Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged has improved and expanded every aspect of the original game, and smoothed out some of the difficulty spikes that entranced/enraged me the first time around. Though the new story is mostly kid stuff, the actual racing is still challenging and wildly exciting. Crushingly good graphics, fun mechanics, and the obsessive collection of amazing toys once again combine to create a fantastic must-play racer.

Chances are, if you’re checking out a review for a sequel to the best Hot Wheels game to be released in the past ten years, you know why you’re here. You see tracks in the most normal locations and think about how fun an orange and blue retreading would look, and Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is right here, ready and willing to fulfill that fantasy, with a massive collection of cars to do it with. Simple mechanics compliment such a smooth racing experience, making for an easy to recommend, pick-up-and-play arcade racer just as tried-and-true as it gets. Seeing your favorite rides come to life in such a carefree and exciting way will probably release all the endorphins you think it will, even with the tunes and engine sounding a bit out of shape. If your diecast childhood dreams ever catch up with you, you can’t do any wrong picking up Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged, along with a few Hot Wheels cars while you’re at it (you know you want to).

Hot Wheels Turbocharged: Unleashed 2 leans well on tweaks and not transformations. It is a great game that has recharged its predecessor and taken it to a new level. Graphics are visually stunning and gameplay is satisfying. The pocket-sized miniature mayhem title does well to burn rubber on the tracks and race its way into one of the most fun toy-racing games in the industry.

With better track design, more balanced difficulty, and a couple of new game mechanics, this follow-up does enough to make the first feel limited. There’s certainly no shortage of good arcade racing games, but Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 stands out amongst the crowded field.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is the kind of sequel that fans of this game were hoping for. It builds upon what already existed, harnessing all that was praised in the original title, and adds elements that make it a much more enriched and enhanced version.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is the worthy successor of the first chapter and collects many of its positive aspects, introducing innovations that broaden Milestone's proposal in terms of game modes, tracks and vehicle fleet. Thanks to the addition of jumping in particular, the gameplay can count on a new level of depth which goes well with the variety of challenges available. The pleasant campaign offers dozens of hours of gameplay and the possibilities offered by the track editor could be able to increase the longevity of the product in a concrete way. In short, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged is fun, varied and takes several steps forward compared to its predecessor: if you are a fan of these iconic toy cars, it shouldn't escape you.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged is what they say is a classic sequel: it enriches and expands the legacy of its predecessor by adding novelties to a consolidated game frame, without ever daring to dig deep or dare in terms of originality. Those who appreciated the first one and its gameplay will surely know how to enjoy every moment behind the wheel of the new Hot Wheels video game.

It’s hard to recommend Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 without acknowledging that big DLC-shaped elephant in the corner. It’s not as bad as, say, the NBA 2K series or any others like it that are effectively pay-to-win, but it’s enough that it could put a damper on your enjoyment of an otherwise fun game. That said, if you can ignore the DLC push and just want a flashy racer, this will deliver on that.

The continuation of the car race brings diverse tracks and fun game modes, but it's a shame that it doesn't contain more significant news.

Hotwheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged does an amazing job in providing a mechanically and visually pleasing experience, but the campaign mode has some downsides.

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 doesn’t do much different than its predecessor, for better and worse. If you liked the original, this sequel offers basically more of the same with some new cars and environments. Regardless, it’s a well-made arcade racer with endless combinations of tracks to master and excel at.

Honestly, unless you’re a big fan of Hot Wheels themselves, and derive a lot of joy from unlocking the different digitized versions of real-world toys, you can do better. Cruisin’ Blast came out the same year the first Unleashed did, and that game captured the essence of banging toy cars together in over the top racing environments perfectly. In comparison, Turbocharged is more scattershot, trying to be a Jack of All Trades and only hitting the bullseye with the IP’s aesthetic.

Like its predecessor, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged is a solid racer elevated by its stunning life-like visuals. With few new additions, however, this sequel struggles to justify its own existence.