Impulse Revolution Demo

Sometimes, a simple idea is all you need to make something great, especially in video games. Simple concepts can be extrapolated after that, as long as the fan base is dedicated and willing to put in a bit of effort as well. On the other hand, not every 2D video game is brilliant, because it’s obviously not very easy to captivate the players.

Impulse Revolution is an interesting twist in the racing genre, given the fact that it looks like something developed a few decades ago for the Amiga. Its greatest strength, on the other hand, is the fact that it is very engaging and easy-to-understand, which makes it a formality for everyone to learn how to play it. In fact, it supports gamepads as well, just to makes things even simpler.

Although it’s actually a dumbed down racing game, the gameplay mechanics are very different in some regards. As such, you have to keep nudging your puck forward in order to move, which requires you to rapidly tap on the designated key/button. Not only that, but you must also rotate the said puck along the way in order to face the correct direction, otherwise you might end up hitting the walls and falling behind in the race.

Just like in every other arcade game, power-ups are an important part of the deal, and most of them involve explosives. These power-ups can be picked up from around the track in random spots, and they provide you with shock blasts, bombs and missiles, all of which are designed to take out the opposition. Obviously, you must watch out for the enemy projectiles as well, otherwise you can be neutralized just as easily.

The disappointing fact about the game is that it doesn’t feature online play, which is surprising in this day and age. On the other hand, you can enjoy a match over the LAN, or even against computer-controlled opponents. The visual quality is quite pleasant, even if there’s not much to see, other than lines and the occasional explosion. The soundtrack is alert and exciting, but it’s not memorable in any way.

In the end, Impulse Revolution is a fun game, especially because you barely have any time to think about anything else. However, the lack of an online component is unacceptable, which is why many people might not find it to be worth the purchase.