Gas Guzzlers Extreme
- November 4, 2016
- Gamepires
- 4h median play time
Gas Guzzlers is more of a junker than a Ferrari, and it shows in its technical underperformance and uninspired track designs. If you really have nothing else to play, the game packs a couple cool features that will occupy you for a few hours — if you don’t get carsick before then.
Gas Guzzlers Extreme is fast, furious and armed to the teeth: lead-foot-trigger-happy shooter shifted into the 5th gear! It’s a fast-paced addictive combat racing game that features many different vehicles, weapons, upgrades, on-track bonuses as well as distinctive environments. Players starts with low performance vehicles and gradually works his way up by earning money in a series of challenging …
Reviews
- Fun and engaging gameplay with a mix of racing and combat elements.
- Variety of game modes, including racing, deathmatch, and capture the flag.
- Humorous character names and voiceovers, adding a lighthearted tone to the game.
- Repetitive gameplay and limited track variety can lead to boredom over time.
- AI can feel unfair due to rubberbanding and difficulty spikes.
- Multiplayer community is mostly dead, making it hard to find online matches.
- graphics396 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players noting that they are impressive for its release year, 2013, and still hold up decently today. While some reviews mention that the visuals show their age and could benefit from updates, others highlight the game's vibrant aesthetics, detailed environments, and solid performance on modern hardware. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience, despite some criticisms regarding optimization and occasional low-resolution assets.
“The graphics are great for this kind of game, and it's running on ultra with no issues with only a GTX 1050 Ti and 3.6GHz quad-core even streaming to Steam Link (it must be well-programmed).”
“The graphics are absolutely top-notch, the weapons, cars, and tracks are many and varied, the AI is fun and sometimes brutal, and the game is just utter brilliance that blows many car combat games out of the water.”
“The graphics are stunning for an indie title and the controls are solid.”
“The graphics are so bad they could pass as a game from 2006.”
“Sadly, this game doesn't age well and the graphics might have been decent for 2013; now in 2017, they are average at best.”
“The graphics power it's using does not equate to the performance I see rendered... I've got some other games with as good graphics that demand far less from my system.”
- gameplay226 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its fast-paced, arcade-style racing combined with vehicular combat, offering a fun and addictive experience with various modes and customization options. However, some players note issues with driving mechanics, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of tutorials, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, many find the game engaging and entertaining, especially for those who appreciate chaotic racing with weapons.
“This is a very fast-paced, good quality car game, there's a lot of destruction, there's a lot of fast-paced gameplay, and a lot of customization options.”
“The gameplay is properly brilliant, the weapons are good fun, and there are proper tactics needed.”
“Great gameplay - explosive, fast-paced, and fun.”
“The game is full of repetitive tracks and gameplay; the longer you play it, the more it gets boring somehow.”
“The gameplay itself is sluggish.”
“After playing the grid, GT, and burnout games, this game feels tired and washed out after 5-10 minutes of gameplay.”
- music184 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as fun and fitting for its arcade-style gameplay, featuring a mix of heavy metal and rock tracks that enhance the overall experience. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive and generic, with a few expressing a preference for alternative music options. Despite mixed opinions, many appreciate the humor and variety in the garage music, contributing to the game's lighthearted atmosphere.
“Fantastic action, excellent music!”
“The music is full of heavy metal rock.”
“It was exactly the crazy fun that I had been looking for, and has an absolutely amazing soundtrack to match!”
“Because in all honesty... I'm not a fan of this game's soundtrack.”
“Personally, I'd rather just play a random YouTube playlist over listening to the uninspiring music.”
“The music is bland, and really bad.”
- humor160 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its crude, juvenile, and over-the-top style, often likening it to the charm of PS2-era games. While some find the puns, funny AI names, and celebrity voice acting entertaining, others criticize it as forced or childish. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's fun factor, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate its unique comedic approach.
“It has the charm from the PS2 era, paired with some great action and some witty humor.”
“Great combat with 10 out of 10 humor.”
“Coupled with intentionally cheesy, schoolyard level humor (in a good way), various pop culture references, metal soundtrack and all the various little touches like the roadkill, this game just works very well and presents a great over-the-top dudebro arcade setting.”
“This game is pure trash, with unfunny dialogue, poor racing mechanics, terrible sound effects, and the low-tier AI for that icing on top of a poop cake.”
- optimization71 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while the transition to DirectX 11 has improved performance for many players, others report significant frame drops and the need to lower graphics settings for stable gameplay. Some users enjoy smooth performance on high-end systems, but those with older hardware experience considerable issues, including poor optimization in certain tracks and inconsistent frame rates. Despite these challenges, many players find the game enjoyable and fun, indicating that optimization could still be improved for a broader range of systems.
“In terms of performance and optimization, moving to DirectX 11 immensely helped the game, with it running pretty well on my system, and they have plenty of options for graphics.”
“The racing is fun, the graphics are great (especially in 3D vision), the performance is amazing (4K via DSR in 3D vision with everything maxed and AA most of the way up), vehicle handling works well, the damage system adds a sense of risk while providing humor, and all the extra game modes complete the awesome experience!”
“Performance is optimized pretty well, even on my 3-year-old PC, fun is guaranteed.”
