- May 6, 2022
- RewindApp
- 3h median play time
Retrowave
Platforms
About
"Retrowave" is a Simulation game that allows both single-player and multiplayer modes with PvP competition. The game boasts amazing visuals and soundtrack, reminiscent of the '80s but with a futuristic twist. However, it features a boring plot but offers perfect gameplay, hilarious moments, and plenty of grinding. With ten unique cars, various worlds, and a focus on the synthwave aesthetic, Retrowave promises a visually immersive and replayable experience.
- music1,711 mentions Positive Neutral Negative52%47%1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its vibrant synthwave and retrowave tracks, perfectly capturing the nostalgic essence of the 80s. Players appreciate the relaxing atmosphere created by the soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience of cruising through visually stunning environments. However, some users express frustration over the inability to select specific songs or the abrupt stopping of music upon crashing, suggesting that the music is the game's standout feature, often overshadowing the gameplay itself.
“Retrowave perfectly captures the essence of the '80s with its vibrant neon visuals and a mesmerizing synthwave soundtrack.”
“The music not only enhances the gameplay experience, but also reinforces the feeling of being immersed in a world inspired by the 80s, contributing to the creation of an authentic and exciting atmosphere.”
“If you’re a fan of chill games with a killer soundtrack and a vibe that screams retro cool, retrowave is your ticket to a relaxing ride through neon paradise.”
“Good game, but who would buy a separate DLC just to listen to custom music when they could simply mute the in-game music and play their own on Spotify?”
“They advertise 'synthwave' as a feature of the game, but the soundtrack is incredibly generic.”
“The music stops when you crash, which kills the vibe and makes it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- graphics839 mentions Positive Neutral Negative51%47%2%
The graphics of "Retrowave" are widely praised for their vibrant, retro-futuristic aesthetic that captures the essence of the 1980s, featuring pixel art and neon visuals that create an immersive atmosphere. While many players appreciate the nostalgic design and the accompanying synthwave soundtrack, some note that the gameplay can feel simplistic and repetitive, with the visuals sometimes overwhelming or distracting. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a significant draw, appealing especially to fans of the vaporwave and synthwave aesthetics.
“The game's retro-futuristic aesthetic, reminiscent of 1980s cyberpunk and synthwave culture, will transport you to an era where synth beats and neon lights reign supreme.”
“The crisp, vibrant graphics add a layer of authenticity, making every race a visual treat.”
“The neon-lit cityscapes and futuristic environments are a true homage to the aesthetics of the retro era, creating a visually appealing and immersive atmosphere.”
“The graphics are not the best, with lots of very dark bits due to high contrasts.”
“The visual effects of retrowave aren't as much of an aesthetic delight as I had hoped as all the noise, scan-lines, blur, bloom and chromatic aberration everywhere and all the time are simply too much of a good thing.”
“It's like they took a baby's first Unity game tutorial, and thought covering it up with neon lights, VHS video filters and a general 80s aesthetic could hide how bland and shallow the core gameplay is.”
- gameplay424 mentions Positive Neutral Negative35%58%7%
The gameplay of "Retrowave" is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, offering an endless driving experience where players dodge traffic on a straight road while enjoying a nostalgic 80s aesthetic and soundtrack. While many players appreciate the relaxing and addictive nature of the game, they also note that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with limited variety in mechanics and challenges. Overall, it serves as a casual, chill experience rather than a complex racing game, appealing primarily to those who enjoy the retro vibe and music.
“Retrowave is a delectable blend of nostalgia and modern gameplay.”
“The gameplay is accessible, allowing new players to have fun while offering enough challenge to keep veterans engaged.”
“The combination of stylized graphics, themed music, and dynamic gameplay mechanics creates a cohesive package that appeals to a wide range of players.”
“It heavily relies on an infinite gameplay loop, hoping to keep you playing for as long as possible.”
“Unfortunately, the different maps are purely cosmetic and don’t add anything new to the gameplay itself.”
“The gameplay is very basic and by far the weakest element.”
