When Wreckfest 2 launched into Early Access, Bugbear provided us with a few racetracks and a few cars to drive around with. Even an arena for some destruction derby battles. They stated that updates would provide new content to enjoy across the year. Two of those updates have now arrived, almost doubling the content the game launched with.
In May, there was a new track called European Rallycross 1. This quickly became a favourite of mine, owing to one particular corner. Upon starting, there’s an uphill section followed by a long easy right. Then, the same angle going up is reflected in the downhill section. But rather than having a long easy turn to keep that speed, it’s instead a tight left. Braking is needed to successfully make it.
Or you could just slam straight into the barrier on the outside of the turn. Maybe slam other drivers into it instead so you can keep the speed going. The rest of the track provides plenty of fun, too. The verticality of it combined with the turns make for many fun times. To the point I always have to give this one a run first whenever I fire the game up.
Finncross Circuit doesn’t need much talking about. Like Savolax Sandpit, it has seen a great visual upgrade for this second game. It feels to be as though certain parts have been widened from how it appeared with the first Wreckfest. Though there are still a few choke points on the straight and ending turns, making for some unavoidable roadblocks if vehicles pile up in them. And it’s so easy to flip in those corners if going too far wide. To the point there’s some very fun flying that can be done in the right situations.
As for the cars of this first content addition, I’ve found a new favourite with the Bravion. A European sports sedan, it felt a lot stronger than the European car of the base roster, now named the Gizmo. It also felt a lot better to drive, with its sliding ability being a lot better than the Gizmo. The other car of the update, the Rammer, is the third returning car for Wreckfest 2. And is one I’ve not used all that much in either game.
Between this major update and the launch, there had been a few smaller ones. Updates which fixed the B button binding issue and photo mode controls. The HUD also got an update which added the time tracking leaderboard, showing the time between nearest racers to a player’s position and also the leader. The redline on the tachometer wouldn’t come until the second update which arrived at the end of June.
There was only one new track addition with that June update. And it was another oval track. This time on the dirt. Again with oval and figure-8 configurations, plus an arena, there was some fun to be had with it. But nowhere was that fun the greatest than on the figure-8 circuit. Especially when of the two new vehicles added during this update, one was the Motorhome.
The first of the non-standard racers to be found in Wreckfest 2, the Motorhome is big, bulky, yet somewhat speedy and great for crashing. It makes for an element of chaos in any roster of racers, which when offline will be always unless set to a specific vehicle. As for the second vehicle, the Cardinal makes its return. Though this time not decked out as a police car. It’s another great addition, with its rear-wheel driving making it a super fun drifter.
The Scrapyard had a slight update to its main circuit, with an arena also added as a selectable configuration. This arena had a lot of places to smash cars into, and a few moving elements to cause chaos. Such as a crane pivoting between two crushers. There’s also some elevation changes with this one, shaped almost like a bowl. Combined with the piles of scrap, I’d say this is the most interesting arena added yet.
These updates have greatly improved other areas of the game. The damage physics are a lot better, with no more large health wipes from slight contact. Even driving in general is feeling better, since I find myself more in control with the drifts. And correcting myself after a crash. Sounds feel a lot better too, selling the ideas these are old bangers. Now with the wheels scraping across tarmac audible once the tyres have detached.
More content is still to come to Wreckfest 2, and so with the addition of the Motorhome, I’m hoping the chaos content really starts to grow. Need a Deathloop-like track and a go-kart-like vehicle to drive around it. One thing I also find fun from the first Wreckfest is Northland Raceway, a track with two configurations that can both be active in the same race in something called Free Route. I always find that a lot of fun, so would like to see if Bugbear can replicate that with a new track.
Wreckfest 2 has provided a lot of joy across these last few months. Seeing it grow with content additions that provide me with new favourites. There still feels many more updates to go to bring in the great variety of tracks and vehicles that will truly make it shine. So, while it still remains this early in Early Access, I’m not definitely recommending it. But I can already tell that, unless something goes drastically wrong with the continuing development, it will be an easy one to recommend.
Images Taken From:
Wreckfest 2 | PC
