Carmageddon: Reincarnation Preview

Woe to anyone who attempts to resurrect (or reincarnate) such a historically contentious, yet universally beloved franchise like Carmageddon. With so much history, both good and bad, there’s a lot on the line. It’s somewhat fitting then, and relieving one might add, that the original developers of the Carmageddon series are behind this modern spin on the infamous driving combat title. Stainless Games are back behind the bloody wheel of their most renowned game after re-acquiring the licence back in 2011. This past week marked a milestone in the gradual development of the long-awaited sequel, as the game hit Steam early-access, which means that for the first time those who didn’t back the game on Kickstarter will be able to get their first taste of Carmageddon: Reincarnation.

We were given early-early access to the pre-Alpha version that you can download now from Steam, and it was certainly an interesting experience. Stainless Games are clearly adamant to point out that this is indeed a very early stage of the game’s development; an obtrusive message kicks off the game by telling you just that, while ‘pre-Alpha’ icons can be found on just about every in-game screen. It’s almost as though they’re the first studio ever to use this method of development; that’s very far from the case, of course, so I dare say they could ease up a little bit on getting that point across. Still, just like any Early Access title, that ‘still in development’ feel is strewn all over the current build of the game. It’s not an indictment on the game itself, it’s just worth pointing out now that this probably isn’t a build you’ll want to play if you’re anything other than a Carmageddon purist (or, in other words, a backer).

Indeed, the current version of Reincarnation is a little rough around the edges, and acts as more of a testing ground than a proper game. That’s not to say you can’t have a bit of simple fun playing it already; there’s only one game mode available, and two tracks (plus one more for backers), but a lot of the game’s base mechanics are already in action in this initial set-up. Racing around in the Red Eagle is as satisfying as ever, and the morbidly amusing award goes to the infamous ability to run down pedestrians that bumble about the maps for no apparent reason. The AI aren’t exactly fine-tuned at the moment so don’t provide all that much of a challenge, while the gameplay itself will probably turn a little stale after an hour or two in-game. However, if you want to be an active part of the development process, then there’s plenty here to report, comment on and help fix.

So with the game now in a state of flux up until release, it may not be the ideal time to get your first taste of the carnage. Instead, you can look ahead to what Carmageddon: Reincarnation will have to offer whenever that release swings by. Stainless are promising a huge selection of vehicles, from old classics to new-for-the-series machines that should all be great to play with. A revolutionary damage system is already in place within the Early Access code and, although a little tetchy at points, makes it all the more amusing to smash up both your car and your opponent's. This is certainly one of the better mechanics currently in the game, so it will be good to see how this develops over the coming months. The vehicles are also planned to be customisable, which in a game like this is both expected and usually excellent, so Stainless are going to have their work cut out for them on this front.

Then there’s the characters, many of whom will hold a special place in many gamer’s hearts. Stainless have clearly focused on bringing the classic characters that were previously just poorly rendered mug-shots to the modern age. Some neat concept art shows off a few of the newer characters as well as returning legends like Screwie Lewie and cover boy Max Damage. Part of the ‘charm’ of the original games was the Prat-Cam in the corner of the screen that let the player glimpse into the psychopathy of their avatars as they grinned and grimaced while plowing down pedestrians. No word yet on whether this will be included in Reincarnation, it seems like a bit of a missed trick if not. The locations are also set to be a combination of returning classics and original layouts that should please both new and old fans.

There’ll be more on offer as well: standard stuff like game modes, power-ups, a variety of pedestrians to take out and online multiplayer. Through all this though, there’s one question that I have to ask; is 2014 really an appropriate time for a car combat game known largely for the ability to kill innocent civilians? The original Carmageddon was a revolutionary title for its time; the physics engine, graphics and daredevil morality were all relatively new horizons for gamers worldwide. Now, 17 whole years on from the original release, is this kind of game still relevant in the slightest? The newest Twisted Metal released a couple of years ago, and while undoubtedly a fun game, it felt more than a little dated in concept and overall design. In an age where driving games are (to my dismay) becoming a tad repetitive, and dumb action games are becoming the scourge of the gaming community, what hope does Carmageddon: Reincarnation have of success?

At the moment, it’s the plucky Isle of Wight based development team that’s keeping this project on its feet (not to mention the hundreds of thousands of pounds from backers). Stainless Games are clearly dedicated to, and excited by, their work on the project, and this is a mentality that will no doubt reflect well on the final product. 2014 probably isn’t the time for a game of this ilk, but the team are going to force it through anyway, could this make the game even cruder than the original? Long-term fans will probably hope so in reality, as it’s the knock-down dragout, albeit rather dumb, style of the series that’s given it such a lasting impact on our industry. At this point, it’s tough to say whether Carmageddon: Reincarnation will be a title worth playing but, like a vehicle pulled straight from the game itself, it’s one to keep an eye on.