RAGE 2

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of RAGE 2 are quite mixed. Some critics, such as Daily Star and Gamers Heroes, find the narrative to be light but interesting, with explosive combat and a well-structured open world. The focus on spectacle and the entertaining nature of the story seem to resonate with these reviewers. Additionally, the world-building and post-apocalyptic society are praised by Slant Magazine, indicating that there are some positive aspects to the story. However, the majority of critics express negative sentiments towards the story of RAGE 2. Many reviewers, including Game Rant, GameSpace, Post Arcade, Push Square, and Game Informer, criticize the story for being generic, lacking interesting characters, and having little to no character development. The blandness and lack of standout moments are also mentioned by Game Over Online. The poor writing, banal plot, and tonal inconsistency are highlighted by The Escapist, Cheat Code Central, and GameSpew, respectively. These criticisms suggest that the story fails to engage and immerse players due to its lack of depth and originality. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of RAGE 2 is a weak aspect of the game. While some reviewers appreciate the light and entertaining nature of the narrative, the majority find it to be generic, forgettable, and lacking in interesting characters or twists. The narrative is often described as shallow, poorly written, and interrupting the fun of the game. The lack of character development and standout moments further contribute to the negative reception of the story. Despite the mixed opinions, it is evident that the story of RAGE 2 is not considered a strong suit of the game by the majority of critics.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of RAGE 2 are overwhelmingly positive. The majority of the critics praised the gunplay and combat mechanics, with many describing it as unmatched and top-notch. Daily Star commends the gunplay as unmatched by any other open-world FPS, while Game Rant describes the first-person combat as fast-paced and enjoyable. GameGrin adds that the combat feels unencumbered and exciting, with plenty of approaches to every problem. The shooting mechanics are also highly praised by critics like God is a Geek, Trusted Reviews, and Washington Post, who highlight the variety of weapons and abilities available. The combat is often described as satisfying, with enjoyable abilities and weapons, as mentioned by GameSpew and Cheat Code Central. The constant motion and fluid controls are also highlighted by The Escapist and The Sydney Morning Herald, respectively. However, there are some negative aspects mentioned by a few critics. Some critics, such as Impulsegamer and Softpedia, criticize the game for lacking depth and purpose in the open world, with Softpedia mentioning the inclusion of grinding and moving about without real purpose. Slant Magazine points out the lack of variation and spatial waste in the gameplay loop, which involves driving to specific places, killing everything, looting, and moving on. Cheat Code Central also mentions that the open world aspect makes everything feel like a waste of time, with scarce car combat and empty spaces. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of RAGE 2 is highly enjoyable and satisfying. The positive aspects of the gameplay, such as the unmatched gunplay, variety of weapons and abilities, and satisfying combat, are repeatedly highlighted. The negative aspects, such as the lack of depth and purpose in the open world, are mentioned by a few critics but do not overshadow the overall positive sentiment. The gameplay is often described as fun, hyperactive, and fast-paced, with critics comparing it to the Doom reboot and praising its fluid controls and constant motion. The majority of the critics thought that the gameplay of RAGE 2 was very good, making it a strong selling point of the game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of RAGE 2 are quite varied. Several critics, such as Daily Star and GameSpace, praise the game's visuals, describing them as vibrant, colorful, and well-created. They appreciate the attention to detail and the beautiful landscapes, with lush vegetation and striking visual motifs. Trusted Reviews also commends the visual designs and praises the game's aesthetic. These positive opinions highlight the game's ability to create a visually appealing and immersive world. However, there are also critics who express negative views about the game's Graphics and Visual Design. Game Rant, Push Square, and Game Informer criticize the lackluster graphics and uninspired open world. They mention that the environments blend together, lack detail, and feel dull or lifeless. The Sydney Morning Herald and Hooked Gamers also note that while specific landmarks are enjoyable, the open world between them feels empty and uninteresting. These negative opinions suggest that the game's visual design may not consistently deliver a captivating experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of RAGE 2 is mixed. While some critics appreciate the game's vibrant visuals, attention to detail, and diverse environments, others criticize the lackluster graphics, uninspired open world, and empty spaces. The opinions of critics like CGMagazine and Cheat Code Central highlight issues with textures and inconsistent aesthetic choices. Despite the positive aspects mentioned by some critics, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment and a feeling that the game's visual design falls short of its potential.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of RAGE 2 are quite varied. GameGrin commends the voice cast for their excellent job, mentioning the perfect balance between drama and over-the-top ludicrousness. The addition of unlockable voiceovers from Danny Dyer and Ozzy Man is also praised as great touches. The Sydney Morning Herald highlights the oppressive soundtrack and impactful gunplay, drawing comparisons to id's 2016 Doom reboot. These positive opinions indicate that RAGE 2 has successfully created an immersive and engaging audio experience. However, not all critics share the same positive sentiment. CGMagazine criticizes the sound design, particularly while driving, where there is a lack of audio apart from loud engine sounds. They also mention bugs with character voice lines not playing at times. This negative opinion suggests that RAGE 2 falls short in terms of providing a consistent and polished sound experience. Softpedia's opinion further supports this notion, stating that the sound design neither enhances nor detracts from the gameplay. This lukewarm response indicates a missed opportunity to fully utilize sound as a tool for immersion and gameplay enhancement. Overall, the consensus among the critics is somewhat divided. While some critics, like GameGrin and The Sydney Morning Herald, appreciate the sound design and music in RAGE 2, others, such as CGMagazine and Softpedia, express disappointment or indifference. The positive aspects highlighted by GameGrin and The Sydney Morning Herald, such as the excellent voice cast and impactful gunplay, suggest that RAGE 2 has successfully created a compelling audio experience in certain aspects. However, the negative opinions from CGMagazine and Softpedia regarding the lack of audio diversity and bugs indicate room for improvement in the overall sound design and music implementation.

