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
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 455 reviews

music23 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Re-Volt is a nostalgic classic that retains its charm and fun gameplay, making it a joy to revisit for fans of the original.
The game features a variety of cars and tracks, along with a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Despite its age, Re-Volt offers a unique racing experience with its RC car mechanics and well-designed environments.

The controls can be frustratingly twitchy and difficult to master, leading to a steep learning curve for new players.
This version lacks significant updates and features compared to community-made alternatives like RVGL, which offer better performance and mod support.
Multiplayer functionality is reportedly broken or difficult to set up, diminishing the game's replay value for those looking to play with friends.

music
48 mentions
48 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
6 % 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 2000s techno scene. Many players find the tracks to be a perfect fit for the fast-paced gameplay, enhancing the overall experience, although some note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and nostalgic appeal.
- “This game puts the 'fun' in fun racer and the music goes far harder than it has any right to!”
- “The soundtrack is still to this day one of the best in any racing game in my opinion.”
- “With its smooth gameplay, catchy soundtrack, and variety of cars, it offers a unique racing experience.”
- “Extracted low res (256x256px) artworks that's already included and can be viewed in-game, an original manual that can be downloaded from anywhere at this point, a reference card that only shows a default control scheme, and a soundtrack that's capped in 192kbps mp3 and 342kbps ogg.”
- “Decent soundtrack for the most part, it does get repetitive sooner rather than later though.”
- “Btw what the hell is this cheesy music they've added to the game.”
graphics
40 mentions
25 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, originally released in 1999, have aged surprisingly well, with vibrant colors and solid detail that still impress players today, especially on modern hardware. While some users note the need for updates and improvements, many appreciate the nostalgic charm and the game's ability to evoke fond memories through its art style and visual presentation. Overall, the graphics are considered decent for an arcade game, maintaining a pleasing aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “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 that are truly out of another time.”
- “Graphics are set low at first, so you'll want to up those.”
- “Could it benefit from a graphical overhaul/remaster?”
gameplay
29 mentions
34 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its versatility, offering a wide range of build options, vehicle selections, and various racing modes that cater to different preferences, from arcade to realism. Many players find it addictive and enjoyable, especially with its smooth mechanics and engaging soundtrack, although some criticize the controls as slippery and the overall experience as somewhat generic. Overall, it provides a nostalgic and fun racing experience, despite minor technical issues.
- “I really enjoyed the overall gameplay; there are a huge number of builds possible, all of which are more or less viable.”
- “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.”
- “But the mechanics were terrible for me.”
- “For some people, gameplay is quite generic and banal.”
- “One annoying issue is sudden freeze during gameplay.”
story
10 mentions
10 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game lacks a traditional, cohesive story, but players can create their own narratives by connecting the various racing locations. Despite the absence of a formal storyline, the experience remains enjoyable, reminiscent of side missions in games like GTA Vice City and San Andreas. The unofficial backstory involves a fictional company, Toy-Volt, which developed advanced RC cars capable of racing autonomously.
- “While there isn’t a singular, cohesive narrative behind Re-Volt, it’s easy to pick up the pieces and fantasize about your own story linking the racing locations to one another.”
- “While there is no story to follow in this game, it does not take away from the overall experience.”
- “While there isn’t a singular, cohesive narrative behind re-volt, it’s easy to pick up the pieces and fantasize about your own story linking the racing locations to one another.”
- “The official story (though it never gets brought up in-game) is that a fictional company called Toy-Volt created highly advanced RC cars, which had a 'mind of their own' and could race without human assistance.”
stability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with most players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs. While some minor glitches were noted, they did not significantly impact the gameplay experience. However, there are concerns about the lack of effort from the publisher regarding potential bugs and patches.
- “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, and discussions about which track was the most entertaining to play on.”
- “Terrible stuttering and unplayable performance.”
- “>properly optimized”
monetization
5 mentions
20 % positive mentions
20 % 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 predatory, particularly with the upcoming "Re-Volt 3," which is expected to follow a similar model on mobile platforms, leading many players to view the games as cash grabs rather than genuine updates.
- “No microtransactions.”
- “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 consistently note that the grinding in the game is extensive, often requiring 60 to 100 hours to progress significantly, leading some to feel that it demands an almost second life to fully engage with the content.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grindy (60 - 100 hours).”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game offers average replayability, with users noting a potential for enhanced value through LAN PvP and a track editor, allowing for infinite replay opportunities despite a typical playtime of 10 to 20 hours. While not groundbreaking, its intuitive design contributes positively to the overall replay experience.
- “Average playtime is 10 - 20 hours, but the game is infinitely replayable.”
- “It's nothing mind-blowing, trackmania-style, but it's still intuitive and could potentially enhance the replay value.”
- “+ Replay value through LAN PvP and track editor.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its enduring and unique atmosphere, which remains enjoyable even after 15 years. While the graphics hold up well, some players find the gameplay to be somewhat generic and unremarkable. Overall, it is considered a gem of its time.
- “A very atmospheric and good game, a gem of its time.”
- “After around 15 years, the game still maintains a fun and unique atmosphere. The graphics are on the same level as I remembered it.”
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.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users report a strong emotional response to the game, with one reviewer noting that the visuals on the store page nearly brought them to tears, indicating a powerful emotional impact.
- “My eyes nearly welled up when I saw this on the store page.”