Carmageddon: Max Damage - Online (PS4)

This afternoon I was finally able to join two multiplayer lobbies in "Carmageddon: Max Damage". Both experiences were completely lag free, and were quite fun for what they were. In the first lobby I played a mode called "Fox 'N Hound" in which two cars played the roles of the hounds while a single tagged, and highlighted player played the role of the fox. I think the point was to stay the fox long enough to deplete your 3 minute timer completely while dodging the other two players' vehicles. Sort of like a children's game of "Cat & Mouse". In the second lobby I entered I got into a "Death Race" against a single player, and found it to be contrary to what other journalists have said. That said thing being claims that the game lacked proper racing controls. While I did crash on the course several times I was able to keep up a good speed in Max Damage's sports car. Sadly I came in 2nd place at the end of it due to the odd roller coaster style layout of the course, and my unfamiliarity thereof. The game actually looked slightly nicer online than it did offline with all the people, and animals littering the pathway in their simple forms. In fact it kind of looked like a proper racing game to a point. That of course brings me to my final point of this article though. When it comes to online play you will not find pedestrians, or beasts of burden roaming about the tracks. No blood, guts, and gore for you while playing online. It would have been nice if that was a part of it, but it's just not the case. Sorry.

Regardless of the lack of bloodletting in the multiplayer I think the online portion of 'Carmageddon: Max Damage" is a decent deal. It has excellent netcode, and plays out smoothly if you can actually find a lobby to join. I was still getting the occasional network error message when trying to join one of the hosted lobbies, but getting into two out of the available four was not bad at all. The fact that people are still actually playing online should be considered a plus. Anyways, that's what I think about. If you're on the fence about paying retail for 'Carmageddon: Max Damage' just think of it as a fun time waster, and party game. It's nothing really serious, and the driving point still seems to be the lingering controversy surrounding it. If that's not your cup of tea then don't buy it.