We’re sad to report that the first few hours of RAGE have left us somewhat unimpressed – but it seems like there’s a good game itching to get out. Here are our initial impressions of id Software’s ambitious shooter, along with some hopes and fears we’ve found ourselves left with…
playstation3 controller
Throw away your bottle caps. It’s safe to do so, trust me – you won’t need them when this apocalypse comes. Forget what Metro 2033 taught you about saving military-grade ammunition, too – its value will equate to that of the dusty antique up in the loft you’re so sure is worth a fortune. Allow me to let you in on a little secret: the actual currency of a post-apocalyptic wasteland is favours. Yes, the sole economic principle remaining when civilisation is all but wiped out is: “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
Like all the tricksiest shylocks out there, RAGE’s populace gets you in arrears quickly. Not 30 seconds from stepping out of the underground shelter (or Ark) that’s managed to keep you alive during the cataclysm are you almost mauled to death by a crazed mutant outside. The eruption of dazzling sunlight in your face when emerging into a ravaged world was of no help, but luckily enough a wastelander by the name of Dan is on hand to prevent such an untimely demise. The problem is, now you’re trapped. As he’s saved your clueless, half-blinded self, you owe this man a debt of gratitude – and he has so many favours that need doing.
PS3 controller charging stand
Seeking to be more than just a run-of-the-mill first-person shooter, RAGE is built around these many favours, asked of you by the inhabitants dotted about in quest-hub style settlements. Yet the early game tasks are uninspiring to say the least, mostly originating from awkward contrivances and MMO-style slaughter quests. Even as a tutorial phase to introduce the game’s main elements, it drags with tedium.
What did your last slave die of?
After bringing you back to his home town, our saviour Dan has a few tasks that need doing: clearing out an area of bandits, re-activating a disrupted communications tower, and retrieving stolen car parts (because the repair man seems to carry only one set). It’s an inherent fault with this style of mission system, and one that will hopefully fade beyond the few hours of RAGE we’ve played – otherwise missions are going to become increasingly tiresome as the clock ticks on.
While the game may struggle with giving meaningful context to actions, it’s certainly capable of making shooting in first-person enjoyable when someone is kind enough to task you with it, instead of using you as a postman. RAGE’s gunplay is strong – which isn’t much of a surprise considering we’re dealing with id here. The standard arsenal carries an expected visceral impact: the pistol is spry but forceful, the shotgun thunderous.
Characters also seem to be clued in that you’re some kind of trustworthy killing machine and are more than happy to hand over a variety of weapons from early on for your successes. The Wingstick – a three-point bladed boomerang – is a gruesome support item which takes its cues from Dark Sector’s Glaive weapon, offering a different approach to combat. More opportunities for tactical confrontations arise from engineering contraptions such as sentry guns, built from scrap found littering the wasteland, and experimenting with each weapon’s selection of ammo types, giving specific damage boosts or effects.
PS3 Cooling Fan
Last gasp
Enemies are often smart enough to thwart your well-thought-out plans, though, going to great lengths to make combat scenarios feel gripping and dynamic by moving to tactically stronger positions or taking pot-shots from behind cover with an outstretched arm. Some will cowardly flee if they’re the last one standing, or make a final struggle to take you down while they bleed out on the ground. Still, if it comes to it, dying doesn’t cause too many headaches. Playing an obscure revival mini-game can bring you back to life – a game which requires some adept thumbstick movement and timed button presses to kick the story-relevant ‘nanotrites’ inside you into gear.
It isn’t clear what importance these nanotrites have, but the other characters you meet drop a lot of unsubtle hints about your status as an Ark survivor. Apparently, anyone who has lived through the preservation process is worth a lot of money to certain parties – one being the omnipresent Authority, whose beacons can be seen floating across the wasteland. How this mystery of your character’s past and identity develops might boost RAGE out of its formulaic mission system.
PS3 Controller Charger
An attempt to mix this up even more can be seen with the strange implementation of RAGE’s vehicles. Complete a few favours with the local mechanic and a rusty old dune buggy is yours for the taking, ready to be souped-up and taken for a spin. As upgrades can’t be bought for money, they’re earned through competing at the race track for ‘racing certificates’. Participating in races from basic time trails to explosive combat challenges not only entertains a enthusiastic crowd, but would also be an enjoyable change of pace from all the shooting – if there were more of it.
Main racing events take place in the town of Wellspring. It’s a lively place, an important quest hub and trading location, with a quirky mayor keen to welcome you to the community, and a gruff sheriff cautious of your intentions. But the cycle of favours refuses to cease even with these folks, as assignments from both parties and odd jobs from the town’s barmaid build up. There’s a persistent feeling of grind, without a wholly satisfying reward along the way that doesn’t just equate to another step on the tutorial path.
