Are you sick of the ’80s yet? We’re in a peak cultural flashback. Bad clothes are back, baby, and everyone’s trying to be the kid with the wildest leather jacket. Rad, Double Fine’s post-apocalyptic mutant-basher, is no poser. This kid’s deeply in love with the decade of loud hair and louder guitars. They’ve done their homework, for sure. Thing is, I’m kinda sick of the ’80s. I kinda wish that passion went into making Rad a better game.
Fortunately, these are some good ’80s. Double Fine has poured lavish detail into every synthesised riff. Every sunset in the background is a neon CRT wonder, every bark of the narrator a gruff, biting commentary. Vendors will lavish you in free gear for landing a sick 720. It’s the Goonies meets Bill & Ted in an end-of-the-world adventure. Even for a sourpuss like me, it’s lovely to look at.
It’s the far future. We’ve wrapped up one apocalypse, but another hit us with a cheap shot. With the adults nowhere to be seen and mutants breaking down the walls, it’s up to the off-brand Stranger Things kids to pick up their baseball bats and bash out a better tomorrow. Or die trying, over and over again.
Rad’s taken some notes from Nuclear Throne, my favourite one-of-these. Rather than picking up new tricks and tools from vendors or drops, you’re mutating a new power every time you collect enough rads.
This story is from the November 2019 edition of PC Gamer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2019 edition of PC Gamer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BITING BACK
The tooth is out there in adventure TEETH OF GLASS
SMOKE ALARM
THE INVISIBLE SMOKE FACTORY is back in a Flash
MECH ME OVER
Move over Mario, here's mech-based platforming in ARMORED SHELL NIGHTJAR
"I like Pillars of Eternity better than Baldur's Gate III"
PILLARS OF ETERNITY deserves a bigger space in the CRPG pantheon
"A harrowing dark fantasy about hapless, bright-eyed children"
Spelunking into hell with MADE IN ABYSS: BINARY STAR FALLING INTO DARKNESS
THE IMMORTAL LOCK
A massive, meaty game in a single horrific Quake map.
NEW MANOEUVRES
Building a dedicated sim racing space in an average family house
OVERWATCH 2
Save me space girl.
REET GOOD TIME
THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE HERE is a riotous recreation of Yorkshire
THE PLUCKY SQUIRE
How many games let you make friends with a MtG card?