Future Racer 2000
- May 22, 2023
- Tim Oxton
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Future Racer 2000" is a retro-themed racing game with a synthwave soundtrack and 80's bedroom setting. Compete against 7 computer players and interact with a variety of nostalgic objects, including a state-of-the-art synthesizer and vintage console. The game offers a unique first-person view and takes approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. Note: the "F" key is labeled as "IT DOESN'T WORK" in the racing controls.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and creative horror experience, blending surrealism with engaging gameplay.
- Atmospheric visuals and sound design effectively create tension and a sense of unease throughout the short playtime.
- The developer's passion is evident, with well-crafted storytelling and immersive voice acting that enhances the overall experience.
- The game is quite short, leaving some players wanting more content and a more fleshed-out story.
- There are occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with interaction and progress.
- Some players found the horror elements less impactful than expected, with a few feeling it didn't fully deliver on scares.
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, enhanced by excellent graphics, music, and voice acting. Reviewers highlight the effective use of aesthetics and sound to create a mysterious and engaging experience, reminiscent of 80s horror with a modern twist. Overall, the game's atmospheric design stands out, making it a compelling walking simulator that captivates players without relying on cheap scares.
“The aesthetics are king here, with the art and atmosphere being great, especially for such a small area to cover while playing.”
“The music does an excellent job of creating the atmosphere and letting you know that something is not quite right -- and that it is time to start panicking!”
“Great mysterious atmosphere with good music.”
“Really appreciate how the atmosphere is what got me and not any cheap jumpscare.”
“80's atmosphere, low-polygon and high-contrast graphics, modern scare effects, walking simulator in a mysterious space... in short, high-end indie horror!”
- story24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its well-crafted narrative, immersive setting, and strong voice acting, creating a haunting atmosphere that resonates with themes of surrealism and subtle dread. While some players desire a more fleshed-out plot, the concise storytelling effectively builds tension and unease without overstaying its welcome. Overall, it offers an interesting and mysterious experience, particularly appealing to fans of horror and relatable themes.
“The story is well-crafted, and the setting, dialogues, descriptions, and voice acting make the game truly immersive.”
“This game did a great job of taking a simple story with resonant themes and creating a small, vivid world crammed full of interesting details and haunting art.”
“A feeling of uneasiness starts to simmer and tension slowly begins building as the story progresses.”
“I do wish there were far more and also wish the story were fleshed out (I'm a fan of these world-ending parasite stories).”
“Casually, it has a really relatable story to the COVID experiences and has some really good jump scares.”
“Very short, but that's to its credit -- you never want a horror story to overstay its welcome, and this one doesn't.”
- music22 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to create a captivating and atmospheric experience, particularly with its effective 80s theme and catchy menu tracks. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack enhances the game's mysterious and tense moments, contributing significantly to the overall immersion and emotional impact. Many praised the composer for delivering a standout score that complements the impressive visuals and voice acting, making it a refreshing addition to the indie game scene.
“The music does an excellent job of creating the atmosphere and letting you know that something is not quite right -- and that it is time to start panicking!!”
“Tim did an amazing job with the music and graphics with an unsettling undertone all around it... it's refreshing to see this kind of game in the pool of indie games.”
“Very nice concept (the 80s theme works so well) and the music is amazing as well.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their unique aesthetics, impressive detail, and atmospheric design, effectively capturing an 80s vibe with low-polygon and high-contrast visuals. Reviewers commend the combination of great music and unsettling undertones, contributing to a tense and immersive experience, particularly in the indie horror genre. Overall, the game's graphical rendering has left a strong positive impression, making it a standout in its category.
“The aesthetics are king here, with the art and atmosphere being great, especially for such a small area to cover in gameplay.”
“I played the demo and fell in love with the atmosphere and the graphic rendering; saying that I'm eagerly awaiting it is an understatement.”
“The aesthetics are king here, with the art and atmosphere being great, especially for such a small area to cover while playing.”
“I played the demo and fell in love with the atmosphere and the graphic rendering of the demo; saying that I'm eagerly awaiting it is an understatement.”
“80's atmosphere, low-polygon and high-contrast graphics, modern scare effects, walking simulator in a mysterious space... in short, high-end indie horror!”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and reminiscent of classic NES and Atari titles, featuring an effective touch navigation mechanic that adds tension and visual appeal. However, players have noted some issues, including confusing level layouts, interaction mechanics, and occasional bugs, which can detract from the experience but are not considered game-breaking. Overall, the gameplay is well-received, with a desire for further development of its unique mechanics.
“Absolutely adore the engaging gameplay of an old classic NES/Atari 7200 game!”
“I'd love to see more done with this mechanic.”
“It's not perfect -- a few details like the interaction mechanics, confusing level layout, and a couple of bugs were a bit distracting, but certainly not game-breaking for me.”
“Edit: replayed it and could not progress past the 2nd time I had to go to the breaker box with the new camera mechanic (I could get past this when the game had that purple night vision mode).”
“The mechanic around navigating by touch is extremely effective, and I love the visual representation of it and how nerve-wracking it is.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for its seamless blend of 80's style wit and spooky elements, creating a unique atmosphere that is both funny and unsettling. Players appreciate the thoughtful character details and the presence of genuinely funny writing amidst disturbing environmental vignettes, contributing to an engaging and visually appealing experience.
“The quality and humor is wonderful, 80's style with synth mixed in.”
“It hops from humor to spooky to synthy coolness really seamlessly, looks great and plays really well.”
“Everywhere I turned, I found disturbing environmental vignettes, or bits of genuinely funny writing, or thoughtful character details.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have reported encountering several bugs and glitches, indicating that the game's stability may be an issue.
“However, I did run into a few bugs and glitches, though.”
“However, I did run into a few bugs and glitches, though.”
