MSRP $19.99After a flurry of boosts, we’re careening down a dip in Cameron Hills, a raceway perilously suspended in the stratosphere. We’re propelled into a semi-enclosed underpass lined with three boost pads: orange, blue, orange. With no time to think, our ship fizzles, losing speed as we cross the orange pad. Before we even reach the second pad, six ships whizz past me.The constant threat of going from the podium ceremony to the back of the pack in a split-second harks back to nerve-wrecking sessions of the Nintendo sci-fi racing series, F-Zero. While it shakes things up just enough to attain an identity of its own, it’s hard to avoid seeing that storied series in Fast RMX’s perpetual adrenaline rush and zany track design.That isn’t the only reason it might seem familiar: Fast RMX is actually an enhanced version of Fast Racing Neo, a 2015 Wii U eShop game. RMX features 14 new tracks, bringing the total to 30, and new versions of its original tracks. Yet Fast RMX feels more like the third leg of developer Shin’en Multimedia’s homage to high-octane sci-fi arcade racers, than a remix of old content.Like F-Zero, Fast RMX excels as a futuristic anti-gravity racer that stresses quick reflexes, speed, and forethought of your surroundings.
Fast RMX resonates the most when you are, well, going fast. Thankfully, the game boasts 60 FPS in both console and handheld mode, and even at expert speed, there are no noticeable framerate drops. FAST RMX includes all the tracks from Fast Racing Neo including its downloadable content, and adds six new courses for a total of 30 whopping courses. These 30 tracks are some of the most impressive unique and varied tracks I’ve ever raced on.
Fast RMX’s screaming pace requires your unblinking attention, and it earns every moment that it holds you. Up the speed, up the funAll great arcade racers, particularly those in the F-Zero and Wipeout vein, hinge on amplified, unceasing speed. Fast RMX is no slouch in this department. Even when keeping a nominal pace, your ship barrels forward at dizzying speeds. Precise, slick controls keep the pace from becoming unruly. Fast RMX resonates the most when you are, well, going fast. Thankfully, the game boasts 60 FPS in both console and handheld mode, and even at expert speed, there are no noticeable framerate drops.Adding a layer of complexity, elongated blue and orange boost pads are scattered all throughout each course, adding an Ikaruga-style color matching component.
Your ship has to match the color of the pad to kick you into overdrive. If you clash orange with blue, the boost pad will have the reverse effect, taking the wind out of you instead. Fast RMX’s screaming pace requires your unblinking attentionThe orange and blue dichotomy also extends to the orbs that fill your boost meter. The orbs switch colors, filling your tank when you nab one that aligns with your ship’s color. As the speed heightens, knowing when to manually give your ship an extra push in the claustrophobic tracks is paramount.The mechanic, which has been featured in everything from platformers to shoot-em-ups, feels at home on the racetrack.
The constant switching, while searching for pads and power-ups, makes the game feel like a more active experience. Plus, it’s rather fitting that the most defining mechanic of the Switch’s first racing game literally involves a seamless “switch” of ship phases.
Amusement park thrillsStringing together that perfect boost chain is rewarding in itself, but the gameplay is generously complemented by a wide array of levels, each of which feels markedly different than the last. The eclectic library makes each of these courses a new experience — Parts of the track are in perpetual motion, and there are numerous obstacles to avoid, from boulders, to death rays, to bizarre four-legged mechs.Many courses are fragmented, requiring you to glide across open air, and align yourself with the next section for a safe landing. Occasionally, color-specific gaps and barriers stand in your way, and if your ship doesn’t match you’ll crash. If that isn’t enough speed and tension, many tracks feature some risky shortcut, which require a perfectly timed boost and a leap of faith off the track.Every track features mercilessly sharp turns and elevation changes, but even tracks that don’t have, say, breath-defying jumps, separate themselves by setting. From shiny, futuristic skylines to forests to desert terrains to snowy mountains, Fast RMX takes you across the world and beyond.
There’s also shifting weather conditions such as rain and dust to account for, and intermittent threats of falling off the road to always be conscious of. Mostly a one trick ponyWhile blinding riveting speed and excellent levels feel great, they cannot hide the fact Fast RMX doesn’t have the robust feature-set to keep the magic alive for long. Each of the 30 tracks feels wholly unique.The main mode, Championship, contains 10 cups with three tracks a piece.
As you notch victories at novice difficulty, advanced and expert formats unlock, as well as new ships — 15 in all. Once you get the hang of the speed, you can try Hero Mode, an expert test of endurance that ends your run if you hit too many walls.While these modes are satisfying, it’s strange to see an arcade racer in 2017 without a quick race option. When flying solo, you only have the option to compete in cups or die a thousand deaths in Hero mode. This means that if your favorite track is the last leg of a cup, you’ll have to play the other two courses first.
There’s no other way around it. Alone on the trackSimilarly, Fast RMX ’s multiplayer varies wildly depending on which of the Switch’s many controllers you decide to use. While you and a friend can compete using the console’s individual Joy-Cons turned on its side, doing so restricts both players to six buttons and one analog stick, causing inadvertent inputs that are hard to overcome in a game that stresses precision.This isn’t a problem if you have extra Joy-Cons or a pro controller, in which case you can play with multiple full-sized controllers. Better yet, with two Switches you can connect and play over over a local network.Even under the best of circumstances, though, the game’s online multiplayer offering feels bare-bones. Online races feature 2-8 players, with only one game mode: quick play. There is no lobby, matchmaking, or method for playing with friends, and there’s no rewards or skill system to track progression, save for a points system that is meaningless because of the absence of leaderboards.