- atmosphere116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative62%35%3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant retro visuals, immersive synthwave soundtrack, and nostalgic 80s aesthetic, creating a captivating and relaxing experience. Players appreciate the combination of neon-lit environments and pulsating music, which enhances the overall gameplay and evokes a sense of nostalgia. Many reviews highlight that the game's charm lies in its atmospheric qualities rather than complex gameplay, making it an enjoyable choice for those seeking a chill and visually appealing experience.
“The neon-lit cityscapes and futuristic environments are a true homage to the aesthetics of the retro era, creating a visually appealing and immersive atmosphere.”
“The music not only enhances the gameplay experience, but also reinforces the feeling of being immersed in a world inspired by the 80s, contributing to the creation of an authentic and exciting atmosphere.”
“A beautiful recreation of 80's neon and an amazingly atmospheric soundtrack.”
“But for a game whose atmosphere is so chill, it feels out of place to have handling and brake buffs like an actual racing game, and for you to grind for it.”
“Nothing too fancy, just a simple game that's more about the atmosphere rather than actual gameplay, because the only thing you do really is drive on a straight, vaporwave-themed road and optionally avoid the other cars.”
“The atmosphere is well realized, but the gamepad controls are horrible.”
- story86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative5%65%30%
The game lacks a cohesive storyline, with many players noting that there is no narrative or missions to guide their experience. While some appreciate the freedom to set personal goals and enjoy the gameplay, the absence of a structured story leaves many feeling that the game could benefit from additional context or objectives. Overall, the consensus is that the game is more about the driving experience than any narrative depth.
“But it gets the neo 80s tone absolutely right and makes you wish to have a complete game a la GTA right in front of you: stopping, leaving your car and progressing a cool story.”
“Bought for the theme, stayed for the first-person driving and storyline.”
“Sob story: I've played this game twice and it's already made me get close to crying, and made me so relaxed and content.”
“No story, no missions, no challenges... you better set your own goals, because the game won't do it for you.”
“The lack of a cohesive storyline or narrative may leave players wanting more context or motivation for their in-game actions.”
“Needless to say, there's no such thing as a story mode; you start by selecting your desired music track and your car, which can later be customized with some visual and inner improvements, then you select the stage where you're going to race.”
- grinding75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative4%24%72%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized, with many players noting that it requires an excessive amount of time and effort to achieve in-game goals, particularly for completionists aiming for 100% achievements. While some find the grind fitting for a casual experience, others describe it as tedious and monotonous, often leading to frustration due to the repetitive nature of tasks and low rewards. Overall, players suggest that the grind detracts from the enjoyment, making it feel like a chore rather than a rewarding challenge.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“And with no story-line comes the other parts of that, no factions, no challenges, no dailies, and most importantly no grinding!”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“It's very grindy, so achievements are shit (which is essential for scoring games)”
“The grind itself I found to be extremely tedious.”
“The only reason to keep the game playing longer would be to get all the achievements... which is extremely tedious, grindy, and boring.”
- optimization39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative18%74%8%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on various systems, including the Steam Deck, some players report performance issues, particularly with blinding visuals and input lag. Many users feel that the game could benefit from additional optimization options and performance differences between cars, especially given its relatively simple graphics. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable and responsive, there are notable areas for improvement in optimization.
“Controller works as intended for driving and performance is smooth on default settings.”
“You can change your vehicle if you'd like and you can customize the paint job, the wheels, and even the performance of the car, which I really enjoyed.”
“Game is responsive and runs smoothly; the soundtrack is great and it nails the '80s synthwave feel it is going for.”
“This game is a decent game all around; if there were more optimization options, it would definitely be better.”
“Very unoptimized game for the kind of graphics it has; also, the input lag is very strong.”
“Menu transition and performance is sub-par.”
- stability28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative11%3%86%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting occasional glitches and technical issues, such as frame rate drops and collision problems, that can detract from the overall experience. While some users noted that they encountered few or no bugs, others highlighted persistent issues with menus, controller support, and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game shows promise but lacks polish, particularly in its early access state, leading to a varied experience among players.
