Considering you need 12 players to fill a full room, it would be a shame if Onrush doesn't find the kind of audience that will give it the lifespan it deserves. Part of this will depend on how Codemasters iterates on the game from here on out, but they've shown a proficiency in knowing how arcade racing games click, and Onrush is such a bold, refreshing twist on the genre that there should be little hesitation in putting your faith in them to succeed.
Onrush is one of the most original driving games I’ve played in years, giving it a unique flavor. By forgetting about simply going faster than everyone else and mixing traditional racing mechanics with modes and subtle nuances typically found in other genres, Onrush managed to change the way I think about racing games. Its unorthodox online car-brawls and varied objectives go out of their way to feel different, and even when the maps become repetitive after a short while, its appeal remains for the simple fact that there’s no other arcade driving game quite like this.
Onrush is the finest off-road racer ever made. The core gameplay is fast-paced and does everything that made the Motorstorm series great, but with far more refined controls. Having things like Burnout-style takedowns from a variety of angles keeps you on your toes at all times too. The healthy array of modes keeps things fresh, while the team-based structure to the game means that you can be an essential part of your team’s victory without having to be an all-star.
Onrush, for all its eccentricities - indeed, because of its eccentricities - has the makings of a cult classic. I've no idea how it was greenlit, but good god am I thankful that it was. This is a driving game that's resolutely unlike anything you've played before, and in that way it feels reassuringly old - a throwback to the time when every big racing game had a bold new idea to justify its existence. Onrush is odd, upbeat and inventive - and once you've got your head into its peculiar rhythm, it's mostly excellent too.
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