Re-Volt

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Re-Volt is an arcade-style racing game featuring local multiplayer for up to 2 players and a variety of single-player modes. Players control remote-controlled cars as they race through oversized environments, with 28 cars and 13 tracks to choose from. The game offers good mechanics, pretty visuals, and a sensational music, with additional digital extras including artworks, manual, quick reference card, and soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 407 reviews

music21 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Re-Volt is a nostalgic classic that holds up well, providing a fun and unique racing experience with RC cars in various real-world environments.
The game features a great soundtrack and responsive controls, making it enjoyable for both new players and those revisiting it from their childhood.
It has an active community that continues to support the game with mods and improvements, enhancing the overall experience.

The Steam version is considered a barebones port with many players recommending the community-made RVGL version for a better experience, including improved controls and online multiplayer.
The game's difficulty can be frustrating, with some players finding the controls overly sensitive and the AI challenging to compete against.
There are issues with controller support and performance on modern systems, leading to a less than optimal experience for some users.

music
41 mentions
51 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and catchy soundtrack, often described as iconic and reminiscent of the late 90s and early 00s techno scene. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, making it memorable and enjoyable, with many considering it one of the best in racing games. Despite some dated elements, the music remains a standout feature that evokes nostalgia and complements the game's vibrant atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is still to this day one of the best in any racing game in my opinion.”
- “In addition, the soundtrack is catchy and fits the fast-paced nature of the game perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack is so unique and funky.”
- “Btw what the hell is this cheesy music they've added to the game”
- “The soundtrack is still the weird late 90's early 00's style of techno and boy did I miss that!”
- “The sound track in the digital extras folder takes you back to the 2000s techno scene.”
graphics
32 mentions
28 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, originally released in 1999, have aged remarkably well, with many players praising the vibrant colors, detailed environments, and solid performance on modern hardware. While some suggest that updates could enhance the experience further, the overall aesthetic and art style continue to evoke nostalgia and charm, making it visually appealing even in the 2020s. Players appreciate the game's ability to create an immersive racing experience from the perspective of an RC car, with reflections and shadows that contribute to its engaging visuals.
- “The graphics are insane for a game of its time, especially on modern hardware, and it's only $5.99.”
- “When I first saw this game on the Dreamcast, I thought the graphics were indistinguishable from real life.”
- “The graphics have also aged very well in my opinion given how old the game is (1999).”
- “The game has graphics and shadows which are truly out of another time.”
- “Game is over 20 years old, but aesthetics are still somewhat pleasing to look at, despite limited polygon count.”
- “It really does need a couple of improvements but it's playable for nostalgia and some fun, but as I said it does need some patches, like some trading cards, achievements and some graphic updates considering that they're charging for the game and that there are free ports of it online.”
gameplay
24 mentions
38 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its smooth mechanics and nostalgic appeal, reminiscent of classic Mario Kart-style racing, with a variety of modes, vehicles, and power-ups that enhance the experience. However, some players find the controls to be slippery and challenging, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite minor issues like occasional freezes, the game offers a fun and versatile racing experience that many players recommend.
- “The gameplay is very versatile with a nice range of different racing/arcade or realism modes, a good selection of vehicles with varying performance attributes, power-ups, weapons, and some real funky EDM soundtracks to spice up the gaming experience.”
- “With its smooth gameplay, catchy soundtrack, and variety of cars, it offers a unique racing experience.”
- “A fully enjoyable game, filled with fun car and map mechanics and power-ups to blast your opponents with.”
- “But the mechanics were terrible for me.”
- “Seeing as the first thing that stands out gameplay-wise is how this game handles its physics, where driving these RC cars is concerned, since this is a critical point for those who do not like Re-Volt for its 'slippery' controls and how easy it is to lose control of your car.”
- “- One annoying issue is sudden freeze during gameplay.”
stability
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many users reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs, particularly on the Steam Deck. While some minor glitches were noted, they did not significantly impact the enjoyment of the game. However, there are concerns about the lack of effort from the publisher regarding bug fixes and updates.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “This still runs great.”
- “Bug free (almost).”
- “Not that I was expecting much to begin with, but I did expect some form of effort from the publisher for a working port, however buggy or patchless it may have been.”
- “While there were some minor glitches and bugs that I encountered while playing, they did not detract from the overall fun I had with Re-Volt.”
optimization
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and no significant bugs. However, some users have experienced severe stuttering, indicating that performance may vary depending on the system. While the Steam version runs well on modern hardware, it has been described as somewhat lacking in content.
- “The developers have done a very good job; I have not experienced any bugs or performance issues.”
- “The gameplay is very versatile with a nice range of different racing/arcade or realism modes to adjust the gameplay mechanics, a good selection of vehicles with varying performance attributes, power-ups, weapons, and some real funky EDM soundtracks to spice up the gaming experience.”
- “Evenings spent with friends trying to top each other's times, debates on which toy car had the best performance out of the twenty-eight available in the game, discussions about which track was the most entertaining to play on.”
- “Terrible stuttering and unplayable performance.”
- “>properly optimized”
story
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional narrative, which some users feel does not detract from the overall experience. Despite the absence of a story, players still find enjoyment in the gameplay.
- “While there is no story to follow in this game, it does not take away from the overall experience.”
- “No story.”
monetization
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for the "Re-Volt" series has drawn significant criticism, as the developers initially released an ad-supported version but later removed content to sell it back as microtransactions in "Re-Volt 2." This approach has been perceived as a cash grab, particularly with the introduction of predatory microtransactions in the mobile-exclusive "Re-Volt 3," leading to disappointment among fans seeking nostalgia.
- “Initially, they released a straightforward ad-supported port of Re-Volt, which was fine enough, but after that, they stripped out a significant amount of content and started selling it again with the content added back in as microtransactions, calling it 'Re-Volt 2'.”
- “The company which outsourced an iOS/Android port of the game released it in a broken state, filled it with microtransactions, and then released it as 'Re-Volt 2'.”
- “It's an RC car racing game full of predatory microtransactions exclusively on a mobile platform.”
- “So today I wanted some of that OG PlayStation nostalgia injected directly into my retinas and so I bought this disappointment of a cash grab repack.”
- “The company which outsourced an iOS/Android port of the game released that in the broken state they were in, took that broken port, filled it with microtransactions, and released it as Re-Volt 2.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming, often requiring 60 to 100 hours to progress, leading some to suggest that it feels like a second job or life.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grindy (60 - 100 hours).”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong atmosphere, being described as a gem of its time that effectively immerses players in its world.
- “A very atmospheric and good game, a gem of its time.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly through the mechanic of driving over lightning/thunder symbols to unlock one of ten amusing items for their vehicles, adding a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay.
- “By driving over a lightning/thunder symbol, your vehicle will be equipped with one of ten funny items.”
- “The game's witty dialogue and quirky characters had me laughing out loud.”
- “I love how the humor is woven into the gameplay, making every moment entertaining.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to have average initial playtime of 10 to 20 hours, but its design allows for infinite replayability, making it enjoyable to revisit multiple times.
- “The game offers an average playtime of 10 to 20 hours, but its design makes it infinitely replayable.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh, thanks to the diverse choices and outcomes available.”
- “With multiple endings and character paths, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users report a strong emotional response to the game, with one reviewer noting that the visuals nearly brought them to tears upon viewing the store page. This suggests that the game effectively evokes deep feelings and resonates on an emotional level.
- “My eyes nearly welled up when I saw this on the store page.”
- “The story touched my heart in ways I never expected.”
- “I felt a deep connection to the characters, and their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”