The grand pantheon of traditional arcade driving games homes the likes of Daytona U.S.A., Pole Position, and Out Run. Now, in 2019, developer 3DClouds needs area made for Xenon Racer. A near-future speedathon set in 2030, Xenon Racer places you within the spotless cockpits of charged-up supercars able to producing over 1000 horsepower. It’s a game to ripple your cheeks, check your reflexes, and hopefully make you rediscover the easy pleasures of going very quick down a observe.
“We surely designed Xenon with those titles in mind,” 3DClouds founder and stage designer Francesco Bruschi tells us. “Our idea was to pay tribute to the old arcade racing games from the ‘90s, but we instilled a unique soul in Xenon Racer. We really loved Daytona U.S.A., Ridge Racer, and Wipeout, but Xenon Racer has its own style and is really recognisable from afar.”
That distinctive fashion Bruschi talks about is essentially due to Unreal Engine 4. A automotive is barely pretty much as good as its engine, and Xenon Racer’s is a monster able to powering lush environments, shiny motors, and insane speeds. And let’s not overlook the settings: there are a large 40 tracks in whole, every drawing inspiration from the world’s largest cities.
“We reimagined all the iconic cities around the globe,” Bruschi says, “starting from the biggest ones. Tokyo and Dubai are, of course, two of the most representative cities when we talk about racing, and you have a lot of freedom when designing those environments. We worked hard to keep some of the actual landmarks, and to create completely new and futuristic ones as well. You can spot several references if you pay attention during a race.”
Keen eyes will spy Tokyo’s towering Skytree, the skyline-dominating Burj Khalifa, and the Eiffel Tower, all of which lend their weighty presence to proceedings. They work to floor the game in actuality amid the holographic trackside adverts and glowing neon increase pads.
We constructed tracks to permit gamers to ‘dance’ by means of the corners
There are moments of subtlety too, like catching a glimpse of a futuristic airliner because it charts a course by means of the clouds, or the best way night daylight streams by means of a stretch of Canadian treeline.
You’d do effectively to maintain your sights on the street, although, given the sheer speeds you’ll attain in Xenon Racer. “It’s pure speed, but drifting is really important, too. Our gameplay focuses on rapidly chaining the turns, trying to avoid brake usage. We built tracks to allow players to ‘dance’ through the corners, following a smooth rhythm and keeping up the tempo. In this way you can basically run at 400 km/h during the race, gaining speed during straight stretches, and maintaining it with the drift.” Drifting isn’t only for displaying off, both – since profitable drifts refill your increase meter, it truly is central to the game.
You’ll get the possibility to grasp your expertise in the primary championship mode. Here, a gentle stream of contemporary programs, liveries, and automotive elements hold you coming again for extra. We’re not speaking a couple of stickers and a lick of paint, however a totally detailed customisation system that radically transforms each appears to be like and dealing with.
You can modify spoilers, tyres, entrance and rear wings – principally, the whole lot you’d need to appear to be a pack chief. In this manner, you’ll be able to alter your automobile relying on the mode, whether or not it’s time assault, elimination, or participant on-line races.
An easy arcade expertise Xenon Racer could also be, however it’s removed from trivial. “Xenon Racer is not for everyone,” Bruschi says. “We know that, and we didn’t want to create something for mass market, with simplified gameplay. We decided to please the old-school gamers with something unique that needs time to be mastered. After you understand how the drift works you will have great fun. Achieve that and you’ll discover the true spirit of this game.”
Get in gear: Check out our checklist of the best racing games on PC
Add to the layered dealing with and in-depth automotive customisation a two-player split-screen mode, thumping dance-pop soundtrack, and rambunctious race announcer, and the Unreal Engine 4-powered Xenon Racer is an uncomplicated arcade driver with refreshingly old-school attraction.
Xenon Racer is obtainable now on PC. Unreal Engine Four growth is now free.
In this sponsored collection, we’re how game builders are making the most of Unreal Engine Four to create a brand new era of PC games. With due to Epic Games and 3DClouds.
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