It feels like sandbox open-world games were a dime-a-dozen in the 2010s, whether it was Far Cry, Just Cause, or Assassin’s Creed, among others. These games oversaturated the market, with bits of long-winded exposition, while giving the player the freedom to do what they want, when they want. For one of these titles to truly stand out, like The Witcher III and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, they have to get the formula right and have some striking elements to leave a lasting impression.

Fortunately, Rage 2, which released in May 2019 with sub-par marketing, has some things going for it that will stay in my mind for a while to come. The game, a loose sequel to the 2011 post-apocalyptic romp, takes place with new characters and a different premise; where the player controls Walker, a fresh Wasteland Ranger capable of extravagant, creative combat moves that his or her enemies can’t hope to replicate.

Speaking of the combat, that is the undisputed high point of the game. Thanks to wacky weapons like the Grav-Dart Launcher, the Smart Rocket Launcher, and my personal favorite, the Firestorm Revolver (that Walker manually detonates for successful hits to spark their enemies into flames) combined with satisfying combat abilities entitled Nanotrite powers, the fluidity and fast pace is on par with id Software’s touted DOOM 2016 offering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rQMytyBFeA

These weapons and powers are locked behind Arks, which the player must locate and fight a wave of enemies before/after with. Due to this, it’s a bit frustrating to be locked out of some of the game’s most fun/beneficial pieces, such as the Power Rush and the Hyper Cannon gun being located at the far end of the map. While it does feel rewarding to finally discover an Ark, I really wish I had Rush to maneuver the Wasteland more efficiently from an earlier point of the game.

While there are three main allies to interact with in the game, their roles are quite limited and their involvement isn’t particularly memorable. As expected, you are to do all of the hard work while they sit comfortably at their post, doing nothing. Thankfully, your enemy, General Kross, gets two engaging, challenging boss battles, making him a formidable opponent and one you seek vengeance from right from the start.

Sadly, for an open-world offering, the game’s main story is quite short, as I completed that portion in less than 10 hours. I would have enjoyed more side-quests instead of a Bandit Den every mile or two. Luckily, getting around is a breeze thanks to the trusty Phoenix’s high top-speed and armor. While there are a lot of other vehicles, they don’t feel worth trying, as their boost runs out a lot more quickly than the Phoenix and has even less armor.

When all is said and done, I had fun with Rage 2. It takes cues from the best FPS games for its combat, and that’s what I focus on the hardest when I play a game like this. The aesthetic is nailed too, but there’s little else to be head-over-heels about with this game. My fondest memories with it will exclusively lie with its combat encounters and nothing else. Nothing else, except Andrew W.K. performing E3 to a dead audience.

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Rage 2

$59.99

7

Score

7.0/10

Pros

• Intense Combat
• Quality Score/Soundtrack
• Getting New Guns/Powers is Rewarding

Cons

• Criminally Short
• No Incentive to Play Past the Arks
• Not Worth $60