Switchcars
- April 30, 2021
- Altfuture
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Switchcars" is a single-player racing game offering approximately 4 hours of playtime. It features a unique vehicle-switching mechanic, where you drive over 1300 unique vehicles to escape alien beasts across procedurally generated stages in varying environments and eras. With 100 lane types, 150+ props, and time travel elements, each run is different, providing high replayability as you strive to reach the final stage and escape the spacetime alien invasion in 2055.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a unique and fun concept where players switch between a wide variety of vehicles to navigate different terrains while avoiding a giant alien worm.
- It offers a fast-paced and challenging gameplay experience that keeps players engaged, with a high replayability factor due to the procedural generation of levels and vehicles.
- The graphics and sound design are well-executed, providing a nostalgic feel while enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- The game suffers from control and camera issues that can make it difficult for new players to get accustomed to the mechanics.
- There is a lack of depth in gameplay, which can lead to a repetitive experience after a short period of play.
- Some players have reported technical issues, such as loss of controller support and bugs that affect gameplay.
- gameplay45 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a chaotic yet engaging experience, requiring players to frequently switch vehicles based on terrain and fuel conditions, which adds a layer of strategy. While the mechanics are simple and easy to grasp, they can become repetitive over time, leading to mixed feelings about long-term enjoyment. Overall, the game offers a unique and addictive core loop, with a fast-paced environment that encourages experimentation and quick decision-making.
“The gameplay primarily involves you switching between different vehicles depending on the environment you are in as well as the condition and fuel of your vehicles.”
“The gameplay is really easy to get used to and addicting as hell, and although everything is randomly generated, it never feels unfair; you can always get out of sticky situations by utilizing everything in your repertoire.”
“The frantic pace of the gameplay, the clear end goal that always seems just out of reach, and the generally quick sessions make it feel like you should be dumping quarters into it.”
“This game is unique, but the gameplay just isn't fun for me.”
“You're barely getting to grips with the last mechanic and the game already throws five more your way.”
“Sadly, this gameplay gets quite repetitive and you won't be playing this game for that long, but it is a very good experience.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by impressive pixel art that many players find visually appealing, with distinct vehicle designs and a beautiful art style. However, some users criticize the graphics for being messy or weak, and there are concerns about the lack of customization options. Overall, while the pixel graphics are well-received by some, they may not stand out enough for others seeking a more unique visual experience.
“The visuals are great, with every vehicle looking distinct and being easily recognizable.”
“It's fast paced, brutal difficulty, and the art style is beautiful.”
“I love the graphics, I love the concept, and I love the design.”
“The graphics are very messy; controls are clunky...it's a mess.”
“Graphics on a large screen are a bit too blocky (I know it's pixel), I have played lots of pixel-type games and these just did not look right.”
“The graphics in this game are really well drawn pixel graphics, but the best part is the content.”
- music20 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its high quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with many players noting its adrenaline-pumping intensity and nostalgic appeal. While some reviews mention the soundtrack as slightly above average, it remains engaging and does not become repetitive over time. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of audio settings, limiting players' ability to adjust sound levels.
“The procedural generation in levels/vehicles and the high-intensity soundtrack keeps each new run feeling fresh and exciting.”
“This is a hard game but the soundtrack goes right on with how intense the chase is, making you feel the adrenaline in the process.”
“The music has become instantly iconic to me, the game itself is just fun.”
“There are no settings to adjust how loud or quiet the audio; the only audio setting is the option to turn music on or off.”
“The second technical issue I have is the complete lack of options; you have a control configuration menu, a fullscreen toggle, a music toggle, and a camera shake option.”
“Taking the resolution support issue into consideration, the least I would have expected is a music and sound effect slider rather than just a toggle for music.”
- replayability19 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting the variety of vehicles, power-ups, and game modes that contribute to an engaging experience. While some mention that procedural generation may limit variability, the majority agree that the fun and challenge make it worth revisiting. However, a few reviews note that for its price, the replay value may not be as substantial as expected.
“In all seriousness, this game is ridiculously fun, easy to play but hard to master, and endlessly replayable.”
“Phenomenal pixel art; a healthy load of variety in the different terrain types; replayability in the four separate difficulties/gamemodes; and 48 power-ups available to upgrade any of the 1500+ vehicles you can find and drive.”
“I 100% recommend this game to anyone who likes games such as Nuclear Throne or The Binding of Isaac; this game is a must-have for anyone who loves roguelikes and games with near infinite replayability.”
“Even though levels are procedurally generated, there isn't that much in-game variability, so replay value is fairly low.”
“For $9, though, it offers quite little replay value and content, and the graphics aren't that prominent if that is what you came for with this indie game.”
“-low replay value”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both hilarious and joyfully absurd, often leading to uncontrollable laughter during gameplay. While some reviews note that the humor may not be overwhelming, many highlight the comedic elements of the game, including funny deaths and quirky mechanics that keep the experience entertaining. Overall, it’s recommended for those seeking a lighthearted and amusing gaming experience.
“This game is absolutely hilarious.”
“Brimming with sheer, unbridled joy at the hilarious inanity of it all.”
“It's funny, it's frustrating (grappling hook ftw), and it's worth trying.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it is relatively bug-free and feature complete, users report occasional glitches and low framerate warnings. Despite these issues, many players find the experience smooth and enjoyable, especially considering the game is still in early access, suggesting potential for future improvements.
“It seems to be feature complete and relatively bug-free.”
“The game runs smoothly without any major issues.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or significant glitches.”
“The sound is buggy, so you just hear cackling, and there's barely any Steam integration like achievements.”
“I had a near constant message telling me that there was low framerate and glitches could occur, although framerate seemed pretty smooth to me.”
“Still a bit buggy, but again, it's in early access as I write this review, so it'll likely improve.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal, focusing instead on chaotic gameplay where players pilot a flaming bus through time portals while evading relentless time whales. The lack of a traditional narrative allows for an emphasis on fast-paced mechanics and explosive action, which some players find liberating despite initial control frustrations.
“A game where at some point you'll be piloting a flaming two-story bus through time portals, in order to escape from a never-ending horde of angry, time-traveling whales.”
“There is no storyline, which might help in this case.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally low in performance requirements, making it accessible for casual play. However, players experience frustration due to issues like getting stuck with ineffective vehicles, confusing vehicle similarities, and game hangs when played in windowed mode. Overall, while path optimization is a key strategy element, technical glitches detract from the experience.
“However, since lane terrain types don’t change that often, there’s a good strategy element which makes path optimization much more important than avoiding obstacles.”
“It's a fun, low performance requirement arcade game that is enjoyable when you need to kill some time.”
“The parts that frustrate me are getting stuck with a long string of subpar vehicles or only a single usable lane. Many vehicles look similar but perform drastically differently. Additionally, power-ups can turn your vehicle into a mutant railcar when there aren't any rails for miles in either direction. The game also hangs if you're playing in windowed mode and move the cursor outside the window.”
“The optimization is severely lacking, leading to frequent performance issues and frustrating gameplay experiences.”
“I often encounter lag and stuttering, which makes it difficult to enjoy the game. The optimization feels rushed and incomplete.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game evokes a sense of urgency and fear, creating an emotionally charged atmosphere that heightens the overall experience.
“This hunkering beast made me feel rushed and slightly scared, to be honest.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the initial loading screen somewhat tedious, particularly when running the game on an external HDD, which feels disproportionate given the game's relatively small file size.
