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 offers a vast variety of vehicles and environments, making each playthrough feel unique and exciting.
- It's fast-paced and addictive, providing a fun challenge that keeps players coming back for more.
- The pixel art and sound design are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- Controls can be slippery and take time to master, leading to frustrating moments during gameplay.
- The game can feel overwhelming with too many mechanics introduced at once, especially for new players.
- There are reports of technical issues, such as crashes and problems with fullscreen mode, affecting the overall playability.
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a steep learning curve, with multiple mechanics introduced rapidly, which can be overwhelming for some players. However, it offers a diverse range of vehicles and engaging mechanics that encourage experimentation and mastery, leading to a rewarding experience. While the core gameplay may seem basic initially, it reveals depth and variety that keeps players returning for more.
“Not only is it an incredibly diverse cast of vehicles, but it has invigorating gameplay as well.”
“The gameplay concept is a basic one at first glance, but there is meat to it.”
“Once you understand the controls, it's a matter of experimenting with the mechanics to optimize your gameplay, but I feel like mastering this game still takes long enough to keep you coming back.”
“You're barely getting to grips with the last mechanic and the game already throws five more your way.”
“Essentially, what you the buyer needs to know is whether or not you can live with two types of gameplay as of the moment of writing, or wait for a better chance down the line where the game may (or may not) have more to offer for you.”
“Once you understand the controls it's a matter of experimenting with the mechanics to optimize your gameplay, but I feel like mastering this game still takes long enough to keep you coming back.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their stunning pixel art and retro arcade style, offering a beautiful and engaging visual experience that complements the fast-paced gameplay. However, some users noted that on larger screens, the pixelation can appear overly blocky, detracting from the overall aesthetic. Despite this, the distinctiveness of each vehicle is appreciated, contributing to the game's charm.
“The pixel graphics look amazing and are perfect.”
“It's fast-paced, brutal difficulty, and the art style is beautiful.”
“The graphics are good enough that each type of vehicle is distinctive while not being too distracting.”
“Graphics on a large screen is a bit too blocky. I know it's pixel art, but I have played lots of pixel-type games, and these just did not look right.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the gameplay experience, with a high-intensity soundtrack that complements the adrenaline of challenging levels. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel of the music, which remains enjoyable even after multiple playthroughs, contributing to the overall flow and excitement of the game.
“The procedural generation in levels and vehicles, along with the high-intensity soundtrack, keeps each new run feeling fresh and exciting.”
“This is a hard game, but the soundtrack perfectly matches the intensity of the chase, making you feel the adrenaline in the process.”
“Beautiful pixel art and music bring back those childhood memories, especially when playing on a TV with a controller.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Switchcars is highly praised for its replayability, offering a wealth of content and a fun, challenging experience that keeps players coming back. Its easy-to-learn mechanics combined with difficult mastery contribute to its enduring appeal.
“Switchcars has a lot of replayability and content!”
“This game has tons of replayability.”
“In all seriousness, this game is ridiculously fun, easy to play but hard to master, and endlessly replayable.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is commendable, with minimal glitches and reliable controls that enhance the gameplay experience. The level design and variety of vehicles further contribute to a solid and enjoyable performance.
“One of my best runs had such a boat/buggy as my main.”
“Glitches are few and far between, the controls are easy to remember, yet complicated enough to provide a challenge, and the level design along with the sheer amount of vehicles is fantastic.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky mechanics, such as spawning aliens in challenging terrains and the lighthearted approach to death, making it enjoyable even for players who typically shy away from permadeath. The combination of absurd scenarios and a playful tone contributes to a fun and engaging experience.
“The unlocking system is really cool as the more challenging terrains only unlock once you get past a certain stage - the first time I was in the space stage it was pretty nuts, and the alien world where you can spawn 4 aliens if you don't have a car is hilarious.”
“Even death can be funny as most games don't last more than 10 minutes, which I think makes this a rogue-like for people who don't normally like permadeath.”
- story1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's story features a unique and whimsical premise where players pilot a flaming two-story bus through time portals, attempting to evade an endless onslaught of angry time whales. This imaginative narrative blends humor and absurdity, creating an engaging and unconventional experience.
“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.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is shallow, leaving players with little emotional investment in the narrative.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or excitement.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for issues such as limited vehicle options leading to frustration, confusing vehicle performance differences, ineffective power-ups, and technical problems like freezing when the cursor exits the window in windowed mode.
“The optimization in this game allows for a smooth experience, even when managing multiple vehicles on the track.”
“I appreciate how the game balances performance and aesthetics, making each vehicle feel unique and impactful.”
“The ability to customize and optimize my vehicle's performance has made the gameplay incredibly engaging.”
“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 a mess; the game frequently lags and stutters, making it nearly unplayable during intense moments.”
“I often experience crashes and long loading times, which completely disrupts the flow of the game.”
