Pocket Races

Genre: Arcade Racing

Players: 1-2 Competitive (Local Split-Screen)

Game Company Bad Behavior Profile Page: Piotr Stalski

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Review:

Pocket Races is an Arcade-style Racing game in the same vein of toy-like racing games as the Hot Wheels games. It was released as an asset on the Unity Asset Store in 2017 as Minicar Race Creator and released to Nintendo Switch in 2021 as a low-effort asset flip. And to be clear, since we’re talking about a game creation kit, I am not saying that this creation kit was used to build this game. Rather, I am saying that this game’s 9 courses are all pulled from this Unity Store Asset’s sample courses. Yes, this lazy asset flip couldn’t even be bothered to use a game creation kit designed expressly for the purpose of creating content to… you know, create content.

However, even in lazy releases like this, I’m always willing to give a game a chance. So… does this game manage to rise above its lazy release?

Graphically, Pocket Races looks decent, with a cartoony look and solid framerates, even in 2-Player Split-screen. The visuals aren’t even remotely impressive in any way, so this is no great feat, but it is worth noting, regardless. And the game is backed by energetic music that is completely forgettable, and with the game featuring some really terrible, unconvincing car noises.

As for the gameplay… wow, this game has problems. Start with the turning, which feels strange and artificial. Then there’s the computer-controlled cars’ AI, which is absurdly stupid and ends up driving wildly all over the place. Add to that busted physics, where your car will inexplicably turn off in one direction for no reason or clip into scenery and get caught. The lack of a “reset” button, which you’ll absolutely need when you get stuck, or simply veer off the track into an area that doesn’t automatically relocate you but that you can’t get back from either. The stuck-in-place camera angle, with a top-down angle that often obscures your view of the road ahead. And then of course there’s the fact that there’s only 9 courses here.

In short, Pocket Races is rough, it’s loaded with problems, it’s short on content, and all of that is on top of the fact that it’s a lazy asset flip. Do not buy this game or $5, or even when it inevitably goes on sale for $2. This lazy asset flip doesn’t deserve to be rewarded for such an abysmal effort.

tl;dr – Pocket Races is an Arcade-style Racing game in the Hot Wheels vein of toy racers that is low-effort asset flip. This game is absolutely loaded with problems, both in its shoddy gameplay and its lacking content. Do not be fooled into buying it at any price.

Grade: D

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2021 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Worst Asset Flip

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