(This could be related to the Switch’s generally lackluster online infrastructure).It isn’t often that a racing game is more engaging as a single player experience, but here we are. Our TakeFast RMX offers consistently satisfying anti-gravity racing, and its diverse course design catapults it to the upper echelons of the F-Zero umbrella of racers. Fast RMX adds a layer of simple, yet effective depth, making it a worthy, if light addition to the pantheon of arcade racers for both casual gamers and those looking for a challenge.Is there a better alternative?No. Until Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launches in April, 2017, Fast RMX is the only racing game on the Switch. Further down the road, a second F-Zero-style racer, Redout, will come to the Switch later this year.
Wipeout: Omega Collection will deliver a similar experience to PS4 in 2017 as well.How long will it last?Depending on your skills, the Championship series should keep you occupied for 5-10 hours, and the ridiculously challenging Hero mode should keep you going for quite awhile. If you have extra controllers, split-screen multiplayer is also worth a few hours of your time. There are also plans for adding a time trial mode and the ability to race with friends online post-launch, which would increase the game’s online potential.Should you buy it?Yes. Racing fans, and particularly F-Zero fans, should take Fast RMX for a spin.
It’s one of the best launch games for Switch and it’s only $20.Editors' Recommendations.
As the first racing game for the Nintendo Switch, Fast RMX brings with it some high expectations. The name itself conjures a feeling of speed – or is it merely false hope? Thankfully it’s the former, as Fast RMX is a lightning-fast racing title, with a futuristic, sci-fi spin on the genre that’s easily reminiscent of F-Zero.With locations that vary greatly in their design, from jungles to cities, plus responsive controls and turbo boosts, there’s a lot to enjoy in Fast RMX. Most noticeably are the visuals, which are simply stunning – this is one of the best-looking games on the Switch so far. The crisp and detailed level design is breathtaking, with tracks set across the universe. A standout is Tepaneca Vale, a rainy track set at night, that’s beautiful to look at yet challenging to play with its darkly lit twists and turns. Tepaneca Vale in all its rain-soaked gloryThe tracks are all named interestingly too.
It seems like an odd compliment, but I feel like someone thought hard about how futuristic race tracks might be marketed, making them sound like they belong in a fancy catalogue of some sort, with a spacey, Japanese flair.Each race consists of three laps, and you’ll have to place in the top three overall to move to the next cup. There’s plenty of content here too.
Cups are divided into three tracks each, making on-the-go gaming easy. There are 10 cups overall, providing a total of 30 tracks to play. Multiplayer mode is available in local and online, though the online options are fairly limited (though friend support has come with an update just recently). Split-screen mode – no loss of speed though!One thing to note here is that this game is mostly a remixed (RMX – get it?) version of Fast Racing Neo for the Wii U. Fast RMX includes all content from the original, including DLC, plus new vehicles and tracks.One aspect that sets Fast RMX apart from other racing titles is the inclusion of boost pads. Your vehicle can change shield colors at any time with the push of a button, swapping between orange and blue. If your shield matches the color of the boost pad as you’re driving over it, you’ll receive a massive boost in speed.
The reverse is true if your colors don’t match, with a sluggish response from your vehicle. This adds an extra element to an already speedy game, since you’ll have to concentrate not only on taking tight turns but also checking your shield color.
It’s an exhilarating ride to say the least and adds an unusual depth to the racing genre.Boost orbs are also littered around each track, providing a turbo boost that you can release when you need that extra push – like as you close in on the finishing line, or in order to make some of those extra long jumps. There are some super-long jumps – landing is an art form in itself!The controls are generally good, though with such high speeds naturally comes a higher rate of crashing. This is more to do with level design than controls, with some levels more fun to play than others. There are a couple that throw some pretty steep learning curves at you, with crazily long or difficult jumps, for example, It borders on frustrating in the harder modes, but most of the time, tracks are fun to play.A few options are missing from Fast RMX, since there were no time trial or practice modes initially (thankfully a recent free update has added time trials).
You also won’t be able to check your rearview mirror while racing, and small map in the lower right corner is almost useless – mostly because you won’t have time to take your eyes off the road given the speed of the action in front of you.The audio is pretty decent, with a techno soundtrack that certainly suits the mood of a futuristic hyper-speed racing game. It definitely keeps your adrenaline pumping as you rapidly move through each circuit.Overall, this is a great racing game and a pleasing entry in the Switch’s line-up. In particular, the graphics are superb – it’s a treat to just watch, let alone play. The action is fast and frantic and is highly recommended for fans of the genre.
I love all things Nintendo! It's my Dad's fault really, since he bought my sister and I the NES many Christmases ago. It was the beginning of a love affair, but who could blame me?
There was no better introduction to video games than Mario and Zelda! I'm a proud owner of a 3DS (Fire Emblem-branded, thank you), a Wii U (which, incidentally, also doubles as my TV remote), and the Switch (day one, naturally). I'm a writer and a web developer, so I love writing reviews and take design elements very seriously. My all-time favorite game is Super Mario World for the SNES, though I'm also partial to any of the Mario Kart entries.