Speed Crew allows you to call on your inner car mechanic. Moreover, it borrows elements from much-loved titles such as Overcooked, Tools Up, and Moving Out. As such, if you love these games, you’ll adore every manic moment.
This fast-paced simulation title was published and developed by Wild Fields. What’s more, it can be enjoyed solo or cooperatively with up to 3 other players. Consequently, it requires teamwork, planning, and a hefty dose of patience if you wish to succeed. Additionally, you are guaranteed to fall out with friends and family as the pressure ramps up.
Speed Crew tells a tale of rags to riches.
I love a story that focuses on a group of underdogs. Thankfully, Speed Crew does that in its rags-to-riches plot. Though the story adds little to the action, I enjoyed the fun cinematic and the silly one-liners. Moreover, the colourful characters and the evolving eras help to keep things fresh.
You are the lead mechanic of a professional pit crew. This underwhelming group of individuals is considered a lowly and pitiful operation. Yet, you are determined to prove them wrong. Dominion Torrento challenges you to a competition across the ages. Subsequently, if you can beat your rivals and outdo Torrento’s mechanics, you’ll be considered the best in the business. Yet, this is easier said than done as the high-octane action keeps you on your toes.
Deceptively straightforward.
Where Speed Crew excels is its deceptively straightforward action. Like its peers, this title drip-feeds new elements as you progress. Accordingly, the relatively easy-to-understand opening levels develop into madness-inducing action. Additionally, obstacles and tricky-to-navigate environments make matters worse.
The gameplay loop is simple to understand. You are tasked with highlighting any problems with your race cars. Once an issue is discovered, you must grab the correct tools and rectify the problem. However, this basic concept quickly gets out of hand. You are expected to recycle old tyres, avoid pools of lava, and weave between moving platforms. On top of this, you must avoid other race cars and work with your teammates to keep things going.
As you repair each car, you are awarded X number of laps. This score is multiplied depending on your speed and the number of cars you repair. The winner of each event is the pit team that has repaired the most cars in the quickest time possible. Consequently, if you are accurate and make no errors, your team will top the podium, and you will proceed to the next stage.
Better with friends.
This gameplay loop forms the backbone of Speed Crew. Yet, there are some exceptions thanks to the multiplayer mode. Moreover, there are sponsorship races that test your resolve. Though this element isn’t essential, it was nice to experience some unusual races that didn’t impact the progress of the game.
My biggest gripe with Speed Crew is the imbalance of the action. Unlike its peers, this is much easier when played with other people. Unfortunately, it is pretty stressful when you play by yourself, and this problem becomes worse during the latter stages. Though you can play this alone, I had a much more enjoyable time when I played it online or with friends on one TV.
If the developers had considered an accessibility option to balance the gameplay, then it would have been much better. Now, I’m not saying you can’t complete this as a solo gamer, but you will be pushing your skills and ability to the limits. Furthermore, there is a genuine risk that you may scream or rage quit as the action gets out of hand.
Speed Crew looks fantastic.
Unlike Moving Out or Overcooked, Speed Crew has a realistic edge. Moreover, the sultry colour palette gives off a retro vibe. Consequently, this has a sense of nostalgia that works perfectly with the 70s and 80s levels. On top of this, the isometric perspective was a great choice. Thanks to the clean UI, and fixed-screen perspective, you could plan every move you need to make. What’s more, though it was hectic to play, it never got messy, even when you teamed up with friends on one screen.
The audio captures the excitement of the pit lane. The high-energy soundtrack and the loud sound effects add a layer of danger to the proceedings. Furthermore, you’ll chuckle as your teammates get hit by a car or scream as they fall to their death. Though it shouldn’t make you laugh, the complementary sound effects will make you smile as all hell is breaking loose.
Exceptional controls.
Speed Crew should have been a nightmare to play. With so much going on, it had the potential to be a messy experience. Luckily, though, the developer got their control layout just right. The responsive and easy-to-learn inputs ensure that this can be played by adults and children alike. Moreover, it matters not if you are a veteran or a newbie, as this game is wonderfully easy to master.
Unsurprisingly, this oozes replay value and longevity. With 48 levels of action and planned DLC, this offers plenty of bang for your buck. On top of this, the multiplayer madness will keep you coming back for more. If you are a completionist, you will need to sink hours of your time into it as the achievement list is challenging to complete.
Speed Crew is a must-play, high-octane title.
I love this genre, but I didn’t expect too much from this game. Poor imitations of the leading titles are commonplace. Consequently, I expected Speed Crew to be a lame replica. Thankfully, though, every aspect of this game is fun, enjoyable, and challenging. Yes, I wish the solo gameplay was more balanced, but this can’t be helped. However, if you are playing this with friends, you will have a phenomenal time. Accordingly, it is a must-play, high-octane title and I recommend buying it here! Can you become a pit lane master? Choose your character, overcome every obstacle, and win every race.
