Racing games, whether classic or modern, always have some unique draw when it comes to what makes them unique. Gran Turismo, for instance, is known for its simulation-like racing on real-world circuits. Mario Kart has its items to add some chaos to the normally colorful and quirky style of it, a stark contrast to Gran Turismo.
Uniqueness is what brings us to today’s game, being 22 Racing Series. Revealed during the Steam Games Festival, and developed by GOATi Entertainment, this game’s main draw is to play on real-time strategy alongside racing. So, how does it do that, and what does this demo have to offer? Let’s break it down.
22 Racing Series: Strategy and Speed Woven Together
In the tutorial, the game takes a heavy emphasis on explaining the game’s core mechanics to you as best it can. Every race is going through a tube that twists, turns, loops, and opens up to the exposed environment. You have your usual steering, acceleration, and boost, but that’s about it with what it has in common with other games.
The strategy comes into what the D-Pad, X, and Y buttons do. Tracks in 22 Racing Series are broken up into “sectors”. The racer with the fastest time through the sector “wins” that sector, and gets Energy Points. You can spend that Energy in one of various ways, such as
- Engine Upgrades (so your vehicle has higher top speed)
- Boost Upgrades (Boost is more effective)
- Energy Pad (A ring is dropped behind you that only you can interact with. It helps to win sectors you previously lost)
- Boost Trail (For a couple of seconds, you leave a trail in the same color as your car, and only you can interact with it. It makes your car go faster.
- Or you can just pour it into raw boosting.
The Downforce Reduction System
The game has a feature known as the Downforce Reduction System (DRS). This part of your vehicle is on by default, but you can toggle it with the X button at any time. While it’s on, your car has better handling and sticks to the track better. However, disabling it will allow your car to go significantly faster, but it’s a bit tougher to keep in a straight line.
Effective navigation of the game seems rather predicated around this mechanic, as you’ll have to pick and choose which is more effective for which sectors. However, there’s another piece of the puzzle, called Nuclear Boost.
Speed Goes Nuclear
Nuclear Boosting is another part of the puzzle. You have a sub-meter on your car, known as Nuclear Energy. Unlike Energy Points, Nuclear Energy recharges over time, even when you don’t win whatever sector you’re in. Nuclear Boosting can only be used when DRS is set to OFF, so it’s a stronger boost, but has a commitment factor to it.
After being used, it can’t be used again without recharging to 100. Using Nuclear Boost is a surefire way to win some sectors, but it can’t and shouldn’t be used everywhere. You’d be gimping yourself doing that, due to the requirements to even use it. However, that isn’t to say its benefits aren’t powerful, not at all.
What the 22 Racing Series Demo Allows You To Do
The demo for 22 Racing Series allows you to play the tutorial in its entirety, to learn the game’s functions. In addition, you get to free race in Practice Mode, and you can take on Hot Lap mode in two different courses. Hot Lap is like the Time Attack modes of past racing games; you race to try to get the fastest time possible.
Aside from that, you have access to a PVE mode where you battle AIs outside of the tubes of the main tracks, and a Co-Op mode where you and a partner race to beat two AI racers on a track of your choosing. You can play this mode solo or with local split-screen. Other than the Hot Lap leaderboards, I’m not certain how online modes will function, but we’ll update as we know.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, 22 Racing Series, with its unique mechanics and focus on sector-based racing, leaves a very satisfying impression. It runs beautifully, has very vibrant colors and sound, and has simple to get into, but tough to master gameplay.
If I had to have any gripes with this demo, it would be the presence of the vehicle customize menu. It’s not meant for demo use, so why is it there? You could have not included access to that mode, and enabled manual volume control. It’s very odd that a demo disables audio volume control, but it isn’t a total dealbreaker.
To put it simply, 22 Racing Series is a great racing game, albeit a bit hard to fully play. You can view the game’s website here.
22 Racing Series is slated to release sometime in 2021 on PC via Steam.
What did you think about our 22 Racing Series First Impressions? Do you want to try this game? Are you waiting for a full release date? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
If you liked this article and like racing games, be sure to read our article on Fast Racing Neo here.