of great references from the genre from decades ago, which is always positive.
A solvent experience that reminds us of classics from the past. - ¡Comparte!
Gameplay
This game began its journey on mobile devices, where it gained great popularity. From there, it jumped to PC with notable success, which has led to its arrival on consoles as well.
We’re now entering, possibly, the best aspect of the title: its gameplay. In CarX Street, this aspect is the true pillar and heart of an experience that doesn’t seek to revolutionize the genre but has all the ingredients to make us truly enjoy it.
We’ll put ourselves in the skin of a newcomer to a new suburb, where from the first moment we’ll launch 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 presented to us.
We arrive at Sunset City, an environment that, at first glance, is very familiar. And it’s no wonder, since this game takes inspiration from numerous classic titles. In fact, it inevitably reminds us of the Need for Speed saga, especially its beloved Underground series.
We’re facing an open world where we can explore the city from end to end. Your curiosity will take you through mountains, remote areas, coastal zones… In short, an extensive environment full of possibilities to discover, which also entails rewards.
Although it may seem like a simulator in terms of car customization, the game bets on a more arcade-like gameplay, carefree and focused 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 existing ones. In my case, I chose to improve a couple of cars as I advanced, adapting them to the specific requirements of each club in terms of level and characteristics.
As we progress, the difficulty, rewards, and pieces we can unlock will increase. It’s here where things get more interesting: each improvement is carefully implemented and can make a difference in the race.
Therefore, it’s convenient to be prepared, because I assure you that the level of demand increases. The game offers three difficulty levels: I started with easy, but soon I was recommended to switch to medium difficulty. This already presented a challenge, although not excessive, and soon after, I was encouraged to try the hard level.
At this point, the player’s skill and the state of their vehicle are key to winning. Far from seeming unfair, the game system incorporates strategic elements and requires you to adjust your car optimally for each challenge.
However, there’s an aspect that can slightly frustrate: the artificial intelligence of the rivals. Although it tries to offer us a worthy challenge, sometimes it seems clumsy, colliding with obstacles or other vehicles in an unnatural way. It’s not a serious flaw, but rather an area susceptible to improvement in future updates.
Additionally, the urban environment is alive, with traffic lights, traffic, and other elements that directly influence the races. You can take advantage of this to make your opponents suffer collisions and thus gain an advantage.
You’ll also be able to acquire houses, which will serve to store your car collection and move between different areas. This is important, as otherwise, you’ll have to spend gasoline and tires, elements that are consumed while exploring the city.
We’re facing an experience that evokes the old school. It has reminded me of Need for Speed Underground (both), due to its focus on tuning and street racing; of Need for Speed Carbon, due to the emphasis on drift and club leaders; and also of Midnight Club 3, due to its nighttime aesthetic.
CarX Street is a game that, despite its defects, manages to shine. It adds much more than it subtracts and sets itself apart 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 most appreciated about the game is that it invites us to regulate our experience, either through online sessions or through the game’s own progress in the main mode. This means there’s a lot to do, and everything flows naturally, without the need to force ourselves to get every piece, car, or property to advance.
CarX Street is an extensive game, with a wide catalog of vehicles that we can unlock. If we add to this the multiple improvements available in each aspect of the car, the result is a truly complete experience, even in comparison to other similar proposals in the genre. In short, get ready to invest a large number of hours behind the wheel.
The progression is slow, which makes it a true time devourer. But far from being a negative aspect, it’s a quality that extends the game’s lifespan and maintains our interest thanks to its variety of content and challenges.
Much to explore, to do, and to travel. - ¡Comparte!
Conclusion
We close this analysis with a very positive balance about CarX Street. Despite not revolutionizing the driving genre, it’s a clear example that the classic style still has a place and can be an excellent source of inspiration for new proposals.
The Need for Speed Underground games are an evident influence for this work, which invites us to look back and enjoy in the present an experience that successfully revives those golden times of street racing. And far from being a disadvantage, this connection to the past is one of its great virtues.
It’s not a perfect game. We’re aware that it’s an independent title, developed with care and passion, which will know how to conquer those who enjoy this type of experience. It has the soul of a classic and moves away from more commercial modern formulas. It’s a recommendable proposal for all types of players, especially for those seeking something different within the driving genre.
Thanks to XXX for providing us with the analysis code for the preparation 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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