“No glitches I encountered.”
“This game is listed as 'unsupported' on the Steam Deck, yet it runs great for me, by the way.”
“Runs great, looks pretty good, and the music selection is fantastic.”
“Glitches or occasional technical issues, such as frame rate drops or collision problems, can disrupt the otherwise enjoyable gaming experience.”
“Great game and fun to play on stream or with friends; I just wish that multiplayer was less buggy.”
“The menus are really buggy and slow.”
- replayability18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative56%27%17%
The game offers significant replayability due to its arcade-style gameplay, extensive customization options, and various unlockable content, making it enjoyable for players seeking to hone their skills. While some reviewers noted repetitive elements and suggested that adding multiplayer features could enhance replay value, the overall consensus is that the game provides ample opportunities for repeated play, especially given its low price point and engaging soundtrack.
“Overall, I'm really happy with the game. The fact that it's so arcadey and has so much stuff to unlock makes it practically unlimited in replayability for me. Pair that with the achievements and the different difficulty settings, and it turns a simple arcadey game into a very compelling one.”
“The enormous amount of customization and gameplay tweaks make this a game with plenty of replay value, if not just to listen to the absolute banging soundtrack that conveniently lets you know exactly what song is playing as well.”
“Tons of customizable old-school and futuristic cars provide endless replayability with its very addictive gameplay.”
“Upgrades add replay value but are repetitive per car, and this is clearly a one-man show dev team... but for $3 this game is a steal!”
“There's almost no replay value.”
“- It feels like adding split screen/online multiplayer would give this game much more potential and replay value.”
- humor17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative94%6%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky graphics, amusing glitches, and lighthearted car customization options, which contribute to a fun and entertaining experience. Players find joy in the unexpected moments, such as flying off after colliding with objects at high speeds, and appreciate the retro aesthetic that enhances the overall comedic vibe. While some aspects can be annoying, they often add to the humor, making the game a delightful choice for those seeking a lighthearted gaming experience.
“Very nice game: funny, cheap and with cool retro graphics.”
“There's a glitch that happens very rarely where if you rear-end a big truck fast enough (330), you go flying before you die and sometimes even end up surviving. Very funny, please don't patch.”
“Car customization is very cool and kept simple, with a surprising amount to choose from, including some funny inclusions such as the [spoiler] Tesla Cybertruck [/spoiler] and the JDM spooly boi. NOS noises are great.”
“It's not funny when they spawn 1 second away from the player.”
- monetization13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative15%8%77%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" that relies on microtransactions and DLCs, which detracts from the overall experience. However, some players appreciate the fair pricing and lack of aggressive monetization tactics, suggesting that it could be a worthwhile purchase despite its flaws. Overall, while the game is criticized for its monetization strategy, it is also recognized for its fun gameplay and reasonable price point.
“No DLC purchases, no advertising or other bells and whistles.”
“All in all, this game would work splendidly as an arcade cabinet game, or as a mobile game (provided there are no microtransactions).”
“This whole game is a cash grab for enthusiasts of the retrowave genre as I am.”
“Seeing as Steam wouldn't let me post the review I wrote yesterday, the short version is this is less of a game and more of an interactive advertisement for synthwave.”
“Rewindapp has shown a repeat pattern of unethically dumping other people's work onto Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab.”
- emotional7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative100%
Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game, highlighting its nostalgic 80s aesthetic and engaging animated features, which evoke a sense of creativity and beauty. However, the gameplay modes are perceived as shallow, lacking depth and complexity, which can lead to feelings of discomfort and frustration, particularly due to the strict collision mechanics. Overall, while the game offers a visually appealing experience, it may not fully satisfy those seeking a deeper emotional connection through gameplay.
“This game made me feel like Ryan Gosling.”
“The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.”
“Retro-emotional cathode ray tube, but this is all of this game.”
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