Joystiq impressions: PixelJunk Racers (PSN)

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 17th 2007 at 10:28PM }

There's a great simplicity to be admired in PixelJunk Racers, an upcoming downloadable title for the PlayStation Network. The game offers traditional top-down 2D racing with a variety of gameplay modes. We could see at least two dozen modes to choose from, each with their own goals to achieve.

For example, in one mode, players raced around the circular track. We had to navigate around cars that were scattered around the track in order to gain momentum. With enough speed, the car would turn into a fireball, destroying any cars that had the mishap to be in our way. The goal of the game is to destroy as many cars as possible within the time limit.

Another mode took the same concept, but reversed the roles involved. Instead of turning into a fireball, the computer-controlled NPC cars on the track were able to turn into deadly missiles. While the previous mode was all about destruction, this was about survival. We had a great time trying to navigate around cars that were in our way, as flaming fireballs tracked us down, trying to destroy us. Each player must try to survive as long as possible -- a feat that becomes quite difficult at the speeds the game ran at.

PixelJunk Racers looks to be yet another great addition to the PlayStation Network. What it lacks in depth and presentation it makes up for through sheer fun. The simplistic nature of the game may not appeal to the hardcore, but so long as PixelJunk Racers is priced right, it might be worth a look.

Gallery: PixelJunk Racers

Tags: e307, pixeljunkracers, psn

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Evan @ Jul 17th 2007 10:50PM

So, now simplicity is "admired" on the PS3, but criticised on the Wii!

sheppy @ Jul 17th 2007 11:41PM

Tell you what, if Midway Carnie Games was $5, we could applaud the simplicity and greatness of it. But it's not. It's $50. Hell, Geometry Wars on Wii is $40. It's like charging $50 for the original Donkey Kong.

So until the simplistic game prices on Wii start going downer, downer, downer... it will continue to be bashed. But if it hurts your feelings so much, just point at sales charts and talk about how "obviously gaming is greatest when you race through 100 math problems...."

Vidikron @ Jul 18th 2007 12:06AM

LOL... I love how you guys keep trying to compare PSN downloadable games to the Wii. So are you trying to say that Wii games are worth $6?

megaStryke @ Jul 18th 2007 9:52AM

sheppy,

I wasn't aware that the price for Geometry Wars Galaxies was announced yet.

On another note, we are discussing downloadable games versus shrink-wrapped, disk-based games. You are chucking in added cost like disc printing and casing and retail distribution. Granted, that shouldn't excuse $50 for a minigame collection, but from $30 to (the barely acceptable upper bound of) $40, that doesn't sound completely out of the question.

Michael McGuire @ Jul 18th 2007 10:36AM

The other factor often missed when calculating the cost of a downloadable title vs. a retail title is the fact you can't resell a downloadable title. I often either trade my games in to a store (when they are having trade-in deals that make it worth it) or resell them on eBay. This greatly lowers the total cost of the game. When I buy a downloadable title, I know there's no way I'm getting any money back.

sheppy @ Jul 18th 2007 1:16PM

Megastryke...

Are Jampacks sold at a loss? Sorry but for some games, even $30 is inexcusable. I mean, shrink wrapped, packaged up, and shipped out averages a cost of $3 per copy. DD is cheaper, certainly, but not to the extend that it would excuse such a dramatic price difference.

AlloyNES @ Jul 17th 2007 10:52PM

Evan--

AMEN BRUTHA!!!!

sharpblade @ Jul 17th 2007 11:04PM

@#1 - Good point.

So is this whole PSN thing Sony's lame attempt at copying Xbox Live Arcade? Where is your SNA to copy XNA Sony?

Ian Von Porter @ Jul 17th 2007 11:09PM

Upcoming PSN games that will destroy XBL and WiiWare:

- Warhawk
- LocoRoco
- LittleBigPlanet
- GT5 Prologue
- EchoChrome
- etc..

Fish @ Jul 17th 2007 11:19PM

EchoCrome... Definitely need PS3 graphics for that...

