Super Woden Rally Edge brings back the thrill of rally driving in this isometric racing experience. It has a delightfully retro design that kept me playing for hours. Although it is oddly addictive, you will scream with rage as every minor error is enough to push you over the edge.
Vijuda developed this retro racing game, and Eastasiasoft Limited published it. It is a single-player and couch multiplayer experience. Consequently, it focuses on that classic game-night setup around one TV screen. This was fantastic as it increases the sense of competition as you race each other for that top spot during split-screen madness.
Super Woden Rally Edge has no story.
I didn’t expect the multiplayer mode to have a story, but to have no story at all was a little upsetting. I was hoping the developers incorporated a sense of rivalry or a fall from grace. Unfortunately, this never happened, and the action focuses on its challenging courses and the desire to top every leaderboard.
The online leaderboard is the most inane but demanding element of this title. I should and could have ignored it, but I wanted to be the leader of the pack. I admit this never happened, and the people who were at the top must have superhuman skills. This was a nice touch and something that’ll appeal to gamers who have a point to prove.
Simple mechanics.
Super Woden Rally Edge is broken down into 2 main elements. There is your career championship mode where you must purchase the right class of car and compete against AI opposition. As it is a rally-focused game, you are rarely on the track with another person. Instead, you aim to complete the course against the clock. The alternative is the occasional head-to-head race where both cars zoom around the track aiming to keep ahead of one another.
The latter was great as the racing was competitive and keeping in front of your opponent was never easy. If you don’t fancy the core gameplay mode, there is an arcade option to test your skills. This randomly selects an array of courses, and you must complete each race before the timer runs out. It is hellishly challenging, and you will swear repeatedly as the timer hits zero and you miss the finish line by a matter of metres. Despite this, I enjoyed the challenge it posed and the easy-to-access roster of cars.
Super Woden Rally Edge has a pleasant and dated finish.
Super Woden Rally Edge isn’t the prettiest racing game, but it has a great old-school finish. The slightly pixelated visuals, the split-screen action, and the simple movement are reminiscent of gaming from a bygone era, and I loved it. On top of this, the tracks are interesting, and I liked the different types on offer. Additionally, you’ll endure rain, snow, and the challenge of racing in tight spaces. This adds to the madness and keeps you on your toes.
The audio is pretty basic but effective. There is a nice soundtrack that is suitable for the genre. Furthermore, the sound of the engines lacks complexity, but the aggression and obnoxious nature of the overrevving engines work particularly well.
Excellent controls.
Super Woden Rally Edge is extremely easy to understand but tough to master. The control layout is straightforward, but the inputs are a little sloppy. This was a deliberate design choice, as you must drift around long, winding corners as your co-driver screams instructions. The only difficulty is when you misjudge tighter corners, and you lose time or crash into barriers. This is heartbreaking, but a challenge many of us are willing to take on.
Replay value is limited to purchasing different cars, upgrading vehicles, and maximising your star rating on each event. This will appeal to petrolheads, but normal gamers will be happy with completing every race and mastering the arcade elements. If you have a good group of friends, you’ll enjoy the split-screen madness more than the solo racing.
Super Wooden Rally Edge is good but limited.
Super Woden Rally Edge does a nice job with its retro racing, simple design, and interesting racetracks. There is a reasonable roster of cars, and I like the upgrade system. Furthermore, the split-screen gameplay took me back to my childhood. Although it isn’t top-end, it is a fun indie experience, and I recommend buying it here! Can you become a legendary rally driver? Choose your car, listen to your co-driver, and smash those times.