“Liked the game, played okay... needs some optimization very badly... not to mention when I drove my car it sounded and acted like my handbrake was always pressed.”
“It causes a little bit of tearing to turn it off, but the game has a few optimization issues and frame drops to 30 from 60 make it unplayable.”
“Poor optimization (I have to turn everything all the way down to get a decent framerate at 1280 x 720. I can run Assassin's Creed IV better than this.)”
- story58 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and largely non-existent beyond an initial setup involving a cop's offer to drive a weaponized car; players should not expect any significant narrative development thereafter. While the gameplay focuses on chaotic racing and vehicular combat, it lacks compelling characters or a cohesive storyline, making it more suited for those seeking mindless fun rather than a rich narrative experience. Overall, the game prioritizes action and gameplay mechanics over storytelling, appealing primarily to fans of arcade-style racing and combat.
“I was pretty excited to get neat storytelling from my first race; the cops pull you into the racing life by arresting you on reckless driving, then offer a deal where you'll drive their super cop car with missile launchers in a local battle race.”
“This kind of game doesn't really need a story, but I've played some with great stories and maybe I was disappointed because the cop start and several of the other sponsors implied good worldbuilding ideas.”
“Gas Guzzlers eschews a story in favor of immediate, silly, and ultimately enjoyable gameplay that basically sees you laying waste to the opposition with whichever weapon you prefer while trying to overtake those who survive: it's simple, it doesn't take itself seriously but it works, and it works well.”
“Unfortunately, any sense of a story ends after the first race.”
“No storyline, no characters, just cars and explosions.”
“There's no story, no 'racing crews' competing to 'rule the streets' or to 'get attention of a famous racer', none of that stuff.”
- replayability34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly addictive with various modes that encourage repeated play, others criticize the lack of a functional leaderboard and limited solo content, which diminishes long-term engagement. Overall, the game offers decent to high replay value, particularly in multiplayer settings, but may fall short for those seeking depth in single-player experiences.
“Deceptively simple, but endlessly replayable, with excellent controls, force feedback(!), and customizable vehicular combat.”
“There is quite a lot of replayability here and you'll instantly be hooked, wanting to challenge yourself to whip corners faster or get revenge on that guy who sent a rocket first class through your windshield.”
“I originally got this game because I only had $12 in my Steam wallet and this happened to be on sale for $12, but holy crap I was really pleasantly surprised. Gameplay is really addictive and definitely gets your adrenaline going, plus it's got a ton of replay value and the deathmatch and CTF modes are pretty good too, really fun.”
“Unfortunately, this game provides zero replayability due to the completely broken leaderboard system that doesn't track any of your best lap times, no matter what game mode or race type you choose.”
“One of the best motor car racing and shooting games, but with limited replay value.”
“As the core gameplay only allows the use of one weapon in battle races and last man standing, it hurts its replayability for me.”
- stability20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches or performance issues, others highlight significant bugs and an unfinished feel. Overall, the game runs well on various systems, including Linux, but many users find it repetitive and frustrating due to its numerous technical problems.
“As a kicker for those interested, this game runs great on Linux with Proton 4.2 enabled.”
“Originally bought in 2018, I played this a lot during a trip I made back then. Come 2022, I realize there's 2 DLCs, I snatch the zombie DLC and oh brother, this game is still awesome in every aspect, from the visuals to the handling, technical side (no stutters, no lag, no freezes).”
“Runs nice on my HTPC A6-3650@3.5GHz, pair of 1GB HD-7850's, Win7 64, 4GB RAM, at 1080p with most of the graphics options turned on max. So far, the game has run smooth with no glitches or dropped frames.”
“It is incredibly buggy, reeks of being unfinished, and is very repetitive, getting boring very fast.”
“The game has a solid premise and decent-enough driving physics, but it's ridiculously buggy and overall just unsatisfying.”
“Not even gonna mention bugs, glitches, lags, random weird stuff.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively tedious, likening it to RPG mechanics rather than the fast-paced action expected in a racing game. Progression is slow and repetitive, requiring players to memorize tracks and upgrade vehicles through a seemingly endless cycle of races for arbitrary points. Many reviewers suggest that the game would benefit from reduced grinding and increased variety to enhance the overall experience.
“Getting a high enough rank to move up to the next cup felt more like grinding in an RPG than playing an action-racing game, and nothing awaits after that except the ability to do it all over again with newer cars.”
“The rest of the time was spent grinding endlessly to upgrade old vehicles and buy new ones to win races to get arbitrary points to climb an arbitrary ladder to win what appeared to be a never-ending cup.”
“The progression in the full game is a lot more tedious; you have to work your way up buying new cars one by one, but you are locked out of the good cars until you reach a specific point in the game.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users express disappointment with the monetization strategy, citing misleading advertisements that do not accurately represent the game. Despite this, some believe the game has potential to gain more attention with better marketing.
“Very disappointed and the advertisement was misleading.”
“This is one of those hidden gems, and I would even say with proper advertising, this is one of those games that would get even more attention than it currently is.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Despite some technical shortcomings, players express a strong emotional connection to the game, finding joy in the exhilarating experience of high-speed driving and chaotic combat. The thrill of crashing and using various weapons creates a compelling emotional engagement that outweighs its technical flaws.
“Technically I don't like it that much, but emotionally I do.”