Aero GPX

About

Aero GPX is a single player and multiplayer racing game. It was developed by Aaron McDevitt and was released on August 6, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Aero GPX is an anti-gravity racer that is focused on high velocity, flight, machine-to-machine combat, and responsive controls that are simple to pick up but difficult to master. There are 30 machines on the circuit for each race in Aero GPX; and the race ends with significantly less than that. Pilots fight for the best position possible with high speeds, risky maneuvers, and visceral attacks. Whi…

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 830 reviews

gameplay109 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Aero GPX captures the essence of F-Zero with its fast-paced gameplay, tight controls, and vibrant art style.
The game introduces innovative mechanics like drill diving and separate health and boost meters, enhancing the racing experience.
The soundtrack is fantastic, adding to the overall excitement and nostalgia of the game.

The game currently lacks online multiplayer and has limited content, which may disappoint some players.
Some tracks and visuals feel unfinished or simplistic, indicating that the game is still in early access.
The AI can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments during races.

gameplay
365 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
68%
2%
The gameplay of Aero GPX has been widely praised for its fast-paced, engaging mechanics that build upon the legacy of the F-Zero series while introducing innovative features like drill dives and separate health and boost meters. Players appreciate the tight controls, responsive handling, and the challenge of mastering advanced techniques, which contribute to a highly replayable experience. However, some reviewers noted that the tutorial could be improved to better explain these mechanics, and there are occasional concerns about the depth of gameplay and track design. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of anti-gravity racing with a fresh twist, making it a standout title in the genre.
- “This is the only anti-gravity racing game I've played that actually makes an effort to expand upon the existing mechanics of a game like F-Zero GX instead of just being a direct clone with no new ideas.”
- “Instead of just drifting and boosting, you are given access to a wide variety of moves that allow you to personalize your gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly captivating and fun, while it requires skill to master.”
- “The gameplay really falls flat; it lacks depth and content, making it hard to recommend at its asking price.”
- “The flight sections of some tracks seem like a cool set piece at first, but they quickly become very samey.”
- “The crash and clash combat mechanic just doesn't work at all, turning races into a chaotic mess rather than a thrilling competition.”
music
285 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its energetic and nostalgic soundtrack, primarily composed by myrone. While the tracks effectively enhance the racing experience, some players have noted a desire for more variety, as the repetition of a limited number of songs can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a perfect complement to the fast-paced gameplay, capturing the essence of classic racing games like F-Zero.
- “Great soundtrack to bring back nostalgic vibes.”
- “The music is amazing and is probably my favorite OST this year (2024).”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, as well.”
- “And finally, the same 4-5 songs for all the tracks can get rather bothersome.”
- “I assume the music of this game was instructed to follow a 'sound font' to replicate the feel of F-Zero X's OST, but ultimately all it does is make every song blend together, with none of them being able to stand on their own two feet.”
- “I wish that every race had its own music as it does get old after a while, but the music we've got is killer.”
graphics
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant cel-shaded art style, which evokes a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles like F-Zero while incorporating a modern comic book aesthetic. Many reviewers highlight the stunning visuals, clean design, and smooth performance, noting that the art style enhances the fast-paced gameplay. However, some players feel that certain graphical elements could be improved or are currently lacking in detail, but overall, the visuals are considered a strong aspect of the game.
- “The graphics and tracks are gorgeous.”
- “The art style is beautiful, the perfect way to make an expressive and unique style that still keeps huge maps with fast racers running at a smooth 60fps.”
- “Face-melting speed, gorgeous visuals, bangin soundtrack.”
- “I'm not a big fan of the graphics style but on my gaming laptop it's super-fast and super-smooth. I like the soundtrack so far. If you never played F-Zero X or GX, the controls seem complicated at first (use a controller), but if you played those earlier games, and in particular GX, that will shorten the learning curve.”
- “It's certainly a pretty game and I appreciate the cell-shading art style, but due to this, it's lacking some of the finer details - as such, tracks don't look as epic or grand as, say, the tracks from GX.”
- “Graphics-wise, this one is pretty subjective, but this game just doesn't do it for me.”
story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
88%
6%
The game's story aspect is primarily delivered through a career mode that features mission-based challenges reminiscent of F-Zero GX, but many players feel it lacks depth and engaging narrative elements. While the missions include a mix of races and time trials, there is a desire for more character backstory and unique story missions to enhance the experience. Overall, players appreciate the challenge but hope for future updates to introduce a more robust story mode and online multiplayer features.
- “There's a career mode, which is mission-based, featuring both regular races and challenges similar to GX's story mode, and a bit of flavorful write-up before each mission.”
- “The career mode helps this as it feels like every special challenge that isn't just a standard race is specifically tuned to get you to practice getting good at a specific aspect of the controls with both the car and track you are forced to use for those missions.”
- “There's a career mode which acts like GX's story mode, but most problems I have with the game are a result of the fact this is still in development, including an uninteresting career mode that is more like Mario Kart DS's mission mode.”
- “The game also doesn't offer much in regards to lore and story as of yet, which obviously is low priority at this stage.”
- “I would love if it got a story mode like in GX back then to build its identity.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
37%
13%
The game's optimization has received widespread praise, with users noting its smooth performance across various platforms, including the Steam Deck, where it runs exceptionally well even on lower-end systems. Players appreciate the fluid controls, extensive graphical options, and the ability to achieve high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality. Overall, the game is considered highly optimized for both performance and accessibility, making it enjoyable for a wide range of hardware configurations.
- “Super optimized, accessible, and hits that vibe super well.”
