In between working on other projects (notably,
Unreal Tournament 2004 and
Gears of War), Psyonix have been quietly creating their own original IP,
Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, and it's almost ready for release. Talking with one of the developers, we found that their primary goal was to create a game that's just pure, multiplayer fun, and it looks like they're on the right track.
The premise of the PlayStation Network-exclusive title is simple -- play soccer with remote-controlled cars that can fly and destroy one another. You score by ramming your titular battle-car into an obscenely large ball to send it rolling toward the goal while avoiding getting slammed by your opponents. Up to four players can get together locally, or eight people can join up for online carnage.
This downloadable game has notable extras. A well-integrated movie-creator mode allows you to take a saved match, cut together scenes from any angle, speed it up, slow it down, and then post it for the world's viewing enjoyment on PSN and YouTube. If you want to take your boasting one step further, it also has bronze, silver, and gold Trophy support.
For the truly dedicated, clan-like leagues look to ensure that the hardcore will have an outlet for mastering the game. And leaderboards and easily created tournaments should let top players vie for distinction. However, Psyonix promises that their matchmaking system should ensure fair, balanced matches even for new players.
Despite these trappings, the game is very minimalist. Your only power -- besides jumping -- is the ability to boost across the stage at supersonic speeds. And the only power-ups in the game are capsules that replenish your boost meter. It's got no obstacles to dodge or crazy mazes to navigate. It's just you, the ball, and the other players. Even with this stripped-down aesthetic, the frenetic pace takes a few matches to get used to.
Eight cars fill out the game's roster -- although you'll have to unlock six of them -- from an old-timey Model T to a steampunk-inspired spheroid. The differences are almost entirely cosmetic, however, and the stats for each vehicle are exactly the same. Since the car itself doesn't matter, a vehicle-customization mode would seem to make sense, but that feature is strangely absent.
The developers haven't ignored the single-player mode. Twenty minigames, designed to both improve and test your driving skills, flesh out the experience. A few we saw involved destroying as many enemy cars as possible in a given time limit and guarding your goal from cannon-propelled balls. But no matter how much fun they may be to master and unlock, the main draw of this game is the multiplayer.
With a simple concept and addictive local co-op, Battle-Cars may be a surprise hit when it finally becomes available for download. Look for Psyonix to release the game and demo simultaneously sometime early this fall.
yeah.
