Destruction AllStars, Review (PS5)

Guest writer and resident online multiplayer aficionado, Nina. Has taken Destruction AllStars for a spin.

When I first saw the trailer for Lucid Games’ Destruction Allstars, I really didn’t think very much of it. Plenty of hype and flair, but I was concerned if there was a solid hook. After putting ten or so hours into the game, I can say that I was pleasantly surprised. That said, caveats exist. While I don’t think it will be the next big multiplayer hotness, or be a Rocket League-esque rag to riches story, its production value and polish did impress me.

Visually, this game is stunning. The graphics are most certainly next-gen, and the game’s characters (the AllStars) ooze personality. It’s stylish, it’s fun, and the love and care the devs put into it shines through. The arena vehicle combat genre, has been at the core of Lucid Games titles for a few years now. So its nice to see them get some bug Sony money to work with.

Its the Lore of the jungle that adds spice

I was encouraged by the large amounts of day 1 content. Alongside the core vehicle combat multiplayer mode, there is a PvE arcade mode, a practice arena for you to hone your vehicle smashing skills, and
challenges complete with a basic story. It even has cut-scenes that flesh out a few of the Allstars’
characters. Lore, especially in “Hero” type games, is something that I love personally. So this in particular is a big plus in my book.

Unfortunately, the place that Destruction Allstars falters is the gameplay. Not ideal in a multiplayer focused game. In a nutshell, you drive around an arena smashing into other players, using the odd ability to gain an advantage, and the player who smashed the most stuff wins. For the first few hours, this loop is fun. However, from the ten-hour mark on-wards, it felt stale.

An inch deep and a few feet wide

There isn’t a whole lot of depth to Allstars. Depth and skill development is something that all multiplayer games need to have any longevity. Lucid Games have tried to create depth by giving each of the playable AllStars unique abilities and vehicles. On the surface, they appear powerful and fun. But after playing them all, I found that their abilities have little impact on the actual gameplay loop.

Destruction Allstars is an enjoyable, well-made game. But if it has any hope of surviving for more than a few months Lucid Games and Sony need to keep nurturing and updating it. The team behind Destruction AllStars is clearly passionate about this genre of game, so maybe there is hope for its future.

Only time will tell. Its true saving grace is that it is free this month on PS Plus, so why not give it a go.