The Crew 2 Hands-On: By Land, Sea Or Air

A while back, Ubisoft‘s Ivory Tower brought us The Crew, a unique multiplayer-oriented racing game where you completed missions and took part in exciting pursuits. That said, the game had its fair share of flaws, but still offered a good time for those that wanted to get behind the wheel.

That said, it sounds like the developer has been paying attention to what didn’t work in the first game, and vows to make the experience even better this time around for The Crew 2, as your antics will not only be based more on fun activities (and less on “you must catch this guy”, etc.), but also won’t be limited to the ground.

Ubisoft recently invited me out to check out the game’s work-in-progress, and even though I wasn’t able to see the expansive map that’s being promised for the game (once again taking place pretty much across the United States), I was able to understand how some concepts were being tweaked to make this game more about the race, and less about the mission.

The game is an open-world driving experience, where you can actually hand pick a number of available circuits and then either perform fast travel (with the right unlock capacity) or drive your way there to partake in races. And they vary quite a bit, whether you’re loading up in a Porsche 911 and going across ramps; blazing around in a Formula One like car in a circuit-style race; or scooting around on a motorcycle and performing wheelies.

Cruis’n For A Bruis’n

Some cars perform better than others – the Formula One car takes a little getting used to – but Ivory Tower has done a bang-up job with the game’s controls thus far, as each vehicle handles very well, through both speedy straightaways and with excellent cornering. In fact, drifting is particularly easy, as you tap a button for the emergency brake, or hold it down if you want a complete spin-around.

There are a variety of activities available, which you can either do on your own or play with others in co-op. Racing with a friend is definitely more fun, as you can compete against one another and even take part in chase missions, if you feel like reliving some stuff from the first game (though not as serious, I assure you).

But the cool thing is that it’s not limited to the ground. At most points during the game (depending on where you are and what kind of space you have), you can actually switch between different types of vehicles. Along with cars, you also have access to bikes, trucks, and even airplanes and boats.

Now, boats are the best when it comes to being near a water surface. We switched to a boat while we were on the road and hilariously watched as it scraped along the road. But in the water, it’s a peak performer, as you can splash around and cruise through checkpoints, Wave Race style, to complete an event.

Taking Flight

Flying is a whole different matter, but I’m happy to report that Ivory Tower nailed this thus far as well, as you can fly through different events and even buzz through the city if you’re feeling daring enough. There are collisions, mind you, but, fortunately, you can bounce right back into the action.

You earn credits over the course of each event, and you can unlock more cool stuff for your rider, including access to new cars and other goodies. Plus, a variety of challenges open up nationwide, so you can always find something new to partake in. There may even be an option to create your own challenges within the game, should you find a would-be racing circuit that you can truly call your own.

The Crew 2 looks pretty fantastic thus far. The car models are quite impressive, even though they don’t take nearly as much damage as you’d see in other games. But, yeah, I definitely see the appeal of an orange sports car. Who wouldn’t?! The city landscapes look terrific as well, whether you’re racing through the hustle and bustle of New York City, or cruising around on a bike in the mountains on a custom-made course. The frame rate is stable, the online connectivity looks to be smooth (the final version may vary), and the stunt aspect really plays out quite well visually. I didn’t get to hear much of the game’s audio, but it should be jam-packed with racing tunes and revving engines.

We’ve still got a ways to go before we’re able to race around with The Crew 2, as it isn’t set to release until March 2018 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC. But it’s shaping up to be leaps and bounds over the first game in terms of accessibility, events and just plain fun. I’m excited to see where this particular road takes me.