Considering that I grew up with the Burnout series (specifically Burnout 3: Takedown), it’s kind of crazy that no one has properly filled that void. We’ve seen some similar games come and go, but overall, slamming into other vehicles to take the dub doesn’t happen that often. Wreckreation, featuring the talents of Fiona Sperry of Criterion fame, gave it the college try, but it seemed like players wanted more of the old Burnout as opposed to the Paradise inspiration it provided. Now, with a new studio behind the sequel in When Tides Turn (of which Sperry is the Studio Head), her team is filled to the brim with previous Criterion talent who look to go harder on what made Burnout so popular.
I had the chance to try a very early build, one that’s only nine months old at best. These are some of the most interesting previews to do, as what you touch is much more proof of concept than workable game. Probably the most surprising thing about what I touched was that it not only works, but the idea When Tides Turn is working on has a lot of potential.
When I looked over the previous Wreckreation Steam page, I saw a lot of looping, Hot Wheels-esque tracks, huge open environments, and a big focus on crafting your own maps. I’m not opposed to that idea, but it moves away from what truly worked with the Burnout formula. Thankfully, this build intentionally put me in a contained city space – I appreciate the focus on density instead of size. After all, quality is better than quantity.
From the second you fire up the engines, it’s obvious Wreckreation 2 is all about high-octane racing. I almost felt like I was sitting in the cockpit of one of those arcade racers in a Chuck–E-Cheese; the intensity is on that level. While the speed is palpable, I appreciate that you can stop on a dime, which lets me cut corners at the drop of a hat. Alongside a boost, I largely felt in control with every wiggle of the steering wheel.
Of course, what people will care about is how good the wrecking is. Even in these early stages, it’s pretty stellar. This is where I feel closest to Burnout 3, slamming into other vehicles and watching sparks fly and pieces of cars loosen or break off entirely. Once the team gets to work on polishing this aspect of Wreckreation 2, it’s sure to shine.
Getting a takedown is just like you remember, with the slowdown cam giving you a view of the destruction you’ve caused. Similar to Burnout, if you crash, said camera adds a mechanic for getting back at other competitors, allowing you to move your car slightly in the way of another racer. Even better, if you take out another racer, you get extra boost meters, which can pile up and be the difference in a tight race. Unfortunately, you’ll lose them if you crash, so watch yourself – especially coming out of the camera of your opponent’s accident.
Included in the density are your objectives. Whether you’re smashing through gates, looking to take out other vehicles in timed Road Rage challenges, or just getting first in a regular race, there was a shocking amount to do in what I played. Between these, time trial races, 1v1 face offs, and more, I doubt you’ll have a lack of things to do once Wreckreation 2 releases. If they can continue to add more diversity, which is already decent, spending time grinding for new vehicles and upgrades will stay fun over the hours and hours inside the game.
Lastly, let’s talk about the map itself. Where my first impressions of Wreckreation make me think it's more Forza Horizon-esque, this sequel’s city setting is more compact. This isn’t the final space – they confined us for the demo – but there’s more of a true Burnout vibe here than I saw in Wreckreation. Everything being closer together really brings out that intensity I mentioned earlier. The amount of vehicles (impressive for how quickly this build was put together) driving around as you race forces you to make split-second adjustments, and rewards you when you do so successfully. Although there will be more room to roam and play when the sequel releases, I hope they manage to keep the more tight feeling I’ve gotten from this preview build.
While I’d never call myself a racing savant, I had fun testing out Wreckreation 2. The push towards what made Burnout a sensation is a good sign, giving more credence to When Tides Turn pulling off a hidden gem in a crowded genre. It’ll be a while before we see the game in the wild, but you can wishlist the game on Steam now, which will give you a chance to participate in future playtests.
