i blow at racing games that aren't diddy kong racing and star wars episode 1 racer, so this is a feat for me. first first place all night.
pretty fun game. i wouldn't get it at full price, but that isn't to knock it's quality. i mean what was the last racing game i bought? I LITERALLY DO NOT REMEMBER, so the fact that i would eventually buy this game says you need to fucking try it.
it's like mario kart meets burnout, only the powerups are really only bullshit when you get gangbanged by them. even then, you don't lose too much speed unless you total the car or something, so getting hit by a "red turtle shell" or something just slows you down a little bit, and even then you can dodge it at the last second if you are good, shoot it down as it approaches, or shockwave the motherfucker.
my quick opinion on the powerups to give me something to type.
barge (i call it shockwave) is like good to have all the time.
only nab the repair when you need it (though it doesn't hurt to be careful, having two shockwaves is nice for that fucker with two shunts)
don't fire the shunt (red turtle shell) all willy nilly, it has homing yes, but you should try to be in a good range for it to not give them much time to react
the 3 missiles (3 green turtle shells) is a bit odd. seems a bit too situational to take over a more important powerup. could be good for knocking out shunts (i think), and finishing off low health players.
shield is good. yeah you can absorb attacks with it, but i don't use it for that, shockwave takes care of the shunts, shield is good for corners. tight turn ahead? use the shield and slam into that wall without losing much speed.
mine. well it's a mine, you know how to use these, put them in tight spaces or behind powerups.
nitro...not much to say here, you go faster.
"shock" plants three lightning bolts in front of the first place player, but if he avoids it, it stays on the track for a while. it's not a bullshit move, you can dodge these pretty easily, and it doesn't slow you down too bad. when there's like...9 of them out at the same time and you have other racers around you...HAVE FUN!
though sometimes the powerups "cough" fucking up your place at the last second "cough" get a little annoying. but i can say it's done pretty well in this game. plus the whole "modern warfare leveling up applied to a racing game" is alright, im a fan of that model. say you aren't doing so good, don't compete for first, just compete for something obtainable, and if you lose, you got some fans (exp) out of the deal. that's what i do anyway, sometimes it's more fun not winning because being in the middle of the pack is where all the action is.
tldr, as a person who hasn't enjoyed mario kart since the snes game, i can say i enjoy this.
*edit*
i got another first place...on tokyo. i guess i know tokyo pretty well because every race people vote on more goddamn tokyo. though none of the tracks bother me, i would like to play something other than tokyo or barcelona. it's literally like you go to tokyo, then barcelona, then tokyo, then barcelona. there's like two other good tracks in there nobody is voting on.
and uhh i am kind of considering getting this motherfucker, the more i play the more i like.