In an era where video games are constantly pushing new boundaries and merging genres, Overpass 2 seeks to carve out a niche within the racing game genre. Combining off-road racing and team management, the game promises a unique gaming experience. We’ve taken an in-depth look at both the PS5 and PC versions to see if Overpass 2 can deliver on that promise.
We were kindly welcomed the master provided, but which does not affect our honest opinion.
Gameplay and mechanics
Overpass 2 presents itself as an off-road experience, but it suffers from several control and gameplay issues. Instead of providing adrenaline and excitement from racing games, players are often frustrated by sluggish controls and unclear paths. The game requires players to not only accelerate and maneuver from point A to point B, but also find the best route through difficult terrain. This could be an interesting challenge if the controls were more responsive and intuitive.
Carrier mode
Overpass 2’s career mode attempts to combine the racing game genre with elements of a management simulator. Here the player is tasked with managing a racing team, attracting sponsors, hiring staff and building vehicles. While this combination may be attractive to some players, it can be a distraction for pure racing game fans. The mode often feels half-baked and could benefit from a clearer separation between racing and handling.
Graphics and presentation
Graphically, “Overpass 2” delivers average performance. The environments, especially the off-road tracks, are detailed but often monotonous. Character animations and vehicle models can be improved to meet the standards of current games. It’s clear that the game doesn’t have the budget of a AAA title, but some graphical improvements could significantly improve the overall experience. In our tests on a PC with an RTX 4070 TI, graphical details and textures were sharp and lighting was impressive. Surprisingly, the PS5 version of the game even looks slightly more consistent than the PC version, indicating better optimization for the console. However, despite this high-end hardware, there were still some graphical inconsistencies and issues that marred the gaming experience. This shows that the problem is less with the hardware and more with the optimization and development of the game.
Sound and Audio
Overpass 2’s soundtrack and audio effects are serviceable, but could benefit from more variety and depth. The engine sounds of the vehicles are authentic and help to enhance the feeling of off-road racing. However, ambient sounds lack variety, causing many routes and scenarios to feel acoustically similar. The music in the background is decent, but gets repetitive after a while. Another point of criticism is the voice acting in career mode, which sometimes feels monotonous and doesn’t always do justice to the game’s atmosphere. Overall, Overpass 2’s audio provides a solid, if not outstanding, experience. It would be desirable if future updates or sequels bring improvements in this area.
Our conclusion
Overpass 2 is an ambitious project that tries to combine two different game genres. While the concept is admirable, the game lacks the necessary polish and execution to successfully integrate both elements. There are moments where the game is fun, but these are often overshadowed by frustrating control issues and a half-baked management system. There are better options in the market for those looking for a pure off-road racing experience. However, for those willing to embark on a unique, if flawed, experience, Overpass 2 may be worth a look. And the currently advertised price (PC approx. €40 and PS5 approx. €50) is also completely acceptable for what’s on offer.
Our “Overpass 2” Test Method:
| material | description |
|---|---|
| Housing | Be quiet! Pure base 500FX schwarz |
| processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 8x 4.2GHz, 96MB L3-Cache |
| Mainboard | Gigabyte B650 Gaming X AX |
| graphic card | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB GB Gaming OC |
| Random access memory | 32GB DDR5-5600 Corsair Vengeance RGB |
| disc | SSD (M.2 / PCIE) 1TB Western Digital Black SN770 |
