The best way to explain developer Quibic Games' Rekt! High Octane Stunts is that it is basically Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, but with cars. Players are able to pull off many different kinds of stunts and tricks as they ride around a few maps in order to rack up points and unlock new vehicles. Rekt! is a blast to play, but there really isn't enough content to keep players occupied more than a few hours.
Rekt! High Octane Stunts sports a really fun retro style that combines arcade-y Hot Wheels-esque vehicles with bright neon environments. All of the maps in the game have a futuristic cyber feel to them that makes them interesting to explore, and there are dozens of vehicles that show various amounts of damage whenever players crash.
Gameplay is, as stated before, reminiscent of skateboarding games like the Pro Skater series, as players are given a short time limit for each run on a map. During this time players must pull off different stunts in order to earn points. Players can spin, flip, barrel roll, grind, or even combine different tricks in their vehicle in order to build their combo meter and therefore earn more points. Each run also gives players three different challenges to complete that can range from earning a certain number of points, collecting R-E-K-T throughout the map, or even participating in time trials.
By completing challenges players will earn currency that can in turn be used to purchase new locations and car upgrades. There are four different locations for players to purchase and each of them cost 2000 apiece, which can actually be earned relatively fast. Cars can also be upgraded to increase their speed, spin and flip capabilities, and the effectiveness of boost, which allows players to have a little bit more control over each of their vehicles. These upgrades can become a little pricey over time, but they do make completing some of the tougher challenges a little bit easier.
Probably the biggest draw for Rekt! High Octane Stunts is the vast array of cars to unlock while playing. The main way to unlock new vehicles is by earning points by doing tricks, and Rekt! keeps track of the player's cumulative number of points, so once they reach a certain threshold they will unlock another car to drive around with. There are also several secret vehicles that can be obtained by finding collectibles throughout each of the game's maps or completing certain objectives. For example, in the first map players can find a UFO that will unlock it as a driveable vehicle.
Rekt! High Octane Stunts does suffer from a lack of variety, however, even with its large roster of car options. There is no noticeable difference between any of the vehicles mechanically, so players can effectively use the starter car for the entire game. While unlocking new cars is fun, there really isn't any reason to continue unlocking them, and the maps also don't offer enough variety either. There are a couple of interesting set pieces that set each environment apart, but not enough to really hold someone's attention for more than a couple of short runs.
The upside though is that if players grow tired of playing Rekt! High Octane Stunts by themselves, they have the option of playing multiplayer with up to three other friends in splitscreen. Its pretty rare for games these days to feature splitscreen play, so it makes Rekt! a good fit as a party game. Unfortunately, there is no option for online multiplayer at this time, which can be an issue considering that many players may have problems getting three other people in the same room as them right now, which certainly hurts Rekt!'s appeal.
Those who grew up playing skateboarding games will feel right at home playing Rekt! High Octane Stunts, with an added appeal for those who also enjoy car titles. The game combines fun challenges with a wide array of different tricks to let players have fun riding around each map either by themselves or with friends. Rekt! does suffer from a lack of variety in map types, which can get old pretty quickly, but it's a strong choice for gamers who want short, measured bursts of excitement or a quick distraction that doesn't require much investment at all.
Rekt! High Octane Stunts is available on PC via Steam on November 6, 2020. A Steam code was provided for the purposes of this review.