- “Kudos to the developer for striking such a strong visual appeal while still prioritizing superior performance above everything.”
- “While playing on the Steam Deck, the performance was nothing but battery smooth.”
- “The more you play this game, the more you realize how many tiny optimizations it's possible to squeeze out to improve your times.”
- “Initial version of early access has a couple of bumps (my time trials don't seem to save), but otherwise it's very solid and runs like butter performance-wise.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
37%
19%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant and unique character designs, which many players find appealing and reminiscent of classic racing titles like F-Zero. While opinions vary, with some players expressing dissatisfaction with the aesthetics, the majority appreciate the diversity and creativity of the characters, noting that they enhance the overall gameplay experience. The characters, though not deeply integrated into the mechanics, add a fun and stylish element that players enjoy discovering as they progress.
- “Not to mention I also really like the character designs (which I don't see nearly enough people talking about), especially Lynda Stratovale (she's like Captain Falcon and Carmen Sandiego had a baby). I'd definitely like to learn more about her and the other GPX racers!”
- “The character designs are all vibrant and unique, each exemplifying their vehicle's specialty.”
- “With each machine is an awesome and unique pilot that, while not integral to any mechanics or anything, are fun, stylish, and genuinely great character designs and I've loved every one that's been unlocked so far.”
- “Character designs are generally unappealing, and at times pretty ugly.”
- “As for souring the experience, the character design is like a bad joke.”
- “I personally am not a fan of the character designs.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability, with engaging tracks, a challenging gameplay experience, and various modes like grand prix and time trials that keep players coming back. While the current content is somewhat limited, the potential for future updates and custom content creation could enhance replay value even further. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and the opportunity to experiment with different characters and machines, making it a worthwhile pick for fans of the genre.
- “The highly replayable tracks, the atmosphere, the gameplay, the challenge; every single note needs to be struck to emulate this sensation.”
- “A ton of replayability for 20 dollars, with Grand Prix and time trials decently updated as of this review.”
- “Some of the courses are a little bit difficult to get the hang of at first, but this is a very replayable and intuitive game that gives you the chance to feel like you're improving bit by bit when you learn the levels and mechanics.”
- “I feel like this would add countless replay value if we could create custom content similar to something like ModNation Racers and share it online.”
- “In career mode, you are given about 5 total options (three of which are playable in early access) called 'cups'.”
- “These cups are how you unlock characters, 15 of which are playable in this version, with a suggested 30 total, shown in the machine select screen.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
44%
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it runs well on platforms like the Steam Deck, users report occasional glitches, such as hit detection issues and sound bugs, which can disrupt gameplay. These glitches are generally minor and can often be resolved with a simple restart, but they do detract from the overall experience.
- “The game runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck straight out of the box.”
- “Also, this runs great on my Steam Deck.”
- “There are glitches; sometimes, I won't lie, hit detection can be a bit iffy, and sometimes I've glitched through the track after jumping. These glitches usually require a simple restart of an individual race and trying again, or are very minor.”
- “The game is decently buggy; the most common issue is the announcer not saying countdown numbers.”
- “Sound effects can be a bit buggy at times, but then again, this isn't a finished product yet.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its absurd mechanics and course design, which encourage players to engage in comically chaotic actions. Players find amusement in the contrast between the characters' cool silhouettes and their actual designs, as well as in the entertaining mishaps that occur during gameplay. Overall, the game's fast-paced nature and the lighthearted atmosphere contribute to a fun and humorous experience.
- “The drill dive, hyper slide, and other mechanics allow you to reach unreasonable levels of speed, and the course design actively encourages you to do some really funny and unhinged stuff.”
- “The game's cast feels like silhouettes of what they should've been, which I find rather humorous seeing as their silhouettes on the menu look far cooler than the actual characters themselves.”
- “I tried the demo and was laughing at myself as I tried to win races.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and inviting qualities, effectively capturing the spirit of classic titles like F-Zero. Players appreciate the cohesive design of the cars, pilots, and UI, which enhances the overall experience. While the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, some reviewers suggest that it could be more dynamic to better match the intensity of gameplay.
- “Incredible game that brought the atmosphere and spirit of the F-Zero games I grew up with.”
- “The inviting and friendly atmosphere isn’t just limited to the accessibility, but also to the presentation: the very nice art style, combined with the quite good, albeit not very varied, music evokes a positive summer vibe reminiscent of Wave Race 64.”
- “The music could very well be centered into being more aligned to each lap of a stage so it could get more intense and mix up the atmosphere in between laps.”
- “The atmosphere, cars, pilots, and UI all complement each other without being too polarizing.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the grinding mechanics in the game for their balance of challenge and satisfaction, likening it to the thrill of racing in titles like F-Zero without the excessive difficulty. The unique risk-reward system, which involves managing boost and health, adds depth to gameplay, making each race feel engaging and strategic. While some find certain grinding techniques tedious, many enjoy the exhilarating experience of mastering the tracks and pushing their machines to the limit.
- “They're all slow, and tedious, and boring.”
- “Such as drill diving through the air, hypersliding around corners, spingrinding to basically cartwheel yourself down the track, and even burning your entire health bar to reach even higher speeds at the cost of constantly losing health.”
- “For now, I shall continue spin-grinding into walls and flying into the track at missile speeds.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of risk and tension, as players must navigate hazards that can both heal and harm them, creating a precarious balance. This dynamic evokes feelings of anxiety and excitement, particularly in racing scenarios where the stakes are high and the consequences of mistakes are significant. Players express a desire for more varied gameplay modes to enhance emotional engagement and challenge.