This is one of the nicest AG racers out there, in a genre that's been dominated (and rightfully so) by games like Redout II, Pacer and Ballistic NG (this last one if you're into retro visuals).
(and yes: this game is on team Wipeout, as opposed to team F-Zero, i.e. expect aircraft physics and don't expect the ship to feel stuck to the ground).
These games live or die by their handling and physics, and this one sure delivers.
Collisions with the scenery of with other ships are fair, too, even though there will moments a projectile or an aggressive opponent will have you ram against the wall, and you will curse, but that's part of the fun.
Visually, the game looks fantastic through and through, each track is perfectly stylized. I could list a ton of details, but I'll just give one example that struck me as I was playing the Solar Avenue track and, when getting into the cave, discovering the neon lighting for the first time and going "woow this looks awesome".
There's many effects, like reflections via mirror-like barriers, or water.
Track design is great, with all the rollercoaster elements you can think of, you'll be going sideways and upside down more than once, and the scenery will make sure to remind you as it zooms by upside down.
I also love that the tracks are long and allow you to catch up if you make a mistake (or lose any hope of winning if you're still not good enough - and you will have to get used to the controls, they are fair and easy to grasp, but hard to master - a staple of the best examples of the genre.
Combat-wise you'll have the typical pickups but also original ones, like a computer virus which covers your ship in germs and heavily pixelates the whole screen for a few seconds - nice!
The turbo system is "rhythm-based" in that the gauge depletes when you press the boost button, and fills up when you release it, so it's something you have to constantly keep in mind. On top of the basic principle, track elevation will add an extra layer of strategy for your boos, as your ship slows down in uphill slopes, and you'll be well advised to have boost handy at these points.
I would compare Millennium Runners to Ballistic NG in terms of speed, handling, controls, combat and overall fun, but while BNG made a conscious decision to go for (updated) early Wipeout visuals, this one is just gorgeous and up there with top-tier AG racers, such as Wipeout Omega Collection or Redout.
Something else I liked is that you have many unlockable tracks and ships, but you get a large enough selection from the get-go in order to experiment a little. Also, ships have 3 levels, and level 2 is unlocked, so you can experience higher speeds.
In terms of performance, the game runs beautifully, and features graphical options that should guarantee a nice experience on most PCs.
At this point, the game can only be great when fully released. It is already great.
There is one thing I noticed that still need to be addressed: the sound cues for pickups sometimes don't play.
There is currently no career mode, but I would bet this is something these guys are working on - updates are frequent and the last one updated so many things already, and added new tracks too. It seems pretty obvious there's a lot more to come.
If it wasn't clear: if you're an AG racer fan: do NOT miss this one and support the developers. The amount of love put in deserves it.
