Carmageddon: Rogue Shift review

It’s been nearly a decade since the last Carmageddon game, and while it had its issues I rather enjoyed it. Now the series is back, and developer 34BigThings, known for its work on the Redout games, has given it a modern spin. Vehicular mayhem is still the focus of Carmageddon: Rogue Shift, of course, but now it has a roguelike structure. There are other changes, too, and while some of them may irk long-time series fans, those who go in with an open mind will no doubt enjoy it.

Firstly, Carmageddon: Rogue Shift still takes place in a dark apocalyptic future. And if you want to make life better for yourself and escape the horrid wasteland, you’re going to have to engage in violent vehicular combat and prove yourself. The new roguelike structure means you’re not likely to succeed on your first try, however. Instead, you’re going to have to try, try and then try again, with the points earned upon each failure used to unlock a decent range of permanent upgrades, vehicles, weapons and perks that will aid you on subsequent runs.

Ultimately, your goal here is to make your way through multiple areas, defeating a fearsome boss (or two) at the end of each of them. But to reach those bosses you’re going to have to survive a number of events first. This is where old-school Carmageddon fans might find themselves a little disappointed, as pretty much all of the events here are racing-focused. Sure, it pays to side-swipe, bash and shoot your opponents as you speed through each location. And running over zombies along the way will allow you to make use of ample amounts of boost. But you can only progress to the next event if you cross the finish line with podium finish.

The lack of event variety is perhaps the worst thing about Carmageddon: Rogue Shift, as taking part in one racing event after another eventually gets a little dull during a single play session. Sure, there are Survival events where you simply need to survive while making it to the finish line with a time limit, and Elite events where you need to finish first to progress rather than simply the top three, but they don’t make things that much more exciting. Some events focused on combat would have been nice at least.

The most important thing here, though, is that the core action is rather fun. During each run you’ll make your way across a map, charting your own route through events and other opportunities. There are weapons dealers and parts shops, for example, where you can use the cash earned during races to upgrade your arsenal and purchase valuable perks that can give you the upper hand. You’ll also find repair shops where you can fix any damage done to your vehicle, and sometimes you’ll get the opportunity to scavenge some goodies from storage containers. Get too greedy and anything you’ve gathered might be forfeit, however.

While your starting vehicle is understandably underwhelming – a simple banger equipped with a machine gun – during a run it can be transformed into something rather fearsome. And as mentioned earlier, with the points you earn during a run, you’ll be able to unlock a wider range of vehicles, each with their own starting weapons and perks. Some are better for racing, others for taking down opponents – it’s up to you which approach you want to take. A hulking tank of a car that gains speed as you wreck opponents has quickly become my favourite.

With racing being the focus here, the good news is that the handling model is fun for the most part. Some vehicles certainly take a bit more getting used to than others, with nimbler cars in particular requiring care when going into corners. This isn’t the type of game where you can just keep the accelerator held down and hope for the best; you’ll either end up crashing or spinning out. Correcting yourself after a spin-out or accident can be a bit of a pain, too, as vehicles don’t tend to turn well at low speeds – you’re often better off simply resetting your vehicle. But on the whole, speeding past your opponents is rewarding, and there’s a nice physicality to the combat.

Playing on PS5 Pro for review, Carmageddon: Rogue Shift isn’t the most attractive-looking racing game, but it’s hard to complain too much considering the post-apocalyptic setting and how much there’s generally going off at any moment. The frame rate is solid for the most part, too, though there are times where it noticeably dips. Still, it shouldn’t affect your enjoyment of the game all that much, and hopefully 34BigThings can iron out these instances post-launch.

It’s not the most-refined game, then, and it’s disappointing that there isn’t a bit more event variety, but it’s hard not to be won over by Carmageddon: Rogue Shift. This new entry in the long-running car combat series genuinely feels rather unique thanks to its roguelike structure, and the steady stream of unlockable vehicles, weapons and more will keep you coming back perhaps even after you’ve succeeded in your goal of escaping the wasteland.