At every console launch companies try to tout that they have something for everyone. They often reference the variety of genres that are represented in the available games. One thing I like to do with a new console is take it for a spin with a racing game, as I feel it can help give me a good feel for the new system. It’s been awhile since a Nintendo system had a racing game at launch, so Fast RMX definitely intrigued me. Is Fast RMX another Nintendo eShop game to soon be forgotten, or is it something that will be taking me away from my adventures in Hyrule on a regular basis?Fast RMX is a Nintendo Switch console exclusive and is essentially an upgraded version of Fast Racing Neo, which was released on the Wii U eShop a few years ago. I never played the earlier title and did not know what to expect going into this remixed racer. It has been drawing a lot of comparisons to the F-Zero and Wipeout games due to a similar setting and the antigravity vehicles.The controls are simple enough with your standard buttons for gas, brake, and boost, but the game also introduces the ability to cycle the color of your vehicle from orange to blue and vice versa.

Each track features sections that have either orange strips or blue strips. If you match up the color of your vehicle with the corresponding section of track you will get an instant speed boost. If you are the opposite color when driving over one of these strips your vehicle will be penalized and slow down a bit. This unique gameplay mechanic is what sets Fast RMX apart from other racers, and it really is a fun addition to the game that adds some strategy and will keep you on your toes. There is also a standalone boost that you build up by collecting orbs on the tracks and then using R button to boost. You’ll want to utilize this strategically to maneuver around your competition.The modes in the game are pretty standard fare for a racing game.

The main single player component is Championship mode. Here you will unlock more courses and gain access to the fifteen different vehicles in the game. Along with this there are three levels to unlock.There is also another single player mode called Hero mode. Here you are required to take first place in each race. To make it even more challenging, your boost meter is also tied to being a damage/shield meter. Between this and the difficulty of some of the courses (more on that later) it can be a bit daunting as you will need to start over if you crash or destroy your vehicle. Depending on the player, this mode could prove to be very frustrating, but I felt like it gave me a good sense of “one more try” as hitting the retry button started the race over again very quickly.Of course, what is a racing game without multiplayer modes?

Should you need a break from the bucolic, I recommend Fast RMX, a racing game that borrows shrewdly from Wipeout, F-Zero, and Hydro Thunder. As the comparison suggests, Fast RMX is familiar. Mar 08, 2017  FAST RMX was a lovely surprise for the launch of the Switch, and one that this reviewer was very excited for. With a number in our team having played FAST Racing NEO to.

You can play locally or online and both can include up to eight players. Playing locally was a lot of fun with everyone in the same room hurling insults.

I played with three others so the game filled out the roster with four more competitors to make for a total of eight racers. Although it was fun, somehow I don’t think this will be the multiplayer game we’ll play after we get Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in a little over a month.

For now it will suffice.Going online I was able to quickly join a group, but each time I had to wait until the current race was finished before being able to start a race. At times it’s a little annoying having to wait to begin playing, but it makes sense.

Stronghold 2 game download. At the time of this review there isn’t a way to race against friends, but the developers have stated they are working on a free update that will implement this feature. The online racing was fun and it worked as you’d expect, but it didn’t keep me captivated.Many times racing games live or die by how memorable their tracks are. The good news is that Fast RMX has a very respectable number: 30 courses.

For the most part I really enjoy the variety of tracks, many of which feature a wide swath of unique environments. The graphics get the job done with an impressive 60 frames per second rendering at 1080p in TV mode. It also looks fantastic on the Switch screen when playing in Portable mode. The developers have done a great job in giving personality to each track, something not easily accomplished in many futuristic racers.

One of my favorite tracks is essentially a tube that you are able to race on and you can rotate around the entire thing. Although the weather effects, like rain and snow don’t really have an impact on your racing, they add to some punch to the visuals and make a pretty game even better and more immersive.My biggest gripe with the tracks, and really my issue with the game, is that many of them are designed in ways that obstacles or walls appear too quickly to react to, leading to many collisions and frustrations.

It can be the blue shell to your 1 st place finish in this game. I suppose that memorizing the courses is one solution, but with thirty courses at your disposal you’ll need to play a lot before this problem disappears.Overall I have enjoyed my time with Fast RMX. I am not sure how much lasting appeal it will have, especially when other racing games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe arrive on the Switch. For now, it’s a great game to play when I take a break from the incredible Breath of the Wild.

