Support NeoGAF

[.Pennywise]

Destruction AllStars (2021)
​

• System: PlayStation 5 ​
• Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment ​
• Developer: Lucid Games​

​

GameCrate 90

Destruction AllStars may not be a killer app that sells you on a PS5, but anyone who owns a PS5 will be happy to add it to their library. It is definitely one of the best perks of owning a PS5 yet.

• Read full review

Shacknews 80

As far as gameshow/sporting event-style games go, Destruction AllStars is maybe some of the most fun I’ve had in a while. I love the pageantry when a match starts and my character does their intro before kicking things off. The visuals are smooth and pristine throughout the fast-paced action and the gameplay in different modes is absolutely delightful. I would like the foot game to be boosted a bit, and it desperately needs some better cosmetics and an easy-access Mute All function, but there’s an absolutely enthralling foundation here in Destruction AllStars. I want to see more characters, more arenas, events… I want to see where Destruction AllStars goes in the long run and I’ll be happy to keep playing as we work our way there.

• Read full review

Game Informer 80

I had a good time behind the wheel in Destruction AllStars, even if I don’t know that it has enough to keep me around forever. That’s not to say there isn’t anything to do; there is a decent-enough selection of modes and activities between online and offline, with more on the way. And I appreciate the instantly satisfying action that’s as easy to drop in and out of as the cars themselves. Even if the novelty of vehicular mayhem isn’t enough to sustain my interest for many more long-haul sessions, I’m looking forward to taking it for a quick spin every now and again.

• Read full review

Daily Star 80

It’s addictive, great fun and all about people playing online together. And it feels original, even if many of the individual elements are borrowed from other games. If you have a PS Plus subscription it’s a no brainer to download this free title at some point over the next two months before it becomes paid for. Destruction AllStars is a brilliant new addition to the PS5 roster and will brighten up dull February with some colourful car-smashing fun.

• Read full review

GamePro Germany 78

I like Destruction AllStars. I really like it a lot. The anarchy of the gameplay reminds me of my endless PS1 evenings with Destruction Derby or Demolition Racer. Something happens all the time, there is always a crash somewhere - I never get bored.

• Read full review

Hobby Consolas 75

This new PS5 exclusive offers some amusing ideas while taking advantage of the superior hardware, but it's too shallow in content and uses some greedy strategies. Future updates could change the situation, though.

• Read full review

DualShockers 75

If Destruction AllStars was entirely focused on the driving and crashing aspects, this review would be a hands-down recommendation. I just wish it didn’t come to a complete stop as often as it does when you lose control of the car. It does interesting things with the DualSense’s adaptive triggers and has a satisfying loop but comes to a screeching halt in other areas. Lucid Games has promised at least a year of new content for the game following its release, so hopefully, things will be fixed over time. Waiting for a fix, however, isn’t how I like to enjoy games. Luckily, Destruction AllStars is one of the free PS+ games for February, so with an online subscription and a PS5, I would recommend downloading it to give it a spin.

• Read full review

Critical Hit 75

Destruction AllStars is both new and familiar, but it’s a refreshing collection of cars, modes, and madcap driving that shows great promise for the future. A mental destruction derby with some admittedly annoying quirks, there’s plenty of charm under the hood of this game that respects your time and smashes into the competition with a gung-ho attitude and some novel ideas.

• Read full review

4Players.de 72

What is there, entertains only briefly - and the banishment of the other episodes behind a payment barrier is crap. The scope could also be more generous in general: If you deduct Stockpile, which is currently too haphazardly for me, only three modes remain in very similar arenas; The character skills and special attacks of the hero cars are too interchangeable for me. Ultimately, however, I'm curious to see where the journey with Destruction AllStars is going - both in terms of new content and the question of whether it might become a full-price title at the beginning of April.

• Read full review

Millenium 70

Destruction AllStars has many strong points to offer. Mainstream and approachable, the directing is quite good and the gameplay quick to learn — although it takes time to be truly mastered. We had a lot of fun throwing out violent bumper blows and jumping on platforms to change vehicles, as well as unleashing the powers of the many heroes available. However, it's hard to predict whether it will be successful in the long run, and the PS5's exclusivity and high purchase price may prevent it from reaching a large audience.

• Read full review

Jeuxvideo.com 65

Everything could have gained more dynamism and appealed to the players a little more by offering various tricks such as slow motion or "killcam", but unfortunately, Lucid Games preferred to keep this type of functionality for the game's Solo mode. A Solo mode which also could have been successful, finally if it was not restricted by a system which requires the player to take out his credit card.

• Read full review

IGN 60

Destruction AllStars can provide fun bursts of frantic car combat action, but never adds up to much more than that.

• Read full review

TheSixthAxis 60

The car combat genre has long been out of fashion and still has a way to go if it wants to take us back to its glory days of the 1990s. Destruction AllStