A disturbing sense of satisfaction accompanies the launching of a rollercoaster full of pedestrians into a roaring skyscraper, only for you to sit back and marvel at the unfolding destruction. Your score, ramping up as the collateral damage ramps higher and higher only contributes to the colossal grin slapped across your face. Screamride takes many a page from the books of past games such as the developer’s own Rollercoaster Tycoon and even Angry Birds, but it doesn’t emulate the best features of those games as well as you would expect. This leads to a fun but underwhelming amalgamation of modes and features that never instilled the high octane thrills I was anticipating. In the end Screamride delivers an uneven experience that feels like more of a casual log flume ride, rather than the roaring coaster it tries so hard to be.
In a futuristic testing facility, obnoxious thrill seekers scream and shout as yet another coaster accelerates past the starting line, curling into a precarious loop before flying off the tracks into a nearby structure. This becomes a frequent occurrence in Screamrider mode, the most substantial of the three series of game types that Screamride has to offer. Here the objective is simple, you need to earn as many points as possible by steering your vehicle in the most imaginative and terrifying ways your mind can muster. Balancing on two wheels will earn you a considerable bonus, whilst utilising your turbo boosts can lead to some exhilarating speeds or an equally spectacular wipe-out. Mastering a level feels like a genuine achievement. As you attempt the same stage again and again, the nuanced opportunities of each track become almost second nature. The obtainment of points becomes a calculated exercise of hitting the right turns and speeds at the exact right moment. Indicated by the high pitched and comical screams of the riders you are so desperately trying to thrill.
The arduous task of replaying earlier levels in order to unlock later ones becomes a nuisance however, as the most effective method of accruing points is never properly explained. As a result you will often find yourself slogging through the same stage multiple times before making any real progress. This wouldn’t have been a problem if the stages were short and sweet, but some drag on for more than 5 damn minutes. The often lengthy duration of some levels means Screamride lacks the addictive pick-up and play nature it so desperately needs. I never found myself drawn into replaying earlier levels unless it was a matter necessity to my progression, which was often the case. I found it strange that with the exception of the stellar user created rollercoaster’s, many of the stages lacked a sense of speed. Granted they were fast, but not in the euphoric and over the top fashion I was expecting. The more controlled speed does allow for more strategy to be placed in the scoring mechanics, but some stages become a restrictive bore as a result.
Demolition Expert mode places an emphasis on the fragile and destructive physics to produce a series of varied stages that are an explosive marvel to playthrough. The unpredictable physics that are an underwhelming distraction in other modes take centre stage here, and for good reason. The very same adrenaline junkies are trapped inside small spherical chambers that you have complete control over. This gives you an almost god-like sense of power as you repeatedly fling these devastating little balls into defenceless skyscrapers, albeit in a slightly goofy manner. The sheer levels of destruction that are attainable here is a startling contrast to the relatively on-rails experience provided by the other two modes. It stands out all the more because of this, with the variety of vehicles available to you as destructive tools being surprisingly extensive.
You can choose between a bouncing sphere or a container that explodes on impact. Both of these have the potential to cause colossal chain reactions, allowing you to clear a stage in one calculated throw if you are skilled enough (or in my case lucky). Demolition mode doesn’t suffer from the lapses in pacing and excitement that sometimes made opposing modes a chore. A continuous stream of variety in the stages ensures that every tumbling building feels like a fun filled victory. You are steadily eased into mastering the mechanics of steering a vehicle and spotting the weak points in particular structures, making the chasing of high scores an addictive proposition.
The weakest mode is easily Engineer. A series of levels that take away the fast paced thrills many will have grown accustomed to and instead places you in frustratingly restrictive sandboxes. You are tasked with completing partly constructed tracks and creating your own, which at first glance sounds like a fun challenge. This is until you encounter the arbitrary limitations that are placed upon you and the poorly explained criteria that loom above each stage. If you fail to construct a rollercoaster of a certain length you are failed immediately and forced to restart. An immediate deterrent especially when you realise how limited your customisations options are in the first place. Being stopped at every attempt to only be told that you have failed simply isn’t fun. It not only gives us a bad first impression of the otherwise impressive suite of creativity tools, but also ruins an entire section of the game that could have been so much more. Although this makes the creativity unleashed across the plentiful user-generated content all the more palpable.
One particular player made stage had me destroying a PS4 they had created by hurling explosives at it. Another had me blasting across a coaster in the shape of the Loch Ness monster. Tools such as this always excel when placed in the hands of passionate creators. They manage to conjure up oddities and masterpieces that go far beyond anyone’s expectations. Being able to effortlessly leap into an off the wall player created stage attributes an element of unpredictability that is sorely lacking in Screamride’s tame and faintly boring aesthetic. Players are clearly passionate about the potential for creative innovation within the games mechanics, and this should make for some brilliant creations in the future.
Screamride is an entertaining yet ultimately underwhelming ride that fails to fully utilise its exceptional array of mechanics. The amount of content on display here doesn’t quite justify its current asking price either, but that is somewhat nullified by the wealth of growing user generated content. While some of its more destructive modes are hugely satisfying and drenched in the potential for addictive replayability. The remainder of its gameplay options feel stale in comparison. The lacking visual aesthetic and a wealth of performance issues only further compromise an experience that fails to deliver, despite some thrilling highs along the way.