If you have been looking for an F-Zero style racing game, this might very well be the best option for some time to come, as Nintendo doesn’t seem to show any love for the genre. For $20 I am more than happy with the wide variety of courses and solid gameplay present in Fast RMX.

As the first racing game for the Nintendo Switch, Fast RMX brings with it some high expectations. The name itself conjures a feeling of speed – or is it merely false hope? Thankfully it’s the former, as Fast RMX is a lightning-fast racing title, with a futuristic, sci-fi spin on the genre that’s easily reminiscent of F-Zero.With locations that vary greatly in their design, from jungles to cities, plus responsive controls and turbo boosts, there’s a lot to enjoy in Fast RMX. Most noticeably are the visuals, which are simply stunning – this is one of the best-looking games on the Switch so far. The crisp and detailed level design is breathtaking, with tracks set across the universe. A standout is Tepaneca Vale, a rainy track set at night, that’s beautiful to look at yet challenging to play with its darkly lit twists and turns.

Tepaneca Vale in all its rain-soaked gloryThe tracks are all named interestingly too. It seems like an odd compliment, but I feel like someone thought hard about how futuristic race tracks might be marketed, making them sound like they belong in a fancy catalogue of some sort, with a spacey, Japanese flair.Each race consists of three laps, and you’ll have to place in the top three overall to move to the next cup. There’s plenty of content here too. Cups are divided into three tracks each, making on-the-go gaming easy. There are 10 cups overall, providing a total of 30 tracks to play.

Multiplayer mode is available in local and online, though the online options are fairly limited (though friend support has come with an update just recently). Split-screen mode – no loss of speed though!One thing to note here is that this game is mostly a remixed (RMX – get it?) version of Fast Racing Neo for the Wii U. Fast RMX includes all content from the original, including DLC, plus new vehicles and tracks.One aspect that sets Fast RMX apart from other racing titles is the inclusion of boost pads. Your vehicle can change shield colors at any time with the push of a button, swapping between orange and blue. If your shield matches the color of the boost pad as you’re driving over it, you’ll receive a massive boost in speed.

The reverse is true if your colors don’t match, with a sluggish response from your vehicle. This adds an extra element to an already speedy game, since you’ll have to concentrate not only on taking tight turns but also checking your shield color. It’s an exhilarating ride to say the least and adds an unusual depth to the racing genre.Boost orbs are also littered around each track, providing a turbo boost that you can release when you need that extra push – like as you close in on the finishing line, or in order to make some of those extra long jumps. There are some super-long jumps – landing is an art form in itself!The controls are generally good, though with such high speeds naturally comes a higher rate of crashing.

This is more to do with level design than controls, with some levels more fun to play than others. There are a couple that throw some pretty steep learning curves at you, with crazily long or difficult jumps, for example, It borders on frustrating in the harder modes, but most of the time, tracks are fun to play.A few options are missing from Fast RMX, since there were no time trial or practice modes initially (thankfully a recent free update has added time trials).

You also won’t be able to check your rearview mirror while racing, and small map in the lower right corner is almost useless – mostly because you won’t have time to take your eyes off the road given the speed of the action in front of you.The audio is pretty decent, with a techno soundtrack that certainly suits the mood of a futuristic hyper-speed racing game. It definitely keeps your adrenaline pumping as you rapidly move through each circuit.Overall, this is a great racing game and a pleasing entry in the Switch’s line-up. In particular, the graphics are superb – it’s a treat to just watch, let alone play. The action is fast and frantic and is highly recommended for fans of the genre. I love all things Nintendo! It's my Dad's fault really, since he bought my sister and I the NES many Christmases ago. It was the beginning of a love affair, but who could blame me?

There was no better introduction to video games than Mario and Zelda! I'm a proud owner of a 3DS (Fire Emblem-branded, thank you), a Wii U (which, incidentally, also doubles as my TV remote), and the Switch (day one, naturally). I'm a writer and a web developer, so I love writing reviews and take design elements very seriously. My all-time favorite game is Super Mario World for the SNES, though I'm also partial to any of the Mario Kart entries.