I didn’t have using a fixed-gear bike possessed by an entity named Skully on my listing of video games to play this 12 months, however that’s a part of the enjoyable of attending occasions just like the ID@Xbox Showcase at GDC – you by no means know what new sport goes to catch your eye. Wheel World, with its mixture of open-world exploration, loot scouring, and surprisingly enjoyable and aggressive racing has put this radical tackle bike racing on my radar because it speeds its solution to Xbox Collection X|S and Home windows PC with Xbox Play Anyplace help for launch later this 12 months.
In Wheel World you play Kat, a motorcycle rider fated to avoid wasting this distinctive realm that’s stuffed with rival riders, spare components, and portal potties — outhouses that work as a fast-travel choice. That hits on one other facet I loved about my time with the sport: its humor. It by no means appears to take itself too severely, as one ought to count on when it incorporates a bike possessed by an entity in command of marshaling spirits to and from the Moon. Serving to Skully collect these spirits is your central purpose throughout your time in Wheel World, however to do this it is advisable to assemble the most effective experience doable.
Traversing the realm of Wheel World and searching for loot (spare components) is an enormous a part of the enjoyable, as you possibly can uncover this stuff that include quite a lot of items to customise your bike – every part from its body, to wheels, to handlebars, and extra are all swappable which have an effect on stats like velocity and dealing with. These components can even are available in ‘Legendary’ standing and can provide distinctive powers like growing your enhance meter to assist throughout races.
One other rule of this world is Status, wanted to unlock higher-leveled zones, which you’ll acquire by dealing with down different riders you encounter on the street, or whenever you take down a rival bike gang by – you guessed it – racing. Which is nice, as a result of it feels so enjoyable to experience all through Wheel World.
All of the competitions I attempted out, whether or not they had been up towards a single rider or a pack, had been very enjoyable and flippantly difficult with a pleasant pumping soundtrack operating within the background (courtesy of Italians Do It Higher). As I’d glide via a pack of rivals, I discovered that each drafting (that’s shifting behind the rider to cut back wind resistance), and using enhance on the opportune instances, had been keys to success. Successful races can even web you coupons that you should utilize at bike outlets discovered throughout the world, providing you with entry to much more spare components to your bike.
The physics for the dealing with of the bike additionally felt very pure, as you would need to think about issues like velocity round turns, heavy peddling up hills, or simply gliding downhill, all of it felt very refined – which is nice as a result of the sport depends a lot on this facet. As well as, its cell-shaded world itself is gorgeous to experience via, harking back to video games like Sable or Dungeons of Hinterberg.
Impartial developer Messhof describes Wheel World as concerning the pleasure and freedom of residing round bikes – and that feels just like the case right here. From racing, to tinkering, to exploring and even simply going out for a cruise via the hills, it captures that spirit of using a motorcycle and the liberty of exploration that comes with it. Search for Wheel World to return to Xbox Collection X|S and Home windows PC, with help for Xbox Play Anyplace, later this 12 months.
Wheel World
Annapurna Interactive
Welcome to Wheel World, the place the destiny of the universe rests in your handlebars.
You’re Kat, a younger bike owner with one mission: save Wheel World from complete collapse. Discover a surprising open world crammed with spectacular vistas, hidden secrets and techniques, and races that may take a look at your expertise. Customise your bike with an countless array of components, from smooth speedsters to off-road beasts—there is not any restrict to how one can experience.
Wheel World is filled with issues to do:
Race and Dominate: Tackle elite biking groups and quirky rivals in high-stakes races the place each second counts.
Improve Your Journey: Scour the world for uncommon components to construct the last word bike, completely tailor-made to your fashion.
Carry Out Your Future: Get well your stolen Legendary components to finally carry out The Nice Shift ritual and save the world. No massive deal.
All of that is backed by an authentic soundtrack from Italians Do It Higher, pumping vitality into each race and moments of breathtaking semi-open world exploration.
It is time to pedal your solution to glory, save the spirits of Wheel World, and preserve the universe on monitor. Hop on, experience quick, and do not look again.
