Star Wars: Galactic Racer is shaping up to be a challenging roguelike racer, according to a recent preview from Rock Paper Shotgun. The game tasks players with navigating a series of races in its single-player campaign, which features a run-based structure where failure means starting over.
Each run begins with a single 'League Entry Token' from series organizer Darius Pax. The goal is to progress as far as possible through the Galactic League events before this token is lost. This design encourages players to learn from their mistakes and consider every action carefully. The preview noted that even minor missteps, like a collision with an opponent, can be costly. "You race like a poodoo!" podracer Ben Quadinaros is quoted as yelling, a sentiment that reflects the game's unforgiving nature.
Players will pilot a variety of anti-gravity vehicles, including the versatile Landspeeder, the nimble Speeder Bike, and the unique Skim Speeder. Podracers are kept in a separate category, offering extreme speed at the cost of some of the more nuanced mechanics found in other vehicles. The campaign includes standard races, eliminator events with tight countdown timers, and risk-free test runs with experimental equipment. Success in these events rewards players with upgrades and stat boosts that carry over between runs, forming the core of the game's progression.
The handling of these anti-gravity vehicles is described as floatier than traditional wheeled vehicles, requiring players to master drifting to maintain speed through corners. The game draws inspiration from the Burnout series for its combat mechanics, allowing for satisfying takedowns where opponents' crafts crumple upon impact. However, unlike Burnout, players cannot rely on walls for braking.
Environmental Challenges and Vehicle Customization
Galactic Racer features diverse environments that introduce unique hazards. On the desert planet Jakku, using the 'Ramjet' boost generates heat, risking an explosion if overused, while the less powerful 'Afterburner' boost is unaffected. The volcanic planet Lantaana presents a similar heat risk with lava flows, while the ice world Ando Prime introduces freezing conditions that require players to utilize in-race heaters. Sentinel 1, with its acid rivers, mirrors the corrosive threats of Lantaana.
The game also offers a deep customization system. Players can invest points earned from winning races into six upgrade areas: Ramjet, Afterburner, Cornering, Resilience, Parts, and Abilities. 'Abilities' are positive traits that can be equipped, and 'Parts' are active mechanics usable mid-race, such as a function to speed up Ramjet cooling. This system allows for a variety of build strategies, encouraging players to adapt their craft to their preferred playstyle.
Narrative and Player Customization
Beyond the racing, Galactic Racer incorporates a narrative. Players assume the role of a masked racer named Shade, whose appearance can be customized. The story revolves around helping Darius Pax maintain control of the series against its current champion, Kestar Bool. Narrative choices can have consequences, such as one instance where a player's craft was sabotaged for the next race after refusing a demand from Bool.
The game's roster is filled with alien species who provide radio chatter during races, adding a touch of Star Wars flavor that the preview found charming. Creative director Kieran Crimmins cited Star Wars Episode I: Racer as a primary inspiration for the boost mechanics, suggesting a familiar feel for fans of that classic title. Fuse Games is aiming to capture the