| Redout | |
| Developer: | 34BigThings |
| Publisher: | 34BigThings Nicalis (Switch) |
| Composer: |
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| Engine: | Unreal Engine 4[1] |
| Platform: | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch |
| Released: | WindowsPlayStation 4, Xbox OneNintendo SwitchAmazon Luna |
| Genre: | Racing |
| Modes: | Single-player, multiplayer |
Redout is a racing video game developed and published by Italian studio 34BigThings.[2] It is inspired by racing games such as F-Zero, Wipeout, Rollcage, and POD as stated on the game page on Steam.
The game was released for Microsoft Windows in September 2016, while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One released in August 2017.[3] The Windows version is playable in virtual reality.[4] A Nintendo Switch port published by Nicalis was originally slated for a Q2 2017 release, but got delayed and was released in May 2019.[5] The game was released for Amazon Luna on October 20, 2020.[6]
Redout is an anti-gravity racing game set in 2560. Players compete by piloting one of a selection of ships on several different tracks.[7]
After a climate catastrophe forced humanity to move to Mars, a group of scientists at the European Space Agency invented anti-gravity magnets. The ESA saw potential in this concept, and greenlighted a project to build high-speed anti-gravity racing ships. Once the design was perfected, the specifications of the magnets were released and the Solar Redout Racing League was formed. The SRRL returned to a desolate Earth among other locations to build racetracks, and anti-gravity racing quickly became the most popular sport in the universe. By 2560, the SRRL has racetracks built across the entire solar system.
There are seven racing teams and every team has four ships. Each ship has its distinct characteristics of acceleration, top speed, grip, structural integrity, energy pool and energy recharge speed. The players can customize their ship's characteristics installing upgrades and choosing a passive and active powerup of the six of each available. There are five racing complexes (and an additional seven have been added via DLC) each one consisting of five tracks. Track design includes loops, jumps, teleports, underwater sections, tubular sections and tracks with low or no gravity.
The game features different racing modes, those being Race, Pure Race, Time Attack, Pure Time Attack, Speed, Instagib, Knockout, Arena Race, Survival, Score, and Boss. Race is the standard mode where the player must complete all laps before their opponents do. Pure Race is identical to standard Race mode but active and passive powerups cannot be used. Time Attack is a time trial mode where the player must beat a certain lap time. Pure Time Attack is the same as Time Attack but powerups are disabled. Speed is similar to Time Attack, but if the player stays above a pre-determined speed, they will have seconds subtracted off their lap time. Instagib is another Time Attack mode but damage from wall impacts is greatly increased and the player is unable to respawn if their ship is destroyed. Knockout is a last man standing mode where the racer in last place is eliminated at the end of every lap. Arena Race is similar to the standard Race mode, but if a contender destroys their ship, they are disqualified and are unable to respawn. Survival mode places the player on the track with the goal to reach as many checkpoints as possible before their ship gets destroyed by running into the walls or the obstacles scattered about the track. Score is an endurance mode where the player gains points depending on their position and what they do while racing. The player gains more points if they stay in higher positions, and gains additional points for hitting turbo pads and completing laps without destroying their ship. Boss mode links together all five track layouts with teleporters. Multiplayer is supported online via lobbies of up to twelve players[8] and locally via two players split-screen.[9]
The ship controls are similar to that of aircraft, including strafing and pitching the vehicle;[10] pitching is used when turning uphill to prevent the ship from grinding the floor (slowing and damaging the craft) and when turning downhill to prevent redouts (an aesthetic effect). Strafing is used to help the player turn sharper, navigate chicanes, or drift their ship if they turn opposite of the direction they are strafing, which allows them to turn while maintaining a good racing line.
On Metacritic, Redout received positive reviews for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One;[11] [12] [13] the Switch version received mixed reviews.[14] PC Gamer said it "Nails the look, the sound, and the speed" but "stalls on the sensation".[8] Nintendo Life called it "a pretty good game" but criticized the Switch version's performance and multiplayer functionality.[10] Push Square said it is "one of the best examples of the genre" and said the boss races are "a particular standout".[15]
A spin-off named Redout: Space Assault was released for iOS and macOS through Apple Arcade on October 8, 2019, with releases for Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One releases delayed until January 22, 2021.[16] [17] A sequel published by Saber Interactive titled Redout 2 was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on June 16, 2022.[18]