I remember back in the day playing MX vs ATV on my Xbox 360 and thought I would see if there was another off-road racing gaming on the market. I know that MX vs ATV Legends came out on June 28th, 2022 but I didn’t pick it up due to playing other games at the time so when I stumbled across the trailer for Overpass 2, I thought that this could be my way back into the off-road racing scene. Upon seeing the trailer, the gameplay and graphics looked amazing. I managed to get a hold of a PC copy of the game and couldn’t wait to start my engines and see what was in store in Overpass 2.
The only simulation that blends racing and obstacles is back with new content and game modes. You’ll be able to put your skills to the test in 5 game modes in which you have to come to grips with demanding challenges. These modes are an off-road sprint, off-road circuit, hill climb, obstacle course, and closed circuit. Can you analyze the course, pick out the best routes, and master the handling of powerful buggies and quads from well-known manufacturers like Yamaha and Suzuki?
Overpass 2 has you travel across 30 different routes in 5 regions, each with its challenges and courses. Race in the Baja Desert, East Central US, Johnson Valley, Utah Desert, and Western Europe. Rocks, tree trunks, and thick mud are a few of the obstacles that will pose a challenge to you while you race.
There are a few different modes available in Overpass 2, these being Career, Quick-play, and Multiplayer. There is an academy section too but this is purely for tutorial purposes. The career is enjoyable, you get to manage a team, sponsors, and budget all while taking part in the array of calendar events that will bring in new opportunities and money so that you can upgrade your vehicles, hire new staff, and do research. As you progress through your career, you’ll be able to get new features by using the skill tree, hiring new staff, and upgrading/buying vehicles that you will use.
The quick-play is a nice drop-in and out mode that lets you play any of the 5 race types. This is where I found most of my time trying to get used to the driving mechanics but I still have difficulties when it comes to driving in Overpass 2. Then we have the multiplayer which is pretty self-explanatory. You get to play with others online or locally.
There is a level of vehicle and driver customization but it is pretty average in what we already get in this genre. I do like the fact that you have to switch between the different power distributions when it comes to the wheels. Being able to get your head around this mechanic will make your life a little bit easier when it comes to racing and trying to get the fastest laps. For example, the 4WD option even distributes the power to your wheels which makes it better for going over the little terrain and obstacles.
You can switch between these with ease but knowing which one to use is a challenge and one I’m still trying to wrap my head around now.
I love the ATV, Rock Bouncers, and UTV. The hardest ones to drive are the ATVs if you tap a pebble your driver will get flung off and you will get a time penalty. The game when it comes to driving and handling me is frustrating and at times makes the game feel unplayable. The slightest change in direction or change in terrain makes the driving feel chaotic and uncontrollable. I know you can’t go 100s of miles an hour on these types of terrain but I would still like to feel like I could bet a snail to the finish line.
It feels like it is going for realism when it comes to the way the vehicles interact with the obstacles but there is nothing more frustrating than having to keep restarting events or getting penalties because you accidentally hit a cone or you drive into the on-lookers.
The damage on your vehicle needs to be managed and taken into consideration because there isn’t anything worse than trying to complete a circuit while the wheels or frame of the vehicle are damaged and you don’t get any control at all. It’s bad when your car is fully repaired so you can only imagine how bad it is when the vehicles are damaged.
Overpass 2’s main focus seems to be the career mode which is understandable and has some fun features like managing a team but it doesn’t blow me out of the park when you compare it to other games in the same genre that do solid career modes and have other good selling points.
Graphically, Overpass 2 is good and runs amazingly on my PC, the four different environment types (desert, forest mountain, and circuits) add to the overall experience. The vehicles look stunning and there is some avatar customization that is nice but doesn’t go too in-depth. The voice acting is a bit on the bland side but the car engines and environments make up for it on the audio front.
There is some replay value with Overpass 2. You have the option for quick play, the career mode, and online multiplayer that puts you against up to 8 players. Combine this with the different game modes, then there is enough going on to pass the time while playing Overpass 2. With the wide array of vehicles at your disposal you will always be trying to get the fast laps on the circuits, trying to become number one in career mode, or conquer others online. Not only this but there is also the nice addition of a split screen if you want to challenge a friend or family member in a good old-fashioned local play.
Closing Statement
Overall, for me, Overpass 2 wasn’t the game I was expecting. It is a tough racer to get to grips with as the punishing terrain and fragile handling had me getting frustrated and annoyed because it felt unnecessarily hard. I understand that driving on rough terrain would be a challenge but comparing it to other off-roading games I have played in the past this one just was too much. The slightest knock to the smallest rock will punish you and don’t get me started on the handling.
After a while you do get the hang of it and Overpass 2 does feel reasonable but then you’ll tap a pebble and that enjoyment is lost. The career modes don’t do anything majorly different from what we see in this genre but I can get on board with the different events and the calendar system. I loved the different environments and graphically Overpass 2 is pleasing.
If you are willing to master these games’ frustrating driving then there probably is a decent racer hidden away but for me personally, I just can’t find the knack to driving in Overpass 2, and seeing as it is a racer it makes it hard for me to score it high, for those reasons. I’m giving Overpass 2 a 7 out of 10.
Overpass 2 Trailer
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