Here’s a driving game that probably fell under your radar.
Based on the animated Netflix spin-off show, Fast & Furious: Spy Racers Rise of SH1FT3R was silently released on PC PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch last November. But even die-hard Fast & Furious fans would be forgiven for not knowing about it.
The game received little advertising and the PS4 version only has three critic reviews on Metacritic at the time of writing. Now, Rise of SH1FT3R has received a stealth release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with upgraded graphics, faster loading times, and a smoother frame rate.
Free next-gen upgrade
Two modes are available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S allowing you to prioritise graphics or performance. Quality mode allows for “improved graphical settings at native 4K” on PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Performance mode, on the other hand, prioritises frame rate, running at 60fps at a lower 1080p resolution. Both versions also benefit from faster load times, while the PS5 version includes DualSense support.
Best of all, owners of the original PS4 or Xbox One versions can get a free PS5 or Xbox Series X|S upgrade.
Developed by 3DClouds, the indie studio behind Xenon Racer, Rise of SH1FTER sees you join Tony Toretto, the cousin of Vin Diesel’s Domonic Toretto, as a Spy Racer who enters a globe-trotting racing tournament. There are 17 tracks set across five locations from LA to the Sahara Desert.
To spice things up, your car is equipped with gadgets including a supercharger boost, paintball gun, and special moves unique to each character. There’s also split-screen co-op or online multiplayer for up to six players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq8FRvYx2jw
While it’s an improvement over the original release, Rise of SH1FT3R still looks like a mobile game in the announcement trailer. To be fair though, the game is clearly aimed at younger players. But the Fast & Furious franchise deserves better, frankly.
When will we get a good Fast & Furiousgame?
Fast & Furious is one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time. With its fast cars, insane stunts, and exotic locations, the bombastic franchise is begging for a video game adaptation. And yet we’re still waiting for a good Fast & Furious game to arrive.
Developed by Slightly Mad Studios, the last F&F game was Fast & Furious Crossroads in 2020. Crossroads could have revitalised the abandoned action-driving genre. Ultimately, it fell flat thanks to its short campaign, dated graphics, and poor car handling.