Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged Review - The Final Verdict

Milestone did a great job with Hot Wheels Unleashed, which excellently combines a simple yet satisfying arcade racing with a wide assortment of Hot Wheels-based vehicles.
There were a few minor issues here and there, but its sequel Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 does a good job of correcting those flaws. And that results in a game that’s better in almost every regard, right from the revamped Career mode to expanded movement options and better track layouts.
A few minor cracks do leave something to be desired but looking at the whole picture, it’s a sequel that’s unmissable for fans of the first game. And even if you aren’t a really big fan of Hot Wheels, it’s still a solid racer that’s worth a look.

[@l0rdfr3nchy7]

Need more arcade racing games!

[@stateyournameplease]

Yeah, it always feels like a dead genre outside nfs...

[@TheSense13]

Problem is all arcade racers have turned into festival racers

[@l0rdfr3nchy7]

I would just like something in between mario kart and forza motorsport, stuff like ssx, ride, nfs underground, burnout, blur. I know riders republic came out not too long ago but that game gives me secondhand embarassment lol

[@Sandwox]

@@l0rdfr3nchy7try out disney speedstorm

[@E-Chap]

@@l0rdfr3nchy7 I'd kill for a new Burnout game. I played Burnout Paradise for HOURS.

[@Boss_Fight_Index_muki]

i think this plays better than Forza Motorsports

[@Leopez02]

Yeah, and this Hot Wheels Unleashed looks even funnier and better game because this isn't a realistic like racing game

[@Adam-M-]

Different subgenres, but I did like the original Hot Wheels Unleashed, and I really like the new Forza Motorsport as well.

[@brianhamilton5943]

ive been with the turn 10 franchise since motorsport 5 and i can’t believe im saying this but you’re not wrong

[@slimee5549]

Crazy

[@Joe-vy1wq]

Lmao fr

[@stupidfathobbit4262]

New cars, new maps and a few new gameplay tweaks. Seems to me they could’ve just done that as a second season pass DLC and update for the first game. I see nothing mind blowing that deserves to spend more money on a new sequel.

[@danquaza9275]

It does actually look and feel a lot more expanded. The cars feel a bit better. The jump and lateral dodge really do change up the game alot. And the story has actual cutscene attempts. I think it warrants a new game. Definitely has more “new” content than most NFL yearly releases lol

[@misterymisterio8778]

The first game had over 60 cars at release. This one doubles that number and adds a lot more stuff the community asked constantly during the first game life cycle , like more game modes, power mode, classes, etc. When it comes to Hasbro and hot wheels it's very complicated. All the content for the game is already planned, including dlc, before the game is even released. And it's not just the devs at fault, it's a licensing issue.

[@beardalaxy]

people's expectations from games these days are insane. back in the day this would have been a sequel and everyone would be super excited about it. now it's all about DLC and season passes and free updates :P

[@christophervanoster]

@@beardalaxypeople also don’t realize milestone isn’t a AAA devoloper. They’re a relatively small AA developer at best

[@wessmusic]

I agree, the money hunger was already very apparent in the first game. This is just the same game with a few small additions for another 50 dollars

[@E-Chap]

This just dropped as the PlayStation monthly game, looks pretty fun

[@Gingerlion777]

In the first game, the problem was, if you had a good car, you never needed to switch, and that made all other cars useless.

[@Eragonfrost]

And online multiplayer had no car variety

[@flashbaxx]

Custom editor tracks not supporting AI for single-player races was a huge let-down of the first game. Have they rectified this in the sequel? And are the cars better balanced with the new classes and upgrade system? There were very few worthwhile cars to use in the first game, the rest just felt like garbage filler for the gacha-style unlocks. I would like to be able to use cars like, for example, the Roller Toaster, and still be competitive.

[@Sub-Zero.]

they’ve heavily changed the balancing issue. Also no, they’ve haven’t made it so you can race on custom tracks with AI. The only reason why they made that choice is because people will just make tracks that are a straight line, or just impossible for AI to beat, causing them to farm coins easily.

[@maxcaines3568]

​@@Sub-Zero. They could've just made it so you don't gain from offline custom tracks that would've made more sense

[@3rooklyn]

I bought a lot of cars in the first game. Can they be transferred over to the new game?

[@Razorstolemycar]

Man there are so many games and updates dropping this month. That this game dropped so quietly, I only fond out because one of my friends were playing it. 😅

[@4cuttime]

Great review!! Can't wait to play it!

[@bonesjackson81]

Did I miss track creator? Weird not to include it cause that's the replay value.

[@boredstudent]

I liked the first Hot Wheels Unleashed. It was also cool that Unleashed 2 is actually free on PlayStation Plus so I downloaded it. I definitely like this one as well.

[@babylonianhell306]

the lobbys are empty here in germany

[@HectorMartinez]

Can you create and race your own tracks online?

[@MrTubemaniaco]

Online sucks, every lobby is empty. 😢

[@alphatax2000]

I tried playing this game but during the tutorial race at one point my car put on its brakes and went into reverse and it keeps doing that, making the game unplayable for me. I want to love this game but until this is fixed I can't...

[@routerleet9981]

Delete the game and reinstall it. It might be a software glitch from downloading

[@Killerboyh]

Better than forza

[@Leopez02]

Easily

[@slimee5549]

Cap

[@Syahburei]

i wish Crash team racing was on PC instead

[@Mixedbeats18]

disney speedstorm?

[@Syahburei]

@@Mixedbeats18 yeah been trying that out. Its fun but still cant replace crash team racing.

[@masaki6342]

Emulation?

[@Matuzai]

Me too. Maybe you can watch out for The Karters 2: Turbo Charged

[@maxcaines3568]

Disney infinity 3 on steam comes with all the characters downloaded in the game and has a racing mode where you can create your own tracks and worlds. I got it for like £20 for all 3 games

[@Ji99i3]

Looks an awful lot like the first one

[@RaiuAdami]

Similar but it has a ton of QoL and additions that changed the gameplay a lot. As well as much less bugs. Lateral dash and jump/double jump is fun as hell to use

[@rockfresh1993]

​​@@RaiuAdamihopefully they made the car controls tighter it's hard to stay on track and compete against the A.I

[@RaiuAdami]

@@rockfresh1993 They did

[@malygos9301]

Yeah it's a sequel lol

[@TimoNaaro]

I remember liking 1. Got this from psplus.

[@brandonnewcomb4764]

How did you manage to leave PC off of the platform release list?

[@beardalaxy]

It says Windows.

[@Josh_Tsu1067]

great game its worth the full price

[@UltraVibePleasure2K]

This review doesn't mention the switch has inferior graphics to the other versions.

[@dmj1419]

This game is awesome. But it's going to die fast if they don't fix the multiplayer matchmaking times. Takes 5-10 minutes sometimes just to find a lobby. The first game didn't have this issue.

[@kennymaze27]

Bruh ima wait for this dlc to come out to game pass, alright? Then ill try it and c if its good… last one was dog water, cars barley stayed stable for 85% of the race

[@Enigmalake]

I’ll wait for $15

[@rockfresh1993]

By time u buy all the dlc the game easily will be 70+ dollars

[@Enigmalake]

@@rockfresh1993 no thanks 😆

[@jbrink1789]

the first ones on sale right now deluxe edition you get all the season passes I think it's like 13 bucks

[@RyanRafi100]

I couldn't wait so I pirated a copy of the new game and I've been having a blast! Will buy it a year later when it's on discount

[@Enigmalake]

@@jbrink1789 I got the first one for $7.50. Don’t really care for most games dlc

[@pumpkinpie8235]

Guys, can you add AI bots in multiplayer matches? And can you add bots in custom-made tracks? These are the most prevalent questions everyone wants to know, it's a deal breaker since first game. Yet NO review talks about this! Please let us now.

[@joeysandoval5269]

AI drivers can't work on user generated tracks, due to how intricate said tracks can be. This extends to the multiplayer, where user generated content makes up a large amount of the track selection.

[@pumpkinpie8235]

​@joeysandoval5269 so thats the case in 2 as well? That's such a shame, that's me not buying the game. Other older games have done it before with custom tracks and AI. This is 2023. And even if they cant be bother to design the AI for those custom tracks, they can enable it at least for official maps in multiplayer. And even if they dont work in custom intricate ones, users will learn how to make tracks that AI can play. Seriously, what is stopping them to at least enable AI bots in multiplayer on the in game tracks that already have AI when you play solo???? What lazy lazy devs and company, shooting themselves in the foot again.

[@joeysandoval5269]

@@pumpkinpie8235 Milestone isn't a huge development team, and designing AI that could work on more intricate tracks would be very resource-extensive, and overall just not worth it. Would it be cool to have AI that could work on custom tracks? Definitely. Would it be worth sacrificing other portions of the game that needed those resources in order to allow the game to flourish? Absolutely not. If anything, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot by taking up the mantle of adding far more advanced AI to the game. That all being said, you're entitled to your opinion, and not purchasing the game. I will say though that in my time with the game I've had a blast so far, and it's a vast improvement over the last entry.

[@pumpkinpie8235]

@@joeysandoval5269 excuses for laziness. Again, why cant it have AI in multiplayer for normal tracks that already have AI in singleplayer???

[@nomak9576]

I wouldn't recommend to buy it, it's worse than the first one and online multiplayer is less active.

[@LgiovanniF]

The final verdicr. How arrogant.

[@peterGchaves]

Well, it's the final for GamingBolt 🤷

[@rockfresh1993]

The first game controls suck its hard to stay on track and compete against the A.i

[@johnevans3562]

no it isn't lol you just have to learn how to drift and when to hit the nitro at the apex of a turn. It's simple and easy.

[@Gr33NGiAnT365]

Pick a different car or upgrade the ones you want idk I didn't really have any problems racing a.i

[@rockfresh1993]

I suck at racing games and this 💩 felt extra slippery 😂😂

[@mymiscellanea5818]

Yeah the controls and handling never "sucked", they're actually really good imo, it's just surprisingly difficult. I'm not gonna tell you to "git gud" if you don't want to, but... that's the issue here 😂 @@rockfresh1993

[@peanutworshiper6666]

That sounds like a skill issue most players myself included find both games had very solid controls and mechanics even on the hardest difficulty the Ai is easy to beat once you master drifting I think you are just bad at the game

[@bonesjackson81]

Did I miss track creator? Weird not to include it cause that's the replay value.