First Impressions of Disney Speedstorm:
Being a fan of good kart racers, deep-cut classic Disney references and fun soundtrack remixes, I paid nearly $30 this week for the open beta “early access” version of Disney Speedstorm, a Mario Kart-like game which will be released FREE at some point in the future on all platforms.
My questionable entertainment budget decisions aside, here are my thoughts after several hours of gameplay.
It’s very good… BUT… buyer be aware, even when it’s released for free, because this project— designed by mobile-phone-game giant Gameloft—follows a now-familiar free-to-play structure designed to get you hooked on a fun game in hopes of luring you into paying for quicker access to costumes, characters and more.
Whether this is a fair or lousy way to run a live service game all depends on how it’s handled. So far, I’d say the jury’s still out, as the game isn’t technically in its final form yet.
PROS:
- It’s fun. Really, really fun.
- It looks great and runs beautifully.
- Great voice work including performances from Bill Farmer, Tony Anselmo, Robby Benson and Susan Egan
- Creative techno remixes of classic Disney songs. (Including some delightful non-mainstream choices such as Minnie’s Yoo-Hoo, Trust in Me, and The Gospel Truth to name a few.
- Figment’s in it.
- Witty dialogue written by someone who knows Disney classics.
- Tracks are fun, gorgeous and full of film references.
CONS:
- It’s not as good as Mario Kart 8. Not even close. Where Mario Kart has a tight, ultra responsive and impactful immediacy, Speedstorm has a slightly floaty feeling of detachment. It’s not bad—in fact, it’s a blast to play— But, in MK8, you always know exactly what’s going on around you, while in Speedstorm… not so much.
- Continuing the comparison: Mario Kart is intuitive and straightforward, while Speedstorm’s presentation is convoluted and full of free-to-play related B.S., such as different “currencies” required for different purposes, creating an all-too familiar free-to-play maze of tasks to complete. Yuck.
Overall, I like the game a lot. It’s a terrific Disney-themed kart racer. All its big negatives are directly related to the free-to-play nature of its design, and—so far— I’ve found those negatives to be tolerable, though I’d rate the game much higher if it had been released as a straightforward pay-full-price-upfront retail game.
I’d recommend it (especially if you can wait until it’s available as a free download), but just be alert toward its free-to-play tactics aimed at coaxing you into spending money.
