Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Arcade-racer

Developed by Milestone, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, the speed-hungry arcade racer, is a total blast. Why? Well, because it’s all about going pedal to the metal, collecting Hot Wheels from across the ages, and playing around with your very own tracks. But, hold your horses, it’s not all checkered flags and victory laps. The track variety might leave you craving more, and the story mode is, well, pretty average.

The Need for Speed

Now, don’t expect this game to be a hardcore racing sim or a wild Mario Kart. Turbocharged has its unique charm. It throws you onto tracks set in everyday places like backyards and golf courses, and it’s like stepping into the imagination of your inner kid who built insane tracks wherever they fancied. Think loop-de-loops, golf balls, giant spiders, and hairpin turns that’ll keep you on your toes.

The need for speed is real here. Races are quick and oh-so-addictive. You’ve got to master your boost in all kinds of races – from the standard ones to obstacle courses and boss battles. My personal favourite? Elimination races, where you’ve got to stay in the lead until you’re the last car standing.

Got The Boost?

Your boost bar? It’s your secret weapon. You can use it for cool jumps and those nifty lateral dashes, which are new in the sequel. You can even use them mid-air to save your ride from going off-track. And you earn a boost by drifting, which is pretty forgiving and easy to get the hang of. Different cars have different boosts, which spices things up. Some give you just three bars for boosts, while others come with a whole bar that you can burn as you please.

Mastering when and how much to boost is a game-changer. You might find yourself in tricky situations where you can’t just leap over an obstacle. Limited boost adds a fun strategic twist. I’ve had my fair share of over-boosting and flying off the course, but it’s all good fun. If that happens, you can respawn with a bit of boost, but you’ll lose some precious seconds.

The game even throws in a story mode, called Creature Rampage. It’s like a Saturday morning cartoon with giant monsters running amok, and your mission is to race ’em down. You’ll have some robot cracking jokes, a gadget-wielding professor causing chaos, and a fellow racer in the mix. It’s a bit forgettable, to be honest, and I found myself waiting for those cutscenes to wrap up. But hey, it doesn’t linger too long and won’t spoil your fun or coin-collecting adventures.

The eight-hour story nudges you to try different cars. Hot Wheels aren’t just for show. Some drift like a dream, while others handle specific terrains like a champ. It got me experimenting with various rides and even pimping them out with different boosts and handling perks. Soon enough, I was giving my cars a snazzy makeover, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

While I was having a blast, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows though. When playing I found myself wishing for a bit more track diversity during the Creature Rampage and other modes. You end up racing through the same places, hearing the same tunes, and looking at visuals that seem a bit dated. It’s not a game-breaker though, it just means you’ll see that dino museum and golf course quite a bit.

Now, what keeps the party going here is the whole virtual playbox vibe. The racing part? Tight, fast, and flat-out fun. And you’ve got this mission to rack up coins for your virtual garage – it’s like a siren call. Hot Wheels rides come in all flavours of rarity, and they shuffle in and out of the shop, kind of like a revolving door. So, when you spot something like a van with toast popping out of it, impulse buying becomes a thing. Plus, you can throw in some coins to shake up the shop’s selection. I couldn’t help but amass a wild collection of vehicles – the quirkier, the better.

Unleash the Customisation

There’s also this nifty track editor that lets you whip up your racing mayhem. It only took me a few minutes to get the hang of it, and before I knew it, I was creating these diabolical, over-the-top tracks. It might take a bit to master, but taking a track like the museum and turning it into a twisty-turny obstacle course from hell is a blast. You can even save cool community tracks to revisit later. If you’re a bit creative or just love tossing things together, the track editor and car customisation add a heap of extra fun to the mix.

Now, here’s the thing about going online and racing against others – it’s pretty standard fare. Given the cool stuff in the rest of the game, the online side feels a tad plain, but showing off your tricked-out ride is still a good time.

Worth a race?

All in all, I can’t fault Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged too much. It’s like an arcade racer straight out of your childhood dreams. It nails that feeling of being a kid and creating wild racecourses for your toy cars. Plus, the customisation options are off the charts. The quick races and the variety of modes keep things from getting stale, and before you know it, you’re boosting your way to glory. I might not be a hardcore Hot Wheels fan, but the sheer imagination, speed, and customisation in this game totally reeled me in.

PROS

• High-octane arcade racing excitement.
• Collect Hot Wheels cars like when you were a kid.
• Track builder.
• Boost mechanic.
• Variety of race modes.
• Customisation.

CONS

• Game lacks diversity in track.
• Story mode lacks depth.
• Some may find the game’s visuals to be somewhat dated.
• Online play doesn’t offer any groundbreaking features and may feel somewhat vanilla compared to the rest of the game.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100