Screamer

Screamer is one of Milestone’s most interesting games for sure, but it has a laundry list of issues that hold it back. These could all be addressed with patches, and some have shortly after launch. I just wonder if players will stick around long enough to see them all. I will definitely keep my eye on it over time, as I do adore a great arcade racing game. Where it stands, Screamer is an interesting game with a few setbacks. Definitely recommend waiting for a sale before diving in.

Screamer is an excellent, high-speed racing experience that takes big swings in controls and game design. The racing feels exciting at every moment, and the big single-player mode gives you plenty of tracks to burn rubber on. Much of the story lands flat or doesn’t have enough juice to cover the narrative’s runtime, but it provides enough of an excuse to keep getting back on track. The side modes are a little shallow, but that’s only frustrating because racing in Screamer is just that much fun.

The arcade style of the races is crisp and difficult, and if you find yourself bored by the plot, feel free to skip through it.

Although it doesn’t quite have the heft to go bumper-to-bumper with games like Forza Horizon or Burnout, Screamer is an incredibly sound arcade racer that, unfortunately, cocoons so much of its exhilarating, challenging gameplay in a bloated campaign that claws for any semblance of focus.

Screamer is a game of contrasts: on one hand, it offers a very deep and crafted story mode, supported by great art direction and a good technical execution. On the other hand, the gameplay feels too basic and unrewarding, with the novelty represented by the dual stick steering system quickly wearing out, and limited power-ups that fail to deliver the chaotic fun that we'd expect from an arcade racer.

Outside of Screamer’s punishing story mode lies a more persuasive set of challenges, time trials and multiplayer races. Yet as a whole it rarely generates the irresistible momentum that drives you to come back.