[H1]Concept Destruction In-Depth Review[/H1]
Concept Destruction is another attempt bring back the Destruction Derby style genre into the modern day, and it does this quite well!
[b]Optimization & PC Settings[/b]
In terms of graphics, the game has settings for things like bloom, depth of field, ambient occlusion, but nothing for texture quality, which is a bit disappointing because many of the textures are lower quality, and compressed. This is very apparent on the room texture, where its a very bad compressed 2D image. The optimization is a little hit or miss. I'll see many times where the game is running a high framerate, but instantly will bog down to 60 - 70 FPS when there is a lot of vehicle parts on screen. For a game that is very simplistic with graphics, its a head scratcher on why the FPS can be so inconsistent. I hope that the developer can improve this optimization aspect, and give us an option to improve texture quality.
[i]Optimization & PC Settings: 6.5/10[/i]
[b]Artstyle[/b]
Normally this isn't a section I talk about since it usually goes in with the Optimization & PC Settings. However, its impossible not to talk about this brillant artstyle. It really does make me feel like [strike]batman[/strike]... I mean, feel like a toy car on a desk. Seeing the cardboard colored cars, props, and sets made out of cardboard is something that I've haven't yet. It's simple, and it just works.
[i]Artstyle: 10/10[/i]
[b]HUD & UI[/b]
A simple, clean HUD, and UI that perfectly fits the artstyle of the game. It also very easy to read, and easy navigate through the menus.
[i]HUD & UI: 10/10[/i]
[b]Controls[/b]
(I only used a controller) Handling overall feels great. Vehicles are a little understeery, but can still turn corners quickly. Also, because the wheel distance changes when your car is beaten up a lot, this also makes the handling much worse, which is a great addition. I was disappointed by the handbrake though. It almost just feels like a less stronger brake because I can't whip around when using it. Also, you can't rebind the controllers for controller or keyboard, which is a minor issue but I wanted to mention.
[i]Controls: (For controllers) 7/10[/i]
[b]Camera[/b]
The camera can look around your car 360 degrees. What is very nice about the camera is not only can you turn on the option for it to look behind you automatically when backing up, but its also fully customizable. You can change the distance, height, and rotation. Though, the camera is still a little too 'sticky', as it will tend to jerk around when trying to follow the car when its spinning, or getting hit by opponents.
[i]Camera: 9/10[/i]
[b]Gamemodes[/b]
There are only three modes, two based around derbies in closed off arenas, and one mode where you can drive around these said arena. The first gamemode is a typical demolition derby. The second mode is the survival mode, where all the AI drives go after you, and you have to survive for as long as you can. The last gamemode is moreso just to mess around, where you have god mode, and the AI just drives around the map really slowly. I'm disappointed that a racing mode wasn't included. Being this is based on the old Destruction Derby games, lacking a key mode in this genre of games is a let down, and causes the game to become quite repetitive when playing.
[i]Gamemodes: 5/10[/i]
[b]Multiplayer[/b]
I have yet to try out the split screen multiplayer, but I imagine its just as fun!
[i]Multiplayer: n/a[/i]
[b]Difficulty[/b]
I was having trouble with some of the events, so when I went into the settings, I found you can tweak the difficultly by changing the event time, how much damage you or your rivals can take, battery consumption, etc. You can make this game as difficult or as easy as you would like, which is what I love to see!
[i]Difficulty: 10/10[/i]
[b]Vehicles[/b]
There are eight different vehicles, all with different properties when it comes to handling, speed, and weight. Most of them look to be sports cars, with one being a SUV, and another being a really small compact. I do like the selection, but would have liked more muscle cars, SUVs, and trucks. I also would like it if vehicles have a faster reverse speed, since its not really that viable to use reverse in this events in order to protect your front. However, I am noticing an issue with the speed stat. For example, the ZIP JX has a lower speed than the ROF Tangus SRX, yet it seems like the ZIP is actually faster. Not sure what the problem is here but I thought I would point it out so it gets fixed.
[i]Vehicles: 6/10[/i]
[b]Vehicle Damage[/b]
Now, being that these vehicles are made out of cardboard, don't expect realistic looking car damage. Its obvious that the damage is more inline of what you would see if you actually took two cardboard cars and crashed them together. This means cars take a lot of body damage, with parts flying off, and the body crushing to half it's size. Other than a few problems with the damage becoming a little spiky at times, it seems pretty believable for what they are trying to go for.
[i]Vehicle Damage: 7.5/10[/i]
[b]Arena Design[/b]
There are eight arenas in total, ranging from a parking garage, stadiums, circle arenas, and square arenas. I like the variety here because even for the simpler arenas, you get different 'cardboardscapes', as one features a bridge, another one is surrounded by trees, one takes place in a castle like environment etc. What also nice is that some of the arenas you can escape, and even fall off the table. They are nothing specially but fit their purpose in this game very nicely.
[i]Arena Design: 7/10[/i]
[b]Props[/b]
The props are what would would except from this environment. Pens, pencils, crayons, soda cans, scissors, and more are littered across the track. It definitely adds to the artstyle and environment.
[i]Props: 7/10[/i]
[b]Physics[/b]
The physics are again, what you would expect from crashing cardboard. A little light, but still punchy enough when hitting vehicles. Cars feel good when driving, that is if you aren't beaten up. Since vehicles deform so much, it affects the vehicle balance and handling, which adds the difficultly of the game.
[i]Physics: 8/10[/i]
[b]AI[/b]
The AI for the most part does it's job well. They are definitely very agressive, but won't always be targetting you, unless you are in the surivival mode. The only problems I've seen is that sometimes they can get stuck in corners, or on the scenery in the game.
[i]AI: 7/10[/i]
[b]Sound[/b]
The sound design is a little weird. I will say that for at least the vehicle sounds, they do sound like little toy cars. I think one of the bigger problems is it seems sound effects can be cut short. Sometimes you'll hit a vehicle, and sound just stops after playing for a second or two. Also, sometimes the vehicle impacts sound weirdly... metalish? There also seems to be a problem with sound distance as well, were you can hear impacts, and engines clearly like they are happening right next to you. This just leads to alot of sound overload, and I feel like the overall sound design and mixing needs more work.
[i]Sound: 5.5/10[/i]
[b]Soundtrack[/b]
The soundtrack consists mostly of heavy metal songs when ingame, however I don't feel like it captures the game's presentation well. For a game that feels like I'm going back into my childhood, its jaring bashing cars with such intense songs. Its just too intense and heavy for its light tone and artstyle.
[i]Soundtrack: 4/10[/i]
[h1]Final Score: 7.3/10
[i]Good[/i][/h1]
If you are looking for that Destruction Derby style gameplay, with an slew of options to configure the game how you like, Concept Destruction is the game for you.
[i]For more reviews like this, check out the [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38286468/]Vehicular Combat Central[/url] Steam curator.[/i]
