Xenon Racer

[b]Xenon Racer (2019) – First Impressions Review (after ~2 hours)[/b] Xenon Racer [i]can[/i] be a really fun arcade racer, but my first experience was… pretty mixed. I stopped after about two hours, mainly because the game didn’t give me the confidence that I was fully in control when it mattered most. [b]First impression: only one car felt “right”[/b] During my session, it genuinely felt like [b]only one car had truly good handling[/b]. The others drove (to me) like a shopping cart on slick tires: unpredictable, low grip, and frustrating in corners. The biggest issue was [b]drifting[/b]: sometimes a drift simply wouldn’t “trigger,” even when I was doing exactly what I thought the game wanted. That made racing feel more like fighting the controls than flowing through neon-speed corners. [b]Story/structure: no real story, just races[/b] Story? In my eyes, not really. It mostly feels like: [b]run championships, complete events, unlock cars[/b]. That’s totally fine for an arcade racer, but it also means the gameplay has to click 100%—and that’s where it fell apart for me. [b]Audiovisuals: great vibe[/b] If there’s one area I can’t complain about, it’s presentation. [b]Visually[/b] the game looked surprisingly sharp, and the [b]music/audio[/b] fit the futuristic speed perfectly. There were multiple tracks that instantly put me in that “one more race” mood… at least until the handling issues kicked in. [b]Where it went wrong: frustration stacks up fast[/b] As if the handling problems weren’t enough, I also noticed I often had to [b]replay races multiple times[/b] before I could win. A few retries are normal, but when it happens regularly [i]and[/i] you feel like the car isn’t doing what you want, the fun drains quickly. At some point I just thought: [i]okay, I’m done—this isn’t fun anymore.[/i] [b]Plot twist: maybe it was my ERS/car settings[/b] Only later did I discover my experience might be related to the car’s [b]ERS settings / tuning[/b]. That could explain why some cars felt so bad and why drifting seemed inconsistent. With that new knowledge, I actually want to give the game a fair second shot—this time paying more attention to setup and settings. [b]Extras[/b] For completionists: the game includes [b]Achievements[/b] and [b]Trading Cards[/b]. [b]Provisional verdict[/b] Xenon Racer has the style, the soundtrack, and the speed to be fun, but my first impression was dragged down hard by [b]handling that didn’t feel consistent[/b] and races that turned into too many retries. With what I now know about ERS/settings, I’m willing to try again—because if that’s the key, this could still end up being a surprisingly enjoyable arcade racer. https://youtu.be/VSwziRLexcU

I know it is probably unfair to review the game after playing it for only 20 minutes but all my first impressions of this game were so negative that I couldn't get myself to finish the first race. Immediately after launching the game for the first time I'm being put into a race and within first 30 seconds of it I see AI cars slamming into a wall then overtaking me 10 seconds later due to some sort of rubber banding. I found the driving model for the car you start with to be very unresponsive for how drift-oriented cornering seems to be. I quit to menu to see if I can adjust the steering (the answer is no) and I found out that even after disabling motion blur and bloom in graphics settings both effect still persist even after restarting. I gave the game 2nd chance and tried first race again (normal difficulty) only to witness the same scenario of AI crashing into a wall during corners then overtaking me on the straights shortly after, even when I'm driving at max speed the car I was given can achieve. At that point I've closed the game and uninstalled it. I don't know the history behind Xenon Racer but it looks and plays like a mobile port (judging by how UI looks like and how unresponsive menu navigation is). I can't recommend this game in any way in its current state.

Good graphics, tracks, and car designs, decent gameplay, but unfortunately the AI is completely broken and hasn't been fixed in 6 years (and I don't think they'll fix it at this point) I don't recommend this game, not even on sale But if you want to buy it... I wish you good luck

Is Xenon Racer a polished racing experience? Yes, and that's why I generally recommend it. It's a rather pretty game with good music and nice-feeling controls. Is it a fair game? Not at all. The race tracks have tight turns all over, and if you aren't doing well with them, the damage meter will make sure you know that. If you want to have a shot at winning your races, prioritize your drifting and handling (with some added max speed on the side). Once you know what to watch out for before starting your races, you'll for sure have a good time.

感觉不如QQ飞车

I genuinely think Xenon Racer only died because the market really wasn't wanting another arcade racer like this at the time. Performance issues on last-gen hardware aside, it succeeds at being an indie Ridge Racer successor. But as an indie dev, you're often at the mercy of your environment. If your game-- A. Runs poorly on the hardware used by the majority of people who would be buying it. B. Releases at a time where it's genre is neglected or considered dead. or C. BOTH of the above. It will fail most of the time, unfortunately...

