Review: Redout (Nintendo Switch)

Redout is the ultimate F-Zero clone, but it does not sacrifice its own identity either. The game is a fast-paced anti-gravity racing game.

Recently, there has been an influx in anti-gravity driving games… one could assume that is to fill the void of an F-Zero game as that series has been dormant for quite some time, and I’m satisfied to say Redout is a great replacement.

This one “stands on its own leg,” though, because of its RPG-like mechanics. Don’t get me wrong, it is NOT an RPG, but it does have some elements from the genre like leveling, customization, and upgrades.

A huge portion of the replay ability is due to its mechanics, and great racing courses. The ability to continue leveling up and earning currency through races, despite sounding tedious, is really satisfying. There are also contracts that provide bonus currency if you meet the objectives it provides.

The customization, while not as in-depth as, say, Mario Kart 8 DX or Team Sonic Racing, is still a nice addition that adds to the enjoyment factor. Vehicles can be customized in two different ways: designs and color schemes. While that sounds simplistic, it is important to keep in mind the game’s price tag and all else on offer. Despite its simplicity, it gets the job done and is enough to contribute towards its replay factor. I found a lot of pleasure in exploring the huge variety of designs and especially the number of color schemes. There are 50+ color schemes, and twenty-six different designs for each of the twenty-eight different vehicles.

Reconditioning-wise, there are two different ways to help boost your ship: power-ups and upgrades.

Power-ups include additional turbo, self-repairing drones (some of which can give you a speed boost at the same time), slipstream enhancers, advanced grip system, and shields. All these power-ups have different tiers that can be purchased with a currency that will improve their strengths. It’s important to keep in mind, though, only two power-ups can be equipped at once. Some types of racing events even restrict power-ups altogether.

Upgrades are a bit different from power-ups though. There are four different types of upgrades: Speed/Acceleration, Magnetization, Shield, and Energy Capacity. Upgrades, unlike power-ups, do not have tiers, sadly. Despite not having tiers, upgrades shine in that they prove useful but also not a “cheat”.

It’s important to be spending your currency on these upgrades and power-ups, though, as there are four different cups you will progress through. Each increasing cup requires much better stats for your ship, which can only be obtained through upgrading.

In terms of courses, well there’s a great variety in the different tracks you can race on. There are sixty tracks, in twelve different environments that you can race on, plus boss circuits (My personal favorite tracks are the Alaskan and Vertex ones). While it is important to have variety in the tracks, it’s just as important to have a diverse mode selection. Luckily, Redout doesn’t disappoint in that either. There are 10+ different event types, each of which is unique and interesting. There is a total of over two hundred events in the single-player career mode to play through.

Redout is another Nicalis’ game  – and it shows. The amount of quality and care put into this game is amazing and justifies its hefty price tag.

The art style is amazing with its low-polygon structures, shading, and lighting. Despite its flawless art style, there still are some minor points of contingencies like the legibility of text throughout the courses, but it’s nothing gamebreaking. And it is definitely not a deterrent factor when playing, by any means.

There were also no hiccups in terms of frame rate; it felt smooth, which is very important in a racing game.

Overall, Redout is an amazing racing game and by far the best anti-gravity one on Nintendo Switch. It offers simplistic but meaningful customization, diverse environments, and RPG-like mechanics that provide replay ability, all without sacrificing performance for the most part. There was only one thing that was a big turn-off for me, and that was it’s online multiplayer. While you can create a server for friends to join up and race with you, there is absolutely no online player base on the servers for those wanting to race against random folks. Despite not having the best multiplayer, even without friends to play this with, the game is still a racing gem.

Enjoy racing games? Maybe you need a racing gaming chair to help in those long racing sessions. Feel free to check out our review on an Ewin Racing gaming chair. We will also be posting more coverage on Ewin Racing soon, so keep your eyes peeled to our social media channels, and the website.