Make Way PC review | Steam

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There's something about arcade-style racing which makes it approachable for everyone. Even if you haven't played a game before, it tends to be easy to grasp that a car goes forwards and backwards, and turns from side-to-side, with just a few button presses. With effortless simplicity, Make Way is already sitting on the start line, raring to go.

by James Michael Parry

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​@james_parry

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Developer: Ice BEAM Ltd.
Publisher: Secret Mode
Platforms: PC, PS4*, PS5*
Players: 1-4
(*Release date TBC)

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For those who have been playing games for a few years, perhaps as far back as the PlayStation 1 era, might remember a little game series from Codemasters called Micro Machines, based on the 90s toy franchise.

The games saw you take control of tiny toy cars on tracks which covered all sorts of locations, from gardens, playrooms to - particularly memorably - a breakfast table.

While the DNA and chaotic vibe are very much present from those titles, Make Way brings us something new by having you build the track before you play it - making you at least partially responsible for your fate.

There are themes to the different racing locations, which give you a sense of the sorts of track pieces, hazards and other features you're likely to come up against, but at the start of each race, you're offered a selection of track pieces to place before getting going.

True to form, the placing of the track is straightforward to, snapping to the end of the previous section, with an option to rotate if needed. While there's no time limit at first, once the other players have made their choices, you'll only have a few seconds to get yours down - so pay attention!

It's not just track pieces you get to place either. Depending on the mode, you might have the aforementioned hazards to play around with too.

This first phase plays out a little like Ultimate Chicken Horse, a mad dash to make your mark on the course before someone else adds a corkscrew to an already windy section, or throws in a speed boost just as you're putting down a bollard, doubling the jeopardy once you all get on the track.

The final piece of the puzzle comes during the races themselves, as you're given all manner of weapons to cause even more grief for your fellow players. Whether it's more traditional weapons like chain guns, shotguns or mortars, or more surreal powerups like sticky gunge cannons, boosts or electromagnets, there's more than enough to mix things up. 

Of course, if this all feels like a bit much, never fear - multiple modes give the option of different levels of mayhem, depending on your mood.

A straightforward "Race" takes it back to basics, sticking to placing track pieces and then trying to outwit your opponents with skill alone. Contrast this with the aptly named "Chaos" mode, which not only throws in weapons and hazards everywhere, but also removes walls which help keep you on the track.

If you take a step back and look at the bizarre gauntlet you've created, it's a surprise how quickly it grows into a twisting, turning nightmare...

The madness is all fun and games though, as the balance of gameplay, and the fact that you can respawn at each checkpoint, mid-race, keeps the down time to a minimum.

After even just a few track pieces have been placed, if you take a step back and look at the bizarre gauntlet you've created, it's a surprise how quickly it grows into a twisting, turning nightmare.

While this game is an indie title, largely put together by one extremely talented developer, in this case that's no caveat for quality.

Performance is strong, the visuals have a crisp charm, and the music sets the tone perfectly for the borderline insanity to come.

Even though there is a lot going on, the simplicity of the controls and the gameplay as a whole mean you can get up to speed quickly, and gradually get more comfortable with when to race and when to use a weapon, where to place a hazard or when to actually slow down to avoid them.

With crossplay possible and offline and custom options for 1-4 players, there's plenty of replayability here already. Add to that the almost endless combinations of different track pieces - more of which are unlocked as you progress through levels after each race - and you've got a fun, energetic party game for the whole family on your hands.

As we cross the finish line of the year, we look ahead optimistically to a release date announcement for the PS4 and PS5 versions, which are sure to be a huge boost to the player base, given the experience is very much built with a controller in mind.

In the meantime, you may struggle to get a full game online, but it's an experience that's best shared with friends you can shout at anyway.

Make Way is another fantastic example of a simple idea executed well, and then iterated on to cram in more and more ideas, so it feels full to bursting with opportunities for fun and games.

So, gather your friends and start your engines, the checkered flag awaits.

Pros

• Quick to pick up, hard to master
• Endless replayability
• Fun and chaotic in the best way

Cons

• Can be difficult to find a match online
• Some may want more repeatable track options

9/10