Xenon Racer, developed and published by 3DClouds, is a futuristic arcade-style racing game that attempts to capture the spirit of classics like Ridge Racer and Wipeout while blending it with modern visuals and mechanics. Set in the year 2030, the game imagines a world where flying vehicles have replaced traditional wheeled racing machines. In this imagined future, Xenon-powered supercars offer one final burst of high-speed glory before being rendered obsolete. This premise sets the tone for a stylish, neon-drenched racing experience that leans heavily into drift-based driving, explosive boosts, and high-speed spectacle. It’s a concept ripe with potential, aiming to rekindle nostalgia for the golden age of arcade racing while introducing a new generation to its energetic thrills. Visually, Xenon Racer makes a strong first impression. The game’s environments are beautifully lit, with futuristic cityscapes, sleek tracks, and glimmering reflections that give every race a polished cinematic look. Locations like Tokyo, Dubai, and Boston are reimagined as glittering metropolises filled with gleaming lights and tight corners. The cars themselves are impressively designed, with aerodynamic bodies and glowing xenon cores that emphasize speed and power. The overall presentation is clean and vibrant, perfectly suited to the game’s high-tech atmosphere. When played on capable hardware, the game’s smooth lighting effects and reflections create an appealing sense of velocity. The soundtrack complements this futuristic aesthetic with energetic electronic beats that echo the pulse of classic arcade racers. Gameplay in Xenon Racer centers around mastering the art of drifting. Every track is designed to test a player’s ability to control long, fluid drifts that both maintain speed and charge a boost meter. This mechanic becomes the core rhythm of the game—enter a turn, initiate a controlled slide, fill the boost, and unleash it on the next straightaway. It’s a system that rewards precision and timing rather than pure aggression, and when executed properly, it feels exhilarating. The physics lean toward the heavier side compared to other arcade racers, requiring deliberate steering and patience to master. The sensation of grip and slide gives the cars a distinct weight, which can be rewarding once understood but frustrating for newcomers expecting a looser, more forgiving handling style. Early on, the learning curve can feel steep, as the cars respond sharply to input and penalize oversteering, but persistence pays off with a smoother and more intuitive sense of control. Xenon Racer offers a range of modes including a career campaign, single races, time trials, and both local and online multiplayer. The career mode serves as the main progression path, allowing players to unlock new vehicles, upgrades, and tracks as they advance through increasingly difficult events. Each car can be customized with performance tweaks and visual modifications, offering some freedom to tailor the racing experience. While the customization system adds replay value, the overall structure of the campaign is straightforward, and the number of unique tracks is limited. Many environments are reused with mirrored layouts or minor variations, which can make the game feel repetitive over time. The AI, while competent, occasionally veers into erratic territory, alternating between overly passive and punishingly aggressive behavior, making some races feel unpredictable in ways that don’t always favor the player. The sense of speed in Xenon Racer is one of its greatest strengths. Once a player grows comfortable with the mechanics, chaining drifts and boosts together produces thrilling bursts of momentum that capture the rush of classic arcade racing. However, the game’s polish doesn’t extend evenly across all platforms or situations. On high-end PCs and consoles, performance remains stable, but on weaker systems, frame rate dips and texture pop-in can undermine immersion. The Nintendo Switch version, for example, struggles with consistent frame rates, which is particularly problematic in a genre where precision and timing are essential. These technical issues, combined with a somewhat rigid handling model, can make the game feel less fluid than its competitors. While the presentation and concept are strong, the underlying execution occasionally feels rough around the edges. Despite these shortcomings, Xenon Racer has moments of genuine enjoyment, especially for players who appreciate the structure and pacing of old-school arcade racers. There’s satisfaction in perfecting a track, learning its corners, and hitting every drift with precision. The cars feel powerful and grounded, and when the systems align, the experience evokes the excitement of the genre’s heyday. It’s clear that 3DClouds intended Xenon Racer to be a tribute to a specific era of racing games—one where the focus was on tight control, sharp design, and mechanical mastery rather than open-world exploration or realism. This nostalgic focus is both its greatest strength and its limitation; players seeking depth, variety, or a modern twist may find the game too straightforward to hold their attention long-term. In the end, Xenon Racer stands as a passionate but uneven homage to the arcade racing genre. Its visual design, atmosphere, and concept are undeniably appealing, offering moments of pure, high-octane joy when everything clicks. However, inconsistent handling, repetitive track design, and performance issues prevent it from reaching the heights of the classics it seeks to emulate. For fans of drift-heavy arcade racers, there’s enough here to enjoy—especially at a lower price or in short bursts—but it lacks the refinement and addictive flow that define the genre’s best examples. Xenon Racer succeeds in spirit, if not always in execution, serving as a reminder of why fast, flashy, and focused racing games continue to hold a special place in the hearts of those who love speed. Rating: 6/10

How is a game I've never heard of that I bought on sale for $1.50 this polished? I do wish it had wheel support but that's super rare for arcade racers anyway. For a buck fifty I'm keeping it in my collection of racing games to play via XOutput.

A couple of hours in and I'm [i]really[/i] liking this game. From a pure going-fast / sensation-of-speed aspect it nails it. I definitely recommend bonnet/hood-cam for maximum enjoyment. As for the driving experience: there's a learning curve - it requires building skill to get good. I'm also finding car tuning, and, most of all, driving the way the devs intended the cars to be driven, to be really important. There is a [i]lot[/i] of emphasis on drifting. Slowing down doesn't help much with tight corners, but if you get the right drift line there's no problem going full speed around a hairpin turn. It's not huge AAA scope, but its focused, stylish as hell, and a lot of fun.

unreal engine. pesima conduccion hasta prefiero el nfs no limits