Review: Overpass (PlayStation 4)

by Jim Smale · March 9, 2020

Take control of big-name buggies and quads to negotiate scree slopes, steep inclines and various obstacles on extreme off-road and technically challenging tracks. Find the best route, and manage your acceleration, differentials, and drivetrain to dominate in local or online competitions.

Pros:

Nice graphics.
15.96gb download size.
Opening tutorial events where you learn the two-vehicle types, selecting diff and dealing with all types of terrain.
Platinum trophy.
Terrain traversal racing gameplay.
Four modes-Career, Quick race, Custom challenge and multiplayer.
Career has four leagues-Amateur/Pro/Elite/Hardcore.
Respawn vehicle button.
Can change diff on the go-AWD/4WD/2WD.
Learn all about how you can navigate the terrain.
Career is a sprawling Web style map that unlocks new events as you play them.
Career is all about climbing the leaderboard based on your performance.
Earn rep, level up and unlock new customizable items.
Full damage model-can see on screen the damage indicators and pay for repairs between races if it hits 25% left then you run the risk of the vehicle being sidelined for races.
Quick race-six venues, six tracks, 12 UTV and seven ATV vehicles and you can choose to set up events or a sandbox.
Sandbox-do what you want.
Custom challenges are a powerful creator/editor to make your own events.
Multiplayer-Online/hot seat/split-screen.
Online-create or quick join but does also have an invite friend option.
Four weather types-Overcast, Sunny, Sunset and night time.
Two race types-hill climb and obstacles.
Race against the clock in every event.
Nice looking locations.

Cons:

Can’t change controls or layout.
Many loading screens.
Lots of loading.
No online leaderboards.
Music doesn’t really fit with a more rock-pop ensemble.
Very basic online.
Events take a long time thanks to multi-lap and track length.
Way to easy to fail/miss obstacles, you only need to hit it on a wrong angle and you get an instant heavy penalty.
Controls are not as tight as you would hope.
Just a whole load of time trials.
Unlocks/rewards are not appealing.
Constant screen tearing and frame drops.
Really easy to topple the vehicle over.

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
5/10

Sound - 5/10
6/10

Accessibility - 6/10
6/10

Length - 6/10
6/10

Fun Factor - 6/10

6/10

Summary

Overpass, at first sight, had me thinking it was a new Fuel style game. Wrong on so many levels! Overpass is a game all about tackling tough terrain against the clock. You have two vehicle types and take on the many races and obstacle courses the game has. An opening tutorial event is a good way to learn the ropes and find out what’s what, get into the actual core game however and I found all the events took way to long, like why have long tracks and 3 laps? It didn’t need it and made the game less about tackling terrain and more about how to skank your way over the obstacles. I grew tired of how easy it was to roll the vehicle, how samey the courses felt and overall I could have been done with it all after the tutorial. Yes, you can level up your reputation and get new ways to customize your rider and vehicle but it’s nothing groundbreaking or even appealing. Overpass will serve a very niche community of gamers I’m sure but for the main population, it’s not a game you will give much thought too.