Pocket Cars
- January 10, 2020
- Gen90Software
Get on Steam"Pocket Cars" is an arcade combat-racing game featuring RC cars that race through dynamic tracks with real-life obstacles. The game offers 140+ single-player challenges, 4-player split-screen, and 8-player online multiplayer. With 15 customizable cars, 16 unique weapons, and a stunt arena, "Pocket Cars" provides a thrilling and personalized racing experience.
Reviews
- The game features excellent physics and controls that closely mimic real RC car handling, making it fun and engaging for players.
- Graphics are visually appealing, with diverse environments and a good variety of customization options for vehicles.
- The game offers a straightforward progression system without grinding, allowing players to unlock new cars and races by completing specific challenges.
- The game suffers from optimization issues, leading to frame drops and graphical glitches, especially in areas with dense foliage.
- Driving assists can make the game feel artificial and detract from the challenge, as they simplify control and reduce the skill required to navigate the tracks.
- The multiplayer experience is currently lacking, with a small player base and limited online matchmaking options, making it difficult to find games.
- graphics17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their quality and modern aesthetic, offering a significant upgrade from typical cartoonish styles found in similar titles. However, players have reported issues with optimization, including frame rate drops and graphical glitches, particularly in dense environments. Overall, while the visuals are appealing, technical performance can detract from the experience.
“The graphics are very nice, and my computer plays the game at all ultra settings without issue at the full 144fps with adaptive sync on.”
“I love this game, the graphics are beautiful, it is using its source of inspiration well, and having its own take on the source material.”
“I am glad there is a toy RC game with modern graphics and sound now.”
“On Linux, with several computer-controlled players present, I experience very long graphical stutters - often lasting over a second.”
“Strange as other more complicated titles (like Dirt Rally) don't struggle with graphics speed or quality in the same way on my machine.”
“The graphics are a welcome upgrade from most cartoon-like RC game graphics.”
- music13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic and uninspiring, leading some to turn it off after a few races. While the ability to import custom music is a notable feature, there is a strong desire for a more engaging and diverse soundtrack in future updates. Overall, the music is considered a tertiary aspect of the game, with players hoping for improvements in ambiance and variety.
“You can import your own custom music into the game.”
“A positive is the ability to copy your own music files into the game’s folder.”
“I still wish they implement a better fitting soundtrack in the future; maybe even consisting of house, trance, and similar genres, much like in Re-Volt.”
“Music is very meh; only some of the tracks are good enough, but this is completely tertiary in a racing game.”
“Booting up, the first thing you might notice is the soundtrack, which consists of generic rock music.”
“I turned the music off after the first two races, but to be fair, this is the first game made and published by gen90software, and it is understandable they would rather invest their money elsewhere than in a licensed soundtrack.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, reminiscent of the classic 'Re-Volt,' featuring RC car racing with weapons and detailed environments. While the core gameplay is solid and enjoyable, some players feel it could benefit from the removal of steering assists and the addition of more content, vibrant colors, and environmental obstacles to enhance the experience further. Overall, the game shows great potential but currently lacks depth and variety.
“My first half hour with this game had me absolutely gushing with how fun and amazing the gameplay is.”
“Drive RC cars for racing, with missiles, mines, and other weapons at your disposal, and with environments and gameplay style like the 1999 classic 'Re-Volt'.”
“Pocketcars is a nice RC combat racing game with a lot of potential. It looks great and has very nice physics simulation; it does lack in content for now, but the gameplay is already extremely solid.”
“A very good system, but it would be much better and have a deeper meaning for gameplay if there were no steering/acceleration assists.”
“The developers should add more vibrant colors and more environmental obstacles to spice up the atmosphere and the gameplay.”
“Pocketcars is a nice RC combat racing game with a lot of potential. It looks great and has very nice physics simulation, but it lacks content for now; however, the gameplay is already extremely solid.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some users report good performance and high FPS, others experience stuttering issues that require adjustments, such as modifying the mouse and keyboard polling rate. As an early access title, it shows potential but still needs further optimization, particularly regarding resource-intensive elements like grass textures.
“Good performance, high FPS.”
“FPS stuttering - tried lots of things but in the end looked up Unity mouse and keyboard polling rate (dropping below 1000 improves it for me).”
“As an early adopter, I guess I can't complain too much about the code at this early stage, but it is in need of some optimization.”
“It is good they changed the grass textures, because I spotted them being very performance hungry.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is currently limited, but the introduction of online and split-screen modes is expected to enhance it significantly. The randomness factor adds an element of unpredictability, contributing to replay value, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
“The randomness factor adds chaos and unpredictability, which enhances the game's replayability.”
“The endgame content significantly boosts replayability, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“Replayability is a key feature, as each session offers new challenges and experiences.”
“For now, it lacks in replayability, but online and split-screen modes will change this for sure.”
“Not sure if this is a better or worse system, since a randomness factor always brings some chaos and unpredictability, and as a consequence, replayability to the game.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is marked by occasional glitches and bugs, particularly with graphical elements and controller support, but these issues are generally considered tolerable given the enjoyable gameplay experience.
“Some small glitches here and there, but very tolerable when the game is as much fun as I've had so far.”
“Full controller support is nice, but it's a little buggy.”
“A lot of fun to play, but the regular graphical glitches are irritating.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is not a primary focus, as players emphasize the engaging physics and nostalgic racing missions reminiscent of the classic 1999 game, Revolt. However, some users find the racing HUD difficult to read during intense action, and the mission selection interface could be clearer regarding completed events.
“The racing HUD is hard to read in the action, and the mission select screen makes it difficult to see which events you have already finished.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of grinding in the game, highlighting its straightforward system that allows for a more enjoyable and streamlined experience.
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that the atmosphere could be enhanced with more vibrant colors and additional environmental obstacles, suggesting that these changes would enrich both the visual experience and gameplay dynamics.
“The devs should add more vibrant colors and environmental obstacles to enhance the atmosphere and gameplay.”
