Overview – developed by Warpfish Games and published by PQube, RAZED is a fast paced platform racing hybrid, where the objective is to reach stage goals as fast as possible. But don’t stop moving as you need to keep the momentum energy going, if you don’t the special shoes you are wearing will explode, taking you with them. This title is available on all platforms, with a link to each version of the game will be at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank PQube Games for providing the copy of RAZED that was used for this piece, via the Keymailer service. The provision of this software has not been influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. The game is rather light in terms of a plot, so I will be going straight into discussing the gameplay experience.
Gameplay – RAZED is an odd hybrid of a racing and platforming, where the objective is to reach the end of each stage as fast as possible. However, there is one major caveat to this, as the player must keep moving or they will explode. Surrounding the player is an energy ring, which will decrease if the player stops running. If this momentum energy runs out at any point, the player will explode and return them to the start of the stage.
Momentum energy is gained and maintained by running across the various surfaces, but if the player leaves the ground, energy will be lost. Then there are the momentum skills that can be used, which the player will unlock during the course of the game. These powers include jumping, stomping and boosting, which will use up energy each time they are used. To make up for the amount of energy that skills use, energy shards can be collected to replenish momentum.
The game is made up of 6 worlds containing 10 stages, with each of them having a distinct theme. The first 9 stages are rather standard challenges, where the player must get to the goal, avoiding hazards like spikes, pits and crushers. There is a level of precision that is needed to complete these stages, as every movement could lead to death, through energy loss or hazards. Sadly this is a lot easier said than done.
Due to the way that the games physics system works, there are some flaws with the way that movement works. In the stages, there will be angled platforms, tight gaps with hazards and stage elements that need to be jumped through. When trying to navigate these stages, there is a chance for the physics to cause the player to lose speed, die via hazards or get stuck on stage elements. This can lead to repeated failure and frustration.
Then there are the bounce panels, which can be the most inconsistent part of the platforming experience. As the player bounces on these panels, they will be sent in a direction depending on the angle they are at. When they are flat, the player will simply bounce forward, making progress pretty easy. However, if these platforms are at an angle, it is unfortunately common for the pad to launch the player in the wrong direction, killing that attempt at the stage.
Thankfully, most of these stages are rather short, with little progress being lost from failure. If the player makes mistakes, there is the ability to quickly restart the stage, shortening the downtime between attempts. This can be useful for trying different approaches to stages, or to practice early stage strategies and get used to new skills. After clearing all 9 main stages, the boss battle for the active world will be accessible.
When players reach stage 10, they will be confronted by the Developer, an entity that created the world of RAZED. The Developer is responsible for giving the player the exploding shoes, hell bent on the destruction of the player. In these stages, the player will face the toughest challenge of that world. During the boss stages, the hazards will be increased, with the Developer using attacks like lasers and explosives to kill the player.
When any of the stages are cleared, the player will receive a rating based on their performance. Based on the clear time of the stage, the player will receive a letter grade, with the lowest being D and the highest being A. But if players can meet special requirements, they will be able to get the super special S rating. Some stages will not be possible to get an A through standard play, so returning to stages after unlocking skills make this possible.
Throughout all of the stages, the player will be able to find upgrade points that are scattered through the stages. These upgrade points are tied to the different skills, adding a point to their designated skill when collected and the stage is cleared. Collecting three skill upgrade points will improve the ability, reducing the amount of energy it uses. There is a total of 60 upgrade points that can be collected, one for each stage.
The last thing to discuss is the secret challenges. If the player can beat all stages in a world with an A ranking, including the boss, a special bonus stage will be unlocked. These are the toughest challenges that the game can offer, pushing the skills of the player to the test. Completing each of these stages will provide a special point, if all six stages are cleared, something special will be unlocked as the final special reward.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other aspects of this release, starting with the controls.
Controls – as a fast paced platform action game, there is a need for tight and responsive controls. Sadly the controls for this release feel a little sloppy at times, due to the reliance on thumbstick use for movement. This is unfortunate, as there is a lack of precision that a D-pad would provide. There is also some inconsistencies to general inputs, with delay to inputs that causes jumped to be missed, or to collide with the environment.
Difficulty – in general there is a moderate challenge that is being presented by the game, which is unfortunately made more difficult by the physics hiccups. Many of the stages can be beaten in a few attempts, but there is some luck involved at times. To compensate for the increased difficulty of some areas, there is a skip button that allowing players to bypass stages. There are 3 skips that can be used, but if the player clears a skipped stage, they get a skip back.
Presentation – this game features a neon soaked low poly style, with a color scheme that is reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. The bright polygonal look is good and the motion is rather smooth and fluid, with parity between the Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 systems, offering a great experience on both. The music fits each of the settings very well, offering compositions that give each setting a unique feel and theme to them.
Final Thoughts – I am very late to the party with RAZED, as the game came out a few years ago, but when I was given the opportunity to play it, I was happy to take it on. My experience was a bit of a mixed bag, it is a lot of fun and looks amazing, but it does have some unfortunate flaws to it. The general gameplay is solid, but there are some buggy physics, leading to platforming mishaps and getting stuck on level geometry.
The stages can be tough and tricky, which leads to some frustrations when playing, due to the precision needed and the unfortunate lack of D-pad support. As a platformer, the game is fast and frantic, with the gimmick of jumps/skills needing energy adding to the tension. I enjoyed most of my time playing, but there were points where I had to put it down for a bit. It is hard to recommend, but if you are after a super tough speed game, this may be for you.
In the end, I give RAZED a final score of 3.5/5. This is a challenging speed focused precision platformer, with an interesting concept, mechanics and a vibrant game world, but the fun is unfortunately hindered by some inconsistencies with the physics. If you want to check this game out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to PlayStation version (HERE)
Link to Xbox version (HERE)
Link to Steam version (HERE)
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