In a world without Burnout, a new anime-inspired racer called Screamer is scratching the arcade racing itch. Developed by Milestone, the studio behind Ride, MotoGP, and Hot Wheels Unleashed, Screamer blends the mechanical depth of a racing sim with accessible arcade gameplay. The game is a reboot of the classic 1995 MS-DOS title and is set in a neon-drenched Tokyo reminiscent of the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.
Screamer emphasises offensive attacks, drifts, and boosts, placing as much importance on striking rivals as on racing lines. Its single-player story mode, The Tournament, serves as an extended tutorial, gradually introducing players to gear shifting, defensive manoeuvres, and tight corner drifts. The narrative is engaging, with melodramatic rivalries settled on the track, making players care about the distinct anime universe.
The game’s core mechanics include twin-stick drifting, gear shifting via left bumper taps, and a boost system that requires precise trigger release, similar to Gears of War's active reload. While these take time to master, they offer greater control than many arcade racers. However, the Tournament mode suffers from relentless difficulty spikes, which can be frustrating.
Despite this, Screamer provides a tactile and rhythmic racing experience that captures the excitement of Burnout, especially in its offensive tactics and high-speed thrills. It is the most fun I have had with a racer since the Burnout series dominated the genre.
