Wreckfest PS5 review: Middle of the road vehicular carnage

I’d never heard of Wreckfest before it arrived on PlayStation Plus earlier this month for PS5. Bugbear Entertainment’s racing/demolition derby mash-up first debuted in June 2018 on PC. This was followed by a console release just over a year later for PS4 and Xbox One. From what I can gather, it received a fairly average reception back then and there hasn’t been a whole lot of talk about it since. But the good folks at Bugbear have treated us to a Wreckfest PS5 upgrade (which is nice of them), so I thought a Wreckfest PS5 review was in order.

PlayStation Plus users have actually been given it a month ahead of its official PS5 release date – 1st June 2021. With this next-gen remaster, the big question is whether Wreckfest is worth playing on PS5 or not? Sure, it has its fun moments and some of them really are nail-biting. Despite this, Wreckfest didn’t hold my attention for long even though it does try hard to mix things up. It feels distinctly PS3-era, too (regardless of the upgrade), and plays like every other racing game ever. Even the demolition and destruction elements have been done better elsewhere. And while there are glimmers of something really enjoyable in Wreckfest on PS5, it’s an experience that’s decidedly middle-of-the-road.

Wreckfest PS5 review: Gameplay and modes

Wreckfest is all about automotive destruction. Or so its name would suggest. Yes, demolition derby is a big part of the game. But its heavy focus on racing doesn’t deliver much in the way of vehicular carnage. Minus the novelty game modes and vehicles, it’s a bog-standard affair that’s virtually indistinguishable from countless racing games that came before it. 2006’s MotorStorm featured more action-packed races, and the game’s crash physics don’t even compare to 2008’s Burnout Paradise. That’s not to say Wreckfest‘s gameplay is totally out-dated and uninspired, though. Battling 23 other cars in demolition derby until there’s only one left is undeniably exhilarating.

Wreckfest‘s single player is split across four different modes – career, multiplayer, tournament, and custom event. Career features five ‘championships’, which range from Regional Juniors to World Masters. The later competitions are unlocked by scoring enough points in the lower leagues, and difficulty scales up as you climb through the ranks. As you’d expect, you’ll need to regularly upgrade your vehicle with performance and armour enhancements to remain competitive. The customisation options are all fairly run-of-the-mill though.

Where the championships stand out is their unconventionality. The first ‘race’ I played was a demolition derby style event on lawnmowers. It was genuinely funny to drive round on the lawnmower, crash into others, and watch as bodies and metal flew around the screen. There are other events that are similarly unique, which feature school buses, motorhomes, combine harvesters, and more. And that’s something most other racing games don’t have, so Wreckfest has that going for it at least.

Is Wreckfest multiplayer and does it feature crossplay?

Wreckfest does have online multiplayer, and it includes all the game modes available in single player. Sadly, my experience with multiplayer left a lot to be desired. Performance was generally poor, with persistent lag in every game I played. Cars were clipping through each other, crashes were delayed, and I even fell under the track on one occasion. My internet connection was strong, too. So it was disappointing to see such crippling lag no matter what game mode or server I was playing in. There isn’t any crossplay functionality either, so you’ll have to play something else with your friends who are using different hardware.

Is Wreckfest split screen?

Unfortunately, there’s no split screen mode in Wreckfest which is where the game could’ve really shined. Even in 2021, there’s an appetite for split screen play but games that include it are few and far between.

Wreckfest PS5 review: 60fps, graphics and DualSense

I’m unsure why Wreckfest got the PS5 treatment. Of course, it’s always nice to see a game receive support and upgrades long after release. But the enhancements appear so minor, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re still playing on a PS4 or Xbox One. Yes – Wreckfest is 60fps on PS5 and it plays beautifully because of it. I didn’t notice a single drop or hiccup. However, the graphics haven’t benefitted much at all. Wreckfest‘s graphics on PS5 would be considered average at best even on last-gen machines. Occasionally, you’ll catch some sunlight through the trees and it’ll look nice enough, but it’s far below what you’d expect from a game made for a ninth generation console.

Wreckfest fails to capitalise on the PS5’s DualSense controller, too. The adaptive triggers kick-in somewhat while accelerating or reversing, but its not very noticeable. Likewise, there’s some rumble going on but it’s no more immersive than what you’d get from the old DualShock controllers. Outside of Astro’s Playroom, I’m yet to see Sony’s revolutionary controller implemented to full effect and Wreckfest is no different.

Wreckfest PS5 review: Soundtrack

If there’s one thing everyone wants from a racing game, it’s a great soundtrack. And Wreckfest provides appropriate heavy metal to accompany the in-game carnage. It’s reminiscent of a soundtrack you’d find in a mid-2000s title for PS2, and that’s a good thing. Perfect for getting you hyped to smash cars up.

Wreckfest PS5 review: Is it worth your time?

Wreckfest is free this month to PlayStation Plus users on PS5, and you can’t really complain when something’s free. However, it’s safe to say the PS Plus catalogue of free PS5 games has been fairly lacklustre so far, and Wreckfest doesn’t buck the trend. It’s a distinctly average racing game, with some notable fun to be had in its demolition-focused game modes. You might get a few laughs out of the novelty vehicles, too. But I suspect this will be a once-and-done experience for many. It’s cool as a freebie and you might enjoy its old-school vibe, although it makes for an unnecessary PS5 upgrade that you’ll probably forget after a few goes round the track.

Overall rating: 5/10

Version played: PS5

Do you agree with our Wreckfest review? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…

–

Featured Image Credit: THQ Nordic/Bugbear Entertainment