You'd wonder why something like that isn't going to XBox Live, or being attempted at the new channel being made on the Wii. (whatever they named that...) Really makes you wonder how much Sony is forking out the rear to get some of these titles.

Fish @ Jul 17th 2007 11:20PM

WiiWare, That's the one. Right.

Jamesology @ Jul 17th 2007 11:20PM

Sweet... I can't wait to get a PS3 again. It was a stupid move of me to buy it so early so I sold it and bought a Wii. But when 80gb PS3 comes out here Imma get one ASAP!! I got bored with the Wii within two weeks. It's only fun with friends and wasted and it's pretty hard to do that at my age.

umm...hello?? @ Jul 17th 2007 11:27PM

well, that answers my question of what other PSN games...

...but seriously, I'd like some 30+ hour REAL games, not casual crap (although I AM looking forward to LittleBigPlanet). and talk about EA nickle/diming everyone to death with DLC.

...and PSN isn't going to destroy XBL or WiiWare. First you need people with PS3's, and to do that you need to come out with REAL games (funny, I think I mentioned that already?).

Jeff @ Jul 17th 2007 11:53PM

"Really makes you wonder how much Sony is forking out the rear to get some of these titles."

Yeah, because MS hasn't paid anything for their exclusives.

:\

Sheesh.

sheppy @ Jul 18th 2007 12:02AM

I'm sorry, at this point I gotta ask....

Do you ever read the articles or do you see Sony, look at a screenshot, and draw conclusions? I mean, even if we take a look at the similarities between this and Super Sprint, Super Sprint itself was a clone of a much more primitive Gran Trak. And what have you gained from this linking?

You've managed to make a casual link from point of view... wow. Despite the fact that they mention, in this article alone, over two dozen gameplay modes, you still go "It's nothing more than Championship Sprint http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/championshipsprint/index.html."

One things for certain though, whoever brings back Badlands wins... period.

Shagittarius @ Jul 18th 2007 12:34AM

This looks more interesting than Excite Truck.

bm @ Sep 7th 2007 8:40AM

To you, any game on any other system looks more interesting than any game on a Nintendo system ever, past, present or future.

So why bother making a post about it? We already know, shaggi, because you make absolutely sure we do. Constantly.

I'd tell you to get a life, but I guess that would be like telling a deaf man to develop a taste in music. ;)

Car2oon @ Jul 18th 2007 12:35AM

And the morons gotta turn this into a pissing match too, huh?

*sigh*

The game looks great btw. It has a simple, appealing look that I like about it. Sell it for $5.00 and you got a buyer.

MosquitoControl @ Jul 18th 2007 1:17AM

This and Calling All Cars are making me want a PS3.

Sad that only two downloadable games are doing that, but right now it's the best they've got. Until Uncharted and Infamous come out, it'll be all they do have.
For me.

But this looks awesome. Like Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat level Awesome!

baby sea tuna @ Jul 18th 2007 8:42AM

I feel the exact same way. Every time a game comes out for PSN that looks fun (and a bunch of them do,) all I can think is, Awesome...but still not worth (now) $500.

ill trooper @ Jul 18th 2007 2:19AM

I think this looks awesome. And yes, I know it's like SuperSprint, I used to play that a lot at the movie theater many many years ago. I love this HD micro detail stuff.

Konchu @ Jul 18th 2007 2:41AM

Man I love the competition on the online services Sony is putting up a good fight with MS and the VC its a win win situation for gamers. All have some great games I would like to see some of that original content on the Nintendo side.

Really online downloads are changing the view on game value. Many new games are coming out on these digital downloads that last gen we wouldn't have blinked an eye at at full price for, but now getting them for around 10 bucks. As there are many of these games that have as much if not more game play than their full price predecessors. That said I am curius to see what they add to geometry wars to make it a full retail release I may be a bit spoiled cause I got a awesome game for 5 bucks and as simple as it is its a blast and looks amazing in HD.

This game looks pretty cool though and a great I bet will be a great multiplayer game. I love competition isnt it grand.