CARnage (2024)

Have you ever zoned out in the middle of class and sketched out an idea for a video game on a piece of notebook paper? I have to imagine that half the game design ideas that kids ever came up with were something a lot like this. It's a toxic wasteland and there's cars, you race against other cars, and everyone can pickup different guns and other powerups. You can upgrade your car in various ways in the garage in-between rounds. Some of your opponents are a mutant gorgon looking chick in a bikini, and a murderous redneck with a spiked baseball bat, and a similarly murderous fisherman who wants to hook you. If you run over the toxic waste, your car sizzles. I think I'll call it... CARnage! And look at the time fly, only 10 minutes until the bell rings. CARnage looks and plays like it came straight out of the blood & guts era of the Genesis and Amiga, like Ivan Stewart's Off Road meets Toxic Crusaders. Controls very well with controller or keyboard, lots of races, alternate routes, multiple championship cup series, a steal at $3 on sale.

Great game for both solo and split-screen fun in the wastelands. Has difficulty levels for both the more experienced and for the (me) not so experienced 2D racing drivers. Replayability factor is high due to all the alternative routes on the maps, different difficulties and best of all - the different cars with their mods and upgrades. All and all a fun little game!

Classic top down 2D Death Rally style car combat racer, i like the post apocalyptic artstyle and crunchy pixel art. My only criticism is the slow down for veering off track is a bit too strong and some of the respawning mechanics could use a bit of tuning.

This masterpiece should have been Game of the Year, not Astro Bot. (All positive reviews will get a nudie-calendar too, but that's beside the point)

It was the best racer of 2024. Death Rally Classic is the only racing game that I think does this better. Tons of cars, great tracks, great music and art. Just a whole heap of fun.