The voice acting in RAGE 2 has received mixed reviews from critics. GameGrin praises the voice cast, stating that they did an excellent job with just the right mix of drama and over-the-top ludicrousness. This positive feedback suggests that the voice actors were able to bring a sense of entertainment and excitement to the game through their performances. Additionally, Game Over Online mentions that the voice work is solid, further supporting the notion that the voice acting in RAGE 2 has its strengths. However, not all critics were impressed with the voice acting in the game. God is a Geek describes the vocal talent as over-the-top and b-movie caliber, implying that the performances may have lacked depth or believability. Wccftech criticizes the game's dialogue as cringy and poorly written, which suggests that the voice acting may have been hindered by subpar writing. Game Informer specifically mentions that the voice acting fails to deliver enthusiasm, indicating a lack of emotional depth in the performances. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the voice acting in RAGE 2 is mixed. While some reviewers, such as GameGrin and Game Over Online, appreciate the solid performances and the mix of drama and over-the-top elements, others, like God is a Geek and Game Informer, have more negative opinions. The criticism of dull and undeveloped characters from Push Square further highlights the mixed reception. It seems that the voice acting in RAGE 2 may have had its moments of success, but also faced challenges in terms of delivering compelling performances and engaging dialogue.

In terms of the technical performance on PS4, the opinions of the critics are somewhat mixed. Daily Star mentions performance issues on the PS4 Pro, including laggy menus, lost HUD, and NPCs that cannot be interacted with. However, Game Rant states that the game runs smoothly on PS4 with very little technical issues or glitches. GameSpace also notes that the performance on PS4 is great, with no issues in terms of framerate, but does mention lag in the menu system. Gamers Heroes, on the other hand, describes the game on PS4 as near flawless with no crashes, frame drops, or technical issues. Overall, while there are some concerns raised by Daily Star, the general consensus seems to be that the technical performance on PS4 is relatively positive, with only minor issues reported. Moving on to the PC platform, the opinions of the critics regarding the technical performance of RAGE 2 are more varied. CGMagazine mentions bugs such as flickering lights, textures, and instances of falling through the floor, but does not mention any game-breaking bugs. GameWatcher reports bugs and technical issues, including random crashes, disappearing dialogue, and NPCs duplicating or disappearing, but also mentions the possibility of these issues being fixed in a day one patch. Guardian highlights rough patches in the game, such as lines of dialogue not playing and quests failing to activate, but notes that bugs have been promised to be addressed with a patch. MMORPG.com mentions that the game runs well on PC but does note some buggy physics. Overall, there seem to be more concerns raised by the critics regarding the technical performance on PC, with various bugs and issues being mentioned. For the Xbox One platform, the opinions of the critics regarding the technical performance of RAGE 2 are relatively brief. Cheat Code Central mentions that the game performs well on Xbox One X, but highlights bizarre lag when swapping tabs in the menus and mentions some visual flair in menus and skill trees feeling half-baked. GameSpew simply states that the game has occasional bugginess. Stevivor mentions bugs and technical issues in the game, such as audio drop off, jarring transitions, NPCs getting stuck, and cutscenes being janky. While there are not as many detailed opinions provided for the Xbox One platform, it is clear that there are some concerns raised by the critics regarding the technical performance. Overall, the consensus among the critics regarding the technical performance of RAGE 2 is somewhat mixed. While there are positive remarks about the game running smoothly on certain platforms, such as PS4 and Xbox One X, there are also reports of bugs, glitches, and technical issues across all platforms. It is worth noting that some critics mention the possibility of these issues being addressed in future patches or day one updates. Therefore, it seems that while there are some technical concerns, the overall sentiment leans towards a relatively positive experience with the game's technical performance.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of RAGE 2 are quite varied. Some critics, like Game Rant and The Sydney Morning Herald, believe that the game has potential for replay value through future updates and ongoing new content. They highlight the crafting system and promise of additional content as positive aspects that could enhance the replayability of the game. Additionally, Wccftech praises the game for offering plenty of replayable side content, which could provide players with a low-stress, high-satisfaction experience. This suggests that there are elements within the game that can keep players engaged and entertained even after completing the main campaign. However, there are several critics who express concerns about the replay value of RAGE 2. Gamers Heroes and God is a Geek mention that while the main campaign and side content offer a decent amount of gameplay hours, the open world and repetitive missions may limit the game's replayability. Impulsegamer goes further to state that the side quests are not enjoyable and do not contribute to the overall enjoyment of completing the game, which may deter veteran gamers seeking an ongoing adventure. CGMagazine also points out that the game can be completed in a relatively short time, around 12 hours, without major changes or post-game content. The lack of multiplayer is also mentioned as a factor that makes the game feel dated. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that while RAGE 2 may offer some replay value through side content, upgrades, and skill trees, it falls short in terms of variety and ongoing engagement. The game's open world formula and repetitive missions can make the experience feel samey and bland, as mentioned by Game Informer. TrueAchievements notes the lack of variety and actual missions, leaving players with little to do after finishing the short campaign. However, ZTGD stands out as a positive voice, indicating a high replay value by mentioning their personal experience of going back and completing areas even after finishing the game. Ultimately, it seems that RAGE 2 may not fully satisfy players seeking a deeply replayable experience, but it does offer some elements that can extend the gameplay enjoyment beyond the main campaign.