Fast RMX, fast or crashed?

 

Today we'll be talking about Fast RMX, the exclusive game from Shin'en Multimedia's indie studio for Nintendo Switch and the sequel to the famous Fast Racing Neo, which arrived digitally on Wii U in 2015 and physically on the same platform in 2016 thanks to the Nintendo eShop Selects program. Without further ado, let's start our engines:

Fast RMX's game modes are divided into three modes, each with several classes. Starting with Championship mode, it's the classic cup mode, divided into three unlockable classes that function as difficulty levels: Subsonic (Novice), Supersonic (Advanced), and Hypersonic (Expert).

Each difficulty level is twice as fast as the previous one, increasing the difficulty. If you're already struggling with Subsonic mode, as I was, Supersonic will be much more difficult. Championship is the mode where you can unlock different cups and vehicles. Once you complete a certain number of cups in Subsonic, Supersonic will unlock, and the same will happen in Supersonic with Hypersonic.

The second game mode is multiplayer, which is divided into Splitscreen, a single-screen local multiplayer mode (2 to 4 players each with a Joy-Con or Pro Controller); Online Communication, an online multiplayer mode (2 to 8 players), and Local Communication, a local multiplayer mode for players with their own Nintendo Switch (2 to 8 players).

The third and final mode is Hero Mode, which is connected to Championship Mode. Completing a championship in this mode unlocks stages at the same difficulty level you completed in Hero Mode. In Hero Mode, you'll have to race on the stage of your choice, using the difficulty level Subsonic (Novice), Supersonic (Advanced), or Hypersonic (Expert).

This mode also depends on how you choose it. The difference is that the boost will also increase your ship's health, and when it runs out or you fall off a cliff, you'll have to restart the game. This means that in this mode, you won't respawn if your ship is destroyed, and you'll have to start the race from the beginning. This is a fairly difficult mode for more experienced players.

There are many game modes but the biggest problem with them is that the classic VS mode where you choose the track, difficulty, CPU level... is only available in multiplayer mode and the closest thing to it is the online mode, although it is not very close to what I am asking for. One of the modes that Fast RMX needs is a single player VS style mode, where you can choose everything without having to play with another person.

The gameplay in this game is clean and precise. During the race, we'll have to press A like crazy to accelerate, but the races have a style unlike any other game. During the race, we'll have to press X to match the color of the ship to the orange or blue power-ups. Along with this, there will be balls all over the track that will give us Boosts that we can use whenever we want to boost ourselves and go faster as long as we don't run out.

A true classic. Be careful not to crash too much, as your ship can end up destroyed, which in Hero Mode means a Game Over and in the Championship, a respawn. Incidentally, this is one of the few games currently using the great HD Vibration, and in such a good way that you can feel the bumps and movements of the ship.

Before the races, we'll have to decide which ship we'll choose. This will be very important for our races, since each ship has a different acceleration, maximum speed, or boost power. Personally, I'd recommend the Guang Zhou and Kamagori simply because they're the most maneuverable. However, if you want more speed, the K/R Rodon or Fulcon are the ships for you. If you want the longest boost, the Mech Guyva or the Kamagori itself are yours. The game is a great challenge, even at the beginner level (subsonic).

The graphics in this game are much more improved than those of Fast Racing Neo, and they've fully exploited the full potential of the Nintendo Switch to enhance the details of each and every track, along with a fairly stable 60 fps. If you look at all the details on each and every track, you'll see how the graphics have improved significantly since Fast Racing Neo for Wii U, and you'll enjoy it even more.

Given the speed of this game, it's very difficult to pay much attention to the music, but I assure you that you'll enjoy it, even if it's only with your thoughts of frustration for not winning that race you so desperately want to win. The music in this game is very recognizable for its style, very similar to the music from classic arcade games, as the game is very similar to those arcade games where you sit in a chair resembling a driver's seat and steer with a steering wheel. The sound of the ships themselves is wonderful, as you can hear every wreck and even the air itself against the ship. Plus, the presenter reminds us of classic racing games, and whether you like it or not, it's very nostalgic.

If you like speed (or F-Zero), buy Fast at that same speed. The game is packed with detail on each and every track, while the HD Vibration makes you feel more like a driver, especially in sandstorms. The sound makes you feel even more immersed in the atmosphere, and the music makes it seem like you're playing an arcade game. Plus, the host is the classic host from those games. Its unique gameplay using colors in power-ups will make you enjoy the game much more, and it has the right game modes for that, although it's missing a few and could use some work.

Worst parts of the game

• Even with so many modes, ships, and tracks, it feels like something's missing.
• The VS mode doesn't have everything it needs, and the online multiplayer doesn't always work well.
• The difficulty curve is basically nonexistent.

Best parts of the game

• Being the spiritual successor that F-Zero deserved.
• The graphics, art design and gameplay are incredible.
• There is a lot of varied content for all tastes.
• The soundtrack is quite amazing.

Score

7