Developer: ansdor
Publisher: Blitworks Games
ReleaseDate: 7th April 2022
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch & PC
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
* Code provided by the publisher *
From the moment I saw the trailer of Slipstream ahead of its launch on PlayStation 5 I knew this game would be right up my alley. It’s impossible to see the game in motion and not instantly get Outrun vibes. These arcade racers dominated a lot of my time as a youth, and nostalgia is a hell of a drug! The game is created by ansdor, a solo Brazilian developer and is a real labour of love. A call back to simpler times. Let’s take a look under the hood.
In retro racers like this, the gameplay is always king and that is no different here. Slipstream does an excellent job of channelling old school arcade racers. Having not played a game of this ilk for a while, I initially found it incredibly difficult due to the insane speed the game runs at, but with an hour or so under my belt, it definitely began to click. The addition of a rewind button that can be used sparingly before requiring a recharge also helps.
There isn’t much nuance to the gameplay. You’ll either be driving in a straight line or wrapping yourself around a turn at 120mph. Your success or failure will hinge on three factors: Your ability to avoid other cars, managing to ease out of each turn at the right time and successfully propelling out of the AI’s slipstream. The option for automatic drifting was also welcome and I used that for the majority of my time with the game.
I was pleasantly surprised with the number of game modes on offer. First up is the Grand Tour, which is where you race against both the clock and a different rival in five separate regions. At the end of each region, which is essentially a lap, you’ll have two options of which location to branch into next. Reaching this checkpoint tops up your time and also drops a new rival into the fray.
Grand Prix mode is another flagship event to take a look at, which is a score based championship consisting of five races and most interestingly giving you the option to play with stock or custom cars. Stock retains the stats of the five available cars, whereas custom reduces all vehicles to the same basic specs and you can upgrade your chosen attribute in-between races with money earned. Time trial, a battle royale mode and more round out a pretty robust offering. I was pleasantly surprised with how much there is to do in the game.
Slipstream absolutely nails the retro aesthetic, complete with Pseudo3D graphics and even a suite of screen filters that mimic display modes such as the scan lined glory of CRT monitors. This all plays out alongside a banging soundtrack by Effoharkay that completes 80’s style perfectly.
The trophy list is well assembled and spans all areas of the game, asking you to complete each mode on offer. Initially, I would have pegged this at about a 6/10 platinum difficulty, but the more you play, the more the gameplay does start to click. I would estimate a 4/10 difficulty and expect it to clock in around 10-15 hours depending on skill.
Overall, Slipstream is an excellent throwback to arcade racers of the late 1980s. It may have a limited selection of cars, but it makes up for that with a host of modes, some beautiful vistas, addictive gameplay and a soundtrack that compliments the action on-screen perfectly. If you have any nostalgia for old school racers then at £7.39 you cannot go wrong with this one!
-Craig ✌️
