Fast Racing Neo

Genre: Futuristic Racing

Players: 1-4 (Local Splitscreen)

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Review:

Fast Racing Neo, released on Wii U in 2015, is a Futuristic Racing game much in the same vein of the F-Zero franchise. This game is an improved and expanded version of the 2011 Wii game Fast Racing League, and this game was in turn expanded and improved on in 2017’s Fast RMX for Nintendo Switch.

I’m kinda’ bending one of my rules in reviewing this game. Those following eShopperReviews will know that I’ve spent much of 2022 reviewing Nintendo 3DS and Wii U games that have not yet been ported to Nintendo Switch, in anticipation of the closing of the eShop on those two platforms in March of 2023. But as I’ve just noted, Fast Racing Neo did indeed make it to Nintendo Switch in the improved and expanded Fast RMX. In fact, I reviewed it some years ago. However, with the name change this game undertook in the transition, I felt it would be best to review the Wii U version of this game anyway, just for those who were unaware of this. However, as both games are extremely similar, I will be copying over some of that earlier review here.

Surprisingly enough, Fast Racing Neo does an admirable job following in the F-Zero series’ footsteps, delivering a blazing fast racer with silky smooth framerates, beautiful environments, and exactly the same sort of edge-of-your-seat gameplay that F-Zero fans have been aching for.

Let me be absolutely clear on this – this game is absolutely beautiful. It is a feast for the eyes, and it is shocking that a game this visually spectacular came from a smaller, lesser-known company like Shin’en Multimedia. This sort of quality actually surpasses some of the efforts by AAA developers on the Wii U, with blazing-fast speeds, nice water and lighting effects, detailed environments with wonderful background activities going on… this game is an absolute feast for the eyes. It’s that impressive.

The game isn’t just an imitator, either – it brings its own mechanics to the table, such as its color-changing boost system, where you need to align your ship’s color with the color of the boost, and the ability to send other drivers spinning by boosting into them.

I should note that Fast Racing Neo is a very challenging game, and as much as I’d love to recommend this game (or its successor) to everyone, I know that challenge level will be prohibitive for some. Also, as I write this review in 2022, the online lobbies for this game are deserted, meaning the only human players you’ll likely be able to race against are those sitting next to you.

We may still be waiting for a new F-Zero game in 2022, but the Fast Racing series has picked up the slack admirably in the meantime. Fast Racing Neo may not be a game for everyone – its high challenge level will definitely scare some players away. Also, the lack of anyone to play against online is disheartening. And of course there’s the elephant in the room – if you have a Nintendo Switch you should just get the improved version of the game, Fast RMX, instead. However, if you’re looking to add a great racing game to your Wii U library and don’t have a Nintendo Switch, Fast Racing Neo is a must-have.

tl;dr – Fast Racing Neo is a Futuristic Racing game like F-Zero, and while Nintendo Switch owners will want to get the improved version of that game, Fast RMX, those looking for a truly great racing game on Wii U will find this to be an outstanding racing game – fast-paced, graphically gorgeous, and tons of fun, albeit high in difficulty and suffering from deserted online lobbies. Still, if you’re looking to expand your Wii U Racing Game library, this is definitely one of the best games in that genre on the platform.

Grade: A-

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