REVIEW | Speed Crew

“Non-stop adrenaline pit-stop action, will your team come out on top?”

I was genuinely intrigued when Speed Crew landed on my lap to play; it instantly reminded me of Overcooked and Moving Out, both great games in their own right. In Speed Crew, you step into the role of a pit crew, tasked with repairing any cars that make pit stops at your garage. This ranges from simple tasks like hammering out a dent to fully changing and repairing a car engine! As the clock ticks away, the faster you can complete repairs and release the car back into action, the more points you’ll earn.

You’re in constant competition with rival pit stop crews—most points win each race, and those points also contribute to a leaderboard across four separate championships spanning different decades. Speed Crew caters to both single-player and up to four-player co-op modes, with local and online support. Throughout most of my review, I played in single-player mode.

Things I liked!

• Gameplay | When I first started playing Speed Crew, the early levels proved invaluable for familiarising myself with the game mechanics. Gradually, these levels taught me how to use each tool at my disposal. As I progressed through the game, new and more efficient tools became available during each championship. However, it’s important to note that speed isn’t always the sole consideration. Some of these faster tools rely on batteries, which means they need to be charged. These small details contribute to the overall mayhem of the game. Imagine this scenario: You’re charging an electric wrench, and while waiting, you can quickly perform another simple task. Once the wrench is fully charged, you can return to it. But here’s the catch: you’ll occasionally forget where you dropped other tools. The game constantly throws different tasks at you, aiming to slow you down. For instance: Escaped criminals sabotage the cars you need to repair, cars catch fire during pit stops, meteors crash from the sky, igniting fires in various locations within the level. Sometimes, you’ll need to extinguish these fires to access necessary equipment. Additionally, certain levels feature scenarios such as water crossings, which require constant back-and-forth movement. If you mistime it, you’ll end up in the water, wasting valuable time. As I progressed through each level, I found satisfaction in revisiting earlier ones and achieving better completion times. In each race, five teams compete against each other. To advance to the next race, you must finish in the top three. Repairing cars while racing, you can observe the progress of the other four teams on the leaderboards. Each championship comprises ten normal races and two sponsored races, which unlock based on specific achievements—such as coming first in every race. Altogether, there are 48 levels to conquer spanning across four decades!

• Graphics | I agree that the graphics in Speed Crew are well-suited for its style of gameplay. They strike a balance between simplicity and effective presentation, ensuring that the game runs smoothly. During my playthrough, I never experienced any on-screen slowdowns, nor did I encounter any graphical bugs or glitches. Speed Crew features stylized 3D graphics with a delightful retro touch. The inclusion of animated and voiced story cinematics adds an extra layer of immersion to the overall experience.
  
  
• Replayability | Speed Crew offers an abundance of content across its 48 levels. The thrill of beating your previous times and claiming first place on every level will keep you engaged for hours. But that’s not all—co-op play adds another layer of excitement. Whether you prefer couch co-op or online co-op, there’s plenty to keep you hooked. Now, let’s dive into the intriguing Sabotage mode. Gather two or more players: one assumes the role of the pit crew, while the other becomes the Saboteur. The Saboteur’s mission? Inflict maximum damage on the cars during pit stops. Both sides earn points, and the player or team with the highest score emerges victorious. With 10 levels available in this mode, spread across the four different championships, prepare for chaotic fun! And the excitement doesn’t end there—Speed Crew has planned future updates and DLCs, promising additional levels and new game modes. So buckle up, because the race is far from over!
  
  
• Sound | Speed Crew indeed pays attention to the finer details in its audio department. Each championship event boasts a custom soundtrack, enhancing the overall immersion and gameplay experience. But let’s dive deeper into the sound effects—they’re where the magic truly happens. Picture this: As you fill a tank with petrol, the sound resonates authentically, transporting you to the pit stop. When banging out a dent in the car’s side, the metallic clang reverberates just like it would in reality and when you wield an electric tool, the hum and buzz mimic the genuine article. These auditory nuances elevate Speed Crew beyond mere gameplay—it becomes a symphony of mechanics. So buckle up, adjust your earphones, and let the sounds of wrenches, engines, and victory propel you forward!
  

Neither good nor bad

• Difficulty | It can certainly be quite challenging at times when playing single-player and trying to finish in first place. Some of the levels will be easier to complete when playing co-op with a friend, but it’s not impossible. Each time that you play or restart a level, the repairs that each car needs will be different. The bigger the repair, the more points you may earn, but sometimes the game will be kind to you, and you can complete lots of smaller repairs and finish with a higher score. There are also a couple of achievements that you will need to play in co-op to complete.

Things I disliked!

• Characters | As you play Speed Crew, you will unlock different characters to play as, along with new accessories. Unfortunately, these are all purely cosmetic and do not alter how the game is played.

• Online | Unfortunately, Speed Crew does not have online matchmaking, so you are unable to find other players online to play co-op with. Instead, you can choose to create an online lobby and give a friend a code so they can join.

How long did I play the review before publishing? 13 hours
How long to beat the story? 8 hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 31/36
How long to achieve 1000G | 15 hours
You’ll love this game if you like these | Moving Out and Overcooked 1 & 2