Nitronic Rush has the foundation of something absolutely incredible - a self-described "survival driving" game that has you hurtling down gravity-defying tracks at blistering speeds, slamming the most extreme stunts possible to ward off the constant threat of self-destruction, a threat fuelled purely by your desperation to never let go of the turbo button.
At its peak, this game makes you feel like a god. A zen ascension beyond this plane that could only be achieved by mastering this game's beautifully eccentric control scheme and absolutely tearing with it. Catapulting off a ramp, chaining 12 midair barrel rolls in the span of seconds and landing just in time to nail the next set of 180-degree upside-down barrel flips. And it's not just for style - you have a reason to pull these off. Even just landing the bare minimum of what the tracks demand can feel amazing, especially on the Hardcore stages, which get tough even before factoring in score or time attack. Nitronic Rush is at its best when you're flying through insane courses with a speed and flow that only Nitronic Rush could allow.
Sometimes, though, the flow is broken. In some parts, it's down to the physics - the game loves having you drive up the side of walls or upside-down, but doesn't centre your gravity onto the road you're currently on - small bumps end up being much more punishing on these rotations as you risk losing enough speed to outrun gravity, and end up falling off an otherwise normal stretch of road. In others, it's down to the level design - the "survival" part of the game refers to not only the boost mechanic, but also the levels themselves. Crashing at high speeds will instantly detonate your car, and some levels take full advantage by sprinkling in hazards to avoid - in most cases they're reasonable enough to react to and outmaneuver, but sometimes they can feel a little excessive.
That said, I'll take an experience with slightly flawed embellishments if it's able to totally knock it out of the park in creativity. Nitronic Rush is a student project, and that shines through crystal clear in how willing it is to be different. I don't know if Distance will solve my isues with this game, or refine it in the way that I'd personally love to see it, but I'm still incredibly excited to play it! Developers willing to push genre boundaries deserve much more of a spotlight - it feels hard to find cool games like this nowadays, and I'm glad I managed to find this one.
At its peak, this game makes you feel like a god. A zen ascension beyond this plane that could only be achieved by mastering this game's beautifully eccentric control scheme and absolutely tearing with it. Catapulting off a ramp, chaining 12 midair barrel rolls in the span of seconds and landing just in time to nail the next set of 180-degree upside-down barrel flips. And it's not just for style - you have a reason to pull these off. Even just landing the bare minimum of what the tracks demand can feel amazing, especially on the Hardcore stages, which get tough even before factoring in score or time attack. Nitronic Rush is at its best when you're flying through insane courses with a speed and flow that only Nitronic Rush could allow.
Sometimes, though, the flow is broken. In some parts, it's down to the physics - the game loves having you drive up the side of walls or upside-down, but doesn't centre your gravity onto the road you're currently on - small bumps end up being much more punishing on these rotations as you risk losing enough speed to outrun gravity, and end up falling off an otherwise normal stretch of road. In others, it's down to the level design - the "survival" part of the game refers to not only the boost mechanic, but also the levels themselves. Crashing at high speeds will instantly detonate your car, and some levels take full advantage by sprinkling in hazards to avoid - in most cases they're reasonable enough to react to and outmaneuver, but sometimes they can feel a little excessive.
That said, I'll take an experience with slightly flawed embellishments if it's able to totally knock it out of the park in creativity. Nitronic Rush is a student project, and that shines through crystal clear in how willing it is to be different. I don't know if Distance will solve my isues with this game, or refine it in the way that I'd personally love to see it, but I'm still incredibly excited to play it! Developers willing to push genre boundaries deserve much more of a spotlight - it feels hard to find cool games like this nowadays, and I'm glad I managed to find this one.