id Software gave birth to the modern era of gaming. While that statement is trite, it cannot be argued that, without Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Quake, the world in which we game would be a very different place.
Rage is their first title since 2003's Doom 3, a game that received mixed reviews due to it's less than perfect engine and lack of originality, and while id have tried to combat this by shifting genre and tone, in scrapping their usual space marines Vs. aliens/demons schtick, they have settled for another sub genre that's been worn into the ground recently- the post apocalyptic FPS.
This is Rage's biggest problem, from the moment you step into it's destroyed world and receive your first of many fetch quests, it feels too familiar. The desolate wasteland recalls Fallout 3 (and it's lesser sequel, New Vegas), while the grim humour is pure Borderlands. The aesthetic feels unique at times (thanks to the power of id Tech 5), but there's no shaking the feeling that we have been here before.
The story is also unforgivably derivative, with your silent protagonist escaping his vault- sorry, 'ark', and getting caught up in the politics and warring factions of post apocalyptic America, helping folks out along the way in a series of cookie cutter missions that mostly involve killing things or collecting other things. There isn't much else to do in the wasteland, despite what the loading screens say, some scattered mini games, races and Mutant Bash TV are worthwhile distractions but the urge to plod on with the story sometimes becomes too great.
Despite it's obvious faults, Rage still manages to set itself apart from it's peers thanks to some astonishing visual design and id Software's trademark visceral shooter style.
John Carmack's MO is creating engines that challenge the visual boundaries of contemporary tech and the fifth iteration of id's engine is undoubtedly impressive. It's no mean feat to make the apocalypse look so fresh and opulent, but Rage's post-Armageddon landscape is always eye catching, sometimes breathtaking.
This visual flair extends to the characters as well, the NPCs possess real charm, both in the way they interact with the protagonist and their appearance, somewhere between steampunk and Star Wars.
Enemies are suitably grotesque and come in various shapes and sizes and the brilliant character animation makes every encounter a frightening prospect. Ferocious bandits bound towards you with uncanny intensity, mutants crawl across walls and swing at you from ceiling fixtures and gigantic monsters try to swat you like a fly, the combat in Rage is fast paced and incredibly satisfying. Luckily, we have the usual array of weaponry in which to dispatch the wasteland denizens. At first it seems like a bland mix, with all the basic weapon types represented, there's little that we haven't seen in countless other shooters. Where Rage's armory differs is in the satisfaction of the kill, this is an id game and the guns are one of the most important things in any id recipe, and while there is nothing spectacular about any of these weapons, using them feels great. Different ammo types spice things up a bit and additional weapons like the wingstick (think razor sharp boomerang from Mad Max II) and RC bomb car make for some varied fights.
Overall, Rage is not a triumphant return for gaming's most influential developer, nor is it a disapointment. Carmack and Co. have created a beautiful game with satisfying shooter mechanics, but unfortunately it's core style has been done many times before, making Rage feel like too little, too late.
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