Test – All-Star Fruit Racing: A concentrate 100% pure fun

When a game is called " All-Star Fruit Racing ", we know what to expect: fruit and speed. Indeed, if it does not fulfill the quota of five fruits and vegetables a day, All-Star Fruit Racing offers kart races in a colorful and fruity universe through tortuous circuits and a string of modes. That said, is it enough to dare to walk on the flat of a Mario Kart or a Sonic Racing?

Philosofruit of speed

Made on Unreal Engine 4 and released almost everywhere, All-Star Fruit Racing has in the end nothing more than what its title indicates: car races having themed fruit . The title also plays the role of didactic card by diffusing on its loading screens general information on fruits . For example did you know that if we put the bananas consumed in one year, we could draw a link to Mars and come back to it? If this type of info will no doubt allow you to shine in the evening Vegan, I admit having enjoyed reading them, especially as the eyes of my daughters of 4 and 7 years were riveted on the screen during my phases of test.

Specifically, we are dealing here with different modes of play ranging from fast racing to career mode via the Online and the time trial, a content quite consistent, even if one deplores somewhat the variety of pilots . These are all badociated with a particular fruit and about a third of the " roster " is unlocked over the tests. Aesthetically, they are really very nondescript even in their animations, perfectly identical from one pilot to another. The only real attraction of choice lies in their unique special power which is unique and goes from super-speed through a bazooka or the placement of huge fruits on the track.

Level customization , the possibilities are quite vast concerning the aesthetics of the vehicle all being modifiable without any other impact than aesthetic, from the painting to the models of tire pbading by the pennants or the rendering of the bodywork. Many other options are to be unlocked over the course of races and victories over the various cups.

Up up and away!

So all that is very nice but that brings in the end what All-Star Fruit Racing compared to the competition? And all here will be played at the level of the various power-up that you will be able to generate during the race by picking up … fruits . With 4 tank / blenders vehicles will collect on the circuit 4 types of fruit to increase the amount of juice in each tank.

Once full , a tank grants a capacity such as a lightning acceleration, a tornado to send on the opponents or cubes of ice to deposit behind you. While picking up a banana fills 15% of all the tanks at one time, it is by mixing the juices that you will be able to select during the race the type of capacity that you will use . It's up to you to juggle during the race between the 4 mixers once full to use the desired power, by opening or closing valves using the directional cross .

If the 4 mixers are full at the same time, you will then be able to unleash your ultimate power. Quite cool ? Indeed, given the sinuosity of the lines, it is sometimes difficult to remember the desired mixture and some powers are always more useful than others (at random … the booster?). Oddly enough, some races abandon this mixing system to return to random powers picked up during the race. It loses the specificity of the title, but we must admit that it is still more practical in the heart of the race.

In terms of speed, All- Star Fruit Racing gives pride to skids, indispensable to garner boost which relaxes at the end of drift with nevertheless a motor limit to Do not go over or you'll see it explode and lose precious seconds. We then juggle with the defensive, offensive, boost acceleration provided by some slabs on the ground and the one given by skids to go always faster, being careful not to overheat the engine or worse, to take a wall or leave the track.

Break of inspiration

Once the mechanics well in hand, the race becomes really nice and then enjoy colorful scenery and still fun to watch, looking for a short cut. Nevertheless, if, as mentioned above, the artistic direction itself is frankly lacking in character, it must also be recognized that the sensations of speed are to the absent subscribers and that sometimes it is necessary picking up to 5 laps which ultimately turns out to be more boring.

Fortunately, c some really more complex and original races help us wake up (Like the one that requires finishing the race in a single short turn while riding on a dragon alternating track surfaces), but overall the solo quickly becomes redundant, further depressed by the lack of characterization of the drivers.