DethKarz
- August 21, 2020
- Beam Software
Get on SteamDethKarz is a futuristic racing game set in 2408 AD with 4 environments and 12 selectable cars. Players compete in high-speed races with fusion-powered vehicles equipped with plasma artillery and powerups. With 3 race classes, hidden vehicles, and intense combat from other drivers, DethKarz offers a thrilling and replayable experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features smooth controls and gameplay, providing an immersive experience that keeps players engaged for hours.
- The map design and dynamic soundtrack contribute to an exhilarating atmosphere, reminiscent of classic combat racing games.
- DethKarz offers a unique twist on racing with its combination of high-speed racing and combat mechanics, appealing to fans of the genre.
- The game suffers from various technical issues, including freezing on startup and occasional frame drops that can disrupt gameplay.
- Players cannot exit championship mode during a season, which can lead to frustration during longer races, especially with limited retry tokens.
- The AI can be inconsistent, with difficulty spikes that may frustrate players, and some tracks are poorly designed, leading to disorienting gameplay experiences.
- graphics11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its late 90s origins, yet they still hold up reasonably well, particularly the car designs and track aesthetics. While some players experience occasional frame drops and glitches, the overall visual style is appreciated for its futuristic yet grounded look. Nostalgic fans of the genre may find the graphics charming, though newcomers might struggle with their age.
“Incredible game for its time; when you consider this game was made in the late 90s, you realize that it had solid graphics for a game back then, and the driving mechanics are still fairly comfortable even in modern terms.”
“And as for those tracks and the visuals in general; they've held up rather well with a futuristic yet grounded aesthetic that has aged better than an attempt at realism would have.”
“Mooie 3dfx graphics, heel knappe tracks, mooie maar vreemde bolides, onder begeleiding van dreunende techno tracks.”
“Frame drops aren’t common, but when they occur, they can lead to incredibly disorienting teleportation (I only noticed this occurring on red planet - medium with the graphical settings maxed out).”
“- graphics glitches.”
“Yes, the graphics are dated, but the gameplay is as tight as ever and it stands out as that rarity of rarities: a combat racing game where the emphasis is on the racing instead of the combat.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Dethkarz is characterized by fast-paced racing with smooth controls and old-school drifting mechanics that enhance the overall experience. While the vehicles may feel floaty, they contribute to the game's immersive feel, and the focus on racing over combat sets it apart in the genre. Despite some dated graphics and minor technical issues, the gameplay remains engaging and enjoyable, appealing to both nostalgic players and newcomers alike.
“The heart of Dethkarz lies in its fast-paced and intense racing gameplay.”
“Smooth controls and gameplay make it an immersive experience that will keep players hooked for hours.”
“Yes, the graphics are dated, but the gameplay is as tight as ever and it stands out as that rarity of rarities: a combat racing game where the emphasis is on the racing instead of the combat.”
“The vehicles are quite floaty, but in a way that detracts from the overall feel of the game, making it difficult to control during intense moments.”
“As far as ports go, this is a pretty standard one, with my main issues being no widescreen support and the controller support being lacking, which negatively impacts the gameplay experience.”
“While the graphics are dated, the gameplay feels clunky and unrefined, making it hard to enjoy the racing experience fully.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's music has been praised for its energetic and dynamic soundtrack, featuring eight distinct tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. Reviewers noted that the upbeat electronic music complements the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere, making it memorable and enjoyable. Additionally, the potential for modding music and textures adds to the game's appeal for players looking to customize their experience.
“Awesome vibes in the map design and the soundtrack goes incredibly hard.”
“The game also features a dynamic soundtrack that adds to the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere.”
“There are a total of eight musical tracks the game switches between depending on the circuit, plus a credits track, replay track, and main menu theme.”
“It seems like all of the models use various proprietary file types (e.g. .track, .x, .walls, etc.), however the textures are mainly bitmap and targa files, and the music is entirely comprised of.”
“The music is wicked.”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game exhibits stability issues, including frequent graphics glitches during races and occasional slowdowns when maxing out view distance. Additionally, players may experience freezing if sticky buttons are enabled in Windows, requiring them to disable this feature for smoother gameplay.
“Runs great; it has all the slowdowns I remember at the exact same locations when maxing out the view distance. The physics are still fun, the upbeat electronic music still fits the game, and the tracks flow as great as I remember.”
“There are graphics glitches throughout the game.”
“Almost every single race experiences glitches at least once.”
“The game freezes until you address a warning caused by sticky buttons in Windows.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a dynamic soundtrack that intensifies the adrenaline-pumping experience, contributing significantly to the overall immersion.
“The game features a dynamic soundtrack that adds to the adrenaline-pumping atmosphere.”
“The immersive environment draws you in, making every moment feel intense and engaging.”
“The haunting visuals and sound design create an atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for poor performance, particularly on RDNA2 hardware, leading to significant slowdowns that users find unacceptable, especially compared to its smoother operation on Wine/Linux and older Windows systems.
“Poor performance with heavy slowdowns. This is unacceptable on an RDNA2 machine. It always worked really well under Wine/Linux and on Windows XP/7 machines.”
“The optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I experienced constant lag and unresponsive controls, which made the game nearly unplayable.”
