NeoSprint
- June 27, 2024
- Headless Chicken Games
Though it controls well and has some unique qualities among modern racers, NeoSprint's lack of charisma will make its multiplayer and track creating tools difficult to shine in the long run.
Neosprint is a fast-paced arcade-style racing game for up to 8 players, with both single and multiplayer modes. Its robust track builder and sharing tools allow for customizable racing experiences, while the campaign mode, grand prix, and time trials provide a variety of challenging content. Precise controls and intricate drifting and drafting mechanics make for an exciting and skill-based experience.
Reviews
- The game works great on Steam Deck out of the box and provides straightforward, entertaining gameplay that is perfect for casual play.
- The track builder offers significant replay value, allowing players to create and share their own tracks, which adds longevity to the game.
- The graphics are colorful and charming, and the variety of vehicles with different attributes enhances the racing experience.
- The game lacks online multiplayer, which limits the social aspect and competitive play, making it feel less engaging over time.
- The AI is not very challenging, and the single-player campaign can feel too easy and repetitive, which may disappoint players seeking a tougher experience.
- Some controls and sound design issues detract from the overall experience, with certain features feeling clunky or simplistic compared to expectations from a modern racing game.
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through its user-created courses and obstacle course mode, which introduce variety and challenge. The tight controls and distinct car handling further enhance the experience, although the addition of online multiplayer could elevate replay value even more. Overall, the track builder and diverse gameplay elements contribute to a robust replay experience.
“This is a decent revival of the franchise so far, with simple yet challenging gameplay, and the track builder will provide a lot of replay value.”
“There's lots of added challenge and variety in the user-created courses and the obstacle course mode, which adds a lot of replay value. The tight controls and the fact that each car handles differently mean that picking the right car for the course is essential.”
“It would be great to have online multiplayer in addition to local play. Competing on user-generated courses online would significantly enhance replayability and challenge, taking the game from good to great.”
“What would be nice would be an online multiplayer in addition to local - playing online on user-generated courses would add a lot of replayability and challenge and would bring the game from good to great.”
“That being said, there's lots of added challenge and variety in the user-created courses and the obstacle course mode, which adds a lot of replay value. The controls are tight, and each car handles differently, so picking the right car for the course helps.”
“That aside, this is a decent revival of the franchise so far, with simple yet challenging gameplay, and the track builder will provide a lot of replay value.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their vibrant and cute aesthetic, particularly the night tracks adorned with lights, contributing to an enjoyable visual experience. However, some users note that while the visuals are colorful, they can feel simplistic and reminiscent of mobile games, which may not meet expectations at the game's price point. Overall, the game runs smoothly and offers a fun course creation feature, enhancing the graphical experience.
“The graphics are fantastic and the game runs brilliantly, and creating courses is a lot of fun.”
“The graphics are fantastic and the game runs brilliantly, and creating courses is a lot of fun.”
“The graphics are super cute; I love the tracks that appear to be at night with lights all around the track.”
“Serviceable but simplistic visuals and certain scenery assets befitting a mobile game.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as entertaining with a variety of modes, providing ample content for players. However, some reviewers feel that the limited number of tracks leads to repetition, diminishing the overall experience and failing to give each track a unique identity, with the victory song also feeling out of place.
“The music is pretty entertaining and it has so many modes; I think it might take me a couple of days to finish it.”
“The music and sound design leaves something to be desired; the same 3/4 tracks are repeated over and over again. While the tracks are good, they become monotonous quickly and fail to give each track or cup any sense of personality.”
“The victory song just feels a bit out of place.”
“The music and sound design leaves something to be desired; the same 3/4 tracks are repeated over and over again. While the tracks are good, they become monotonous quickly and fail to give each track or cup any sense of personality.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simple yet challenging mechanics, making it accessible for casual players while still offering depth for more experienced gamers. The well-designed courses pay homage to the Atari Sprint series, and the robust track builder adds significant replay value with its user-friendly drag-and-drop functionality and numerous unlockable assets. Overall, the game captures a charming essence that enhances the fun, especially in multiplayer settings.
“This is a decent revival of the franchise so far, with simple yet challenging gameplay, and the track builder will provide a lot of replay value.”
“The gameplay has a certain charm, and playing with friends can be a lot of fun.”
“The game features easy-to-learn controls that make it accessible to casual players, well-designed courses that are faithful to Atari’s Sprint series, a robust and user-friendly track builder with drag-and-drop functionality, and heaps of unlockable track assets and nostalgic Atari Easter eggs.”
“The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
“The controls are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt the gameplay, making it frustrating to play.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a strong emotional response to the game, indicating that it has deeply resonated with them and elicited feelings that are difficult to articulate. This suggests that the game's narrative or character development effectively engages players on a personal level.
“Sorry, I'm a little bit emotional now...”
“Sorry, I'm a little bit emotional now...”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, with certain challenges feeling repetitive and some campaign stages lacking variety. Additionally, the inability to edit downloaded custom tracks contributes to the overall sense of monotony. The absence of online multiplayer further limits engagement and variety in gameplay.
“The lack of online multiplayer makes the grinding feel even more tedious, especially with some challenges that seem to drag on forever.”
“Many of the campaign stages are repetitive, leading to a grinding experience that quickly becomes monotonous.”
“It's frustrating that I cannot edit downloaded custom tracks, which adds to the grind of completing challenges without any fresh content.”
Critic Reviews
NeoSprint Review – Behind The Curve
Though it controls well and has some unique qualities among modern racers, NeoSprint's lack of charisma will make its multiplayer and track creating tools difficult to shine in the long run.
50%NeoSprint Review – Tiny Racers Going Fast
NeoSprint has some good things that arcade racing fans will appreciate. It’s a refreshing take on a very classic series for Atari. Getting into a race alone or with others is easy, and there’s plenty of racing to be done. But a lack of online multiplayer and a slim picking of items at the start can be a real drag. But there’s a variety of tracks and an interesting track editor that will keep players busy for a long while.
60%NeoSprint Review
At its core, NeoSprint is fun to pick up and play and managed to leave us itching for 'one more race', making it a good recommendation for retro arcade racing fans and Atari enthusiasts. That said, we feel the asking price is a tad steep given the omission of online play options, particularly when stacked against free-to-play retro racing competition like F-Zero 99. But if you’re sold on its well-crafted campaign and solid track-building elements, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
70%