Wreckreation Review: A Burnout Paradise Clone with Flaws
It's been 6,496 days since the original release of Burnout Paradise, and the appetite for arcade racing hasn't diminished. Developer Three Fields Entertainment, led by former Criterion Games bigwigs, has crafted Wreckreation, an unapologetic Burnout Paradise clone. While it's admirable that they're trying to recreate the magic with a fraction of the budget and staff, the result is a janky, unrefined racer that falls short of its spiritual ancestor's quality.
Wreckreation's similarities to Burnout Paradise are striking, from the digital information ticker to the familiar takedown tone. This leads to a game that feels more concerned with recreating Burnout's identity than establishing its own unique one. The driving dynamics are a letdown, with a brake-to-drift handling system that lacks the ability to alter drift angle effectively. The throttle's impact is minimal once you're sideways, and the car's idiosyncrasies, like screeching to a halt in a straight line, are frustrating.
The game's stunt challenge is a bug-ridden affair, with cars consistently wrecking for no apparent reason when attempting loops. The track builder, a feature that should be exciting, fails to inspire. It's out of date compared to competitors, and the net result is tracks that look impressive but drive poorly. The open-world map, while large, is generic and lacks memorable areas, making races tedious and repetitive.
Wreckreation's events, including races, takedowns, and shutdowns, quickly become familiar and unexciting. The catch-up AI is egregious, and the penalty takedown events are frustrating, with unfair attribution of takedowns. The game's ambition is clear, but it's let down by predictable handling, a dull open-world map, and a lack of style. It feels like a supermarket brand homage to better arcade racers, built with user-generated content tools from another game.
Despite the flaws, Wreckreation has its moments, but it's a game that needs significant improvements to live up to its potential.