RAGE isn’t just Borderlands without the Skinner box – it’s also BioShock without plasmids, Fallout without the intense character development, and Call of Duty with more meat. It’s built on secure FPS foundations with plenty of distractions along the way. But if the opening hours are anything to go by, RAGE risks diverting too much attention away from the invigorating shooting that it does so well.
playstation3 controller
Throw away your bottle caps. It’s safe to do so, trust me – you won’t need them when this apocalypse comes. Forget what Metro 2033 taught you about saving military-grade ammunition, too – its value will equate to that of the dusty antique up in the loft you’re so sure is worth a fortune. Allow me to let you in on a little secret: the actual currency of a post-apocalyptic wasteland is favours. Yes, the sole economic principle remaining when civilisation is all but wiped out is: “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
Like all the tricksiest shylocks out there, RAGE’s populace gets you in arrears quickly. Not 30 seconds from stepping out of the underground shelter (or Ark) that’s managed to keep you alive during the cataclysm are you almost mauled to death by a crazed mutant outside. The eruption of dazzling sunlight in your face when emerging into a ravaged world was of no help, but luckily enough a wastelander by the name of Dan is on hand to prevent such an untimely demise. The problem is, now you’re trapped. As he’s saved your clueless, half-blinded self, you owe this man a debt of gratitude – and he has so many favours that need doing.
PS3 controller charging stand
Seeking to be more than just a run-of-the-mill first-person shooter, RAGE is built around these many favours, asked of you by the inhabitants dotted about in quest-hub style settlements. Yet the early game tasks are uninspiring to say the least, mostly originating from awkward contrivances and MMO-style slaughter quests. Even as a tutorial phase to introduce the game’s main elements, it drags with tedium.
What did your last slave die of?
After bringing you back to his home town, our saviour Dan has a few tasks that need doing: clearing out an area of bandits, re-activating a disrupted communications tower, and retrieving stolen car parts (because the repair man seems to carry only one set). It’s an inherent fault with this style of mission system, and one that will hopefully fade beyond the few hours of RAGE we’ve played – otherwise missions are going to become increasingly tiresome as the clock ticks on.
While the game may struggle with giving meaningful context to actions, it’s certainly capable of making shooting in first-person enjoyable when someone is kind enough to task you with it, instead of using you as a postman. RAGE’s gunplay is strong – which isn’t much of a surprise considering we’re dealing with id here. The standard arsenal carries an expected visceral impact: the pistol is spry but forceful, the shotgun thunderous.
Characters also seem to be clued in that you’re some kind of trustworthy killing machine and are more than happy to hand over a variety of weapons from early on for your successes. The Wingstick – a three-point bladed boomerang – is a gruesome support item which takes its cues from Dark Sector’s Glaive weapon, offering a different approach to combat. More opportunities for tactical confrontations arise from engineering contraptions such as sentry guns, built from scrap found littering the wasteland, and experimenting with each weapon’s selection of ammo types, giving specific damage boosts or effects.
PS3 Cooling Fan
Last gasp
Enemies are often smart enough to thwart your well-thought-out plans, though, going to great lengths to make combat scenarios feel gripping and dynamic by moving to tactically stronger positions or taking pot-shots from behind cover with an outstretched arm. Some will cowardly flee if they’re the last one standing, or make a final struggle to take you down while they bleed out on the ground. Still, if it comes to it, dying doesn’t cause too many headaches. Playing an obscure revival mini-game can bring you back to life – a game which requires some adept thumbstick movement and timed button presses to kick the story-relevant ‘nanotrites’ inside you into gear.
It isn’t clear what importance these nanotrites have, but the other characters you meet drop a lot of unsubtle hints about your status as an Ark survivor. Apparently, anyone who has lived through the preservation process is worth a lot of money to certain parties – one being the omnipresent Authority, whose beacons can be seen floating across the wasteland. How this mystery of your character’s past and identity develops might boost RAGE out of its formulaic mission system.
PS3 Controller Charger
An attempt to mix this up even more can be seen with the strange implementation of RAGE’s vehicles. Complete a few favours with the local mechanic and a rusty old dune buggy is yours for the taking, ready to be souped-up and taken for a spin. As upgrades can’t be bought for money, they’re earned through competing at the race track for ‘racing certificates’. Participating in races from basic time trails to explosive combat challenges not only entertains a enthusiastic crowd, but would also be an enjoyable change of pace from all the shooting – if there were more of it.
Main racing events take place in the town of Wellspring. It’s a lively place, an important quest hub and trading location, with a quirky mayor keen to welcome you to the community, and a gruff sheriff cautious of your intentions. But the cycle of favours refuses to cease even with these folks, as assignments from both parties and odd jobs from the town’s barmaid build up. There’s a persistent feeling of grind, without a wholly satisfying reward along the way that doesn’t just equate to another step on the tutorial path.
RAGE isn’t just Borderlands without the Skinner box – it’s also BioShock without plasmids, Fallout without the intense character development, and Call of Duty with more meat. It’s built on secure FPS foundations with plenty of distractions along the way. But if the opening hours are anything to go by, RAGE risks diverting too much attention away from the invigorating shooting that it does so well.