Review: Concept Destruction (PlayStation 4)

Concept Destruction is all about driving miniature cars made of cardboard, and crashing them into each other to earn points by destroying them

Pros:

  • Awesome cardboard cutout style graphics.
  • 212.4mb download size.
  • Platinum trophy.
  • Cross-buy with Playstation Vita.
  • Stackable Platinum trophy.
  • School- tutorial area and optional.
  • 3 modes-Championship/single event and multiplayer.
  • Game settings can be tweaked for everything from assists, auto rollover, number of laps/opponents to battery consumption, and damage.
  • Destruction derby inspired gameplay.
  • The goal is to eliminate other cars before you wreck your own car.
  • Battery-determines speed but also your damage, collect wrecked cars batteries to restore some car health.
  • Full damage model from crumpled up car models to detailed points of damage on the car.
  • Clear easy to read Hud.
  • Photo mode.
  • Controls are basic but effective.
  • Actions- boost, accelerate, brake, handbrake, and reverse. End of race result screen showing stats on where you took damage, time played, kills, score.
  • Single event mode-3 versions-normal, survival (all against you) and tourism (no rules, no damage).
  • 8 cars to unlock each with unique stats.
  • 8 race locations to unlock by playing championship.
  • Matches are timed and have special timers like hit and move timers to make everyone play.
  • Fun to play.
  • The score is your currency.

Cons:

  • Difficult to advance in the championship.
  • Very easy to have an undrivable car but also the opponents meaning games can drag on.
  • Score in the championship is only saved when you pass an event.
  • No online interactions like leaderboards or online play.
  • Only one control layout.
  • Annoying demo video plays after only a few moments of being in the menus.
  • Music is plain and not that great.
  • Handling can be tough.

  • 8/10
    Graphics - 8/10
  • 6/10
    Sound - 6/10
  • 7/10
    Accessibility - 7/10
  • 6/10
    Length - 6/10
  • 7/10
    Fun Factor - 7/10
6.8/10

Summary

Cool idea, destruction derby but with cardboard cut out cars, the design of it all is very striking what with cars crumpling up, wheels flying around, and the general madness of it all. I loved playing around in the single event section more than the championship as that mode has a high tier admission that makes it not so fun. You can play the mode and get a lot of eliminations and do crazy shit but if you wreck or run out of time then it’s all for nothing, it’s really demotivating and not fun to experience. Grab the game and play around in local multiplayer for the most fun but with a bit more time this could have been a much better offering.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!