We recently reported on the upcoming Switch release of Victory Heat Rally and have now had the chance to take it for a test drive. The game, developed by Skydevilpalm and published by Playtonic Friends, was initially released on Steam, iOS and Android before parking on the Switch earlier this month. It’s worth mentioning that Victory Heat Rally is also available as a physical cart on Switch from Limited Run Games. We set off from the starting line in this review of the Switch port.
Following on from a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2020, Victory Heat Rally has gone through some changes from its initial ‘super scaler’ offering to a more rounded retro-esque feel with modern sprinkles. The main portion of the game is the Championship mode that mixes up one-off races, Grand Prix events and curious challenges such as popping balloons within a time limit. The aim is to get gold in every event and this will open up further events, new drivers, car parts and paint jobs. Skilled racers will nail the main game in a few hours while those new to this type of game may take a little longer.
As players progress through the Championship, they come up against rivals, that once beaten, become available to play. There is also the opportunity to unlock paint jobs to customise the vehicles. Heading to the garage also allows for tweaking of the vehicles although the differences are subtle and most players will be fine using the standard setups. The Championship is broken down into different areas with different tracks and challenges played out on beaches, snowy roads, cityscapes and other locales.
Each area has a unique offering and always ends in a four-race Grand Prix that unlocks the next area once won. The Championship mode is accompanied by a loose story featuring interviews with the rivals and seen through the lens of a sports reporter. These scenes are mostly redundant to the actual game but those who like 90s kids cartoons will appreciate the nostalgia on offer through the presentation.
The other modes are traditional multiplayer, up to four racers in split screen, and individual Grand Prix or races in an arcade mode. While we didn’t get to try the multiplayer for this review, the nature of the game should lend itself to providing a fun experience. The individual events feel a little redundant given the game doesn’t have online multiplayer and anyone to hone those skills against to warrant improving times. Still, it provides some longevity away from the main tour once that is finished.
The gameplay is fast and frantic with the races whizzing by. The game’s main hook is a great drift system that works similarly to other kart racers, with a three-level boost system. The longer the drift is executed the more boost is built up to fly the racer out of the turn. It’s a satisfying mechanic that feels natural to perform and is simply just fun to do. It doesn’t take long to master and players will be screeching around turns, flying out into a boost after a few races.
Starting the game gives an initial impression that it falls somewhere between a traditional arcade racer and a cutesy kart racer all presented in a gripping retro style. It has punchy arcade music and retro graphics with colourful tracks and exciting menus but lacks the difficulty gamers of a certain age would expect from a tough arcade racer. This is a fairly easy game to finish and has a firm focus on having fun over providing a challenge, although getting gold on some of the extra missions can prove difficult.
Thinking about the focus on fun, Victory Heat Rally leans towards being a kiddy kart racer, like Mario Kart, but lacks the weapon pick-ups and platform-style tracks that are much of the appeal of that genre. It puts this game in a tricky spot, neither one thing nor the other. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to pay, far from it, it just makes it difficult to suggest who this game is aimed at. The bottom line is it has some great visuals and music, fun fast-paced mechanics and a variety of different races and challenges to win.
Victory Heat Rally is a high-octane drag race more than a gripping 24-Hour Le Mans that provides a fun experience while it lasts but doesn’t have much to come back to once the main game is finished. Arcade race lovers looking for a fun thrill ride to fill a weekend will enjoy it while those looking for something a little deeper or challenging might find the finish line approaches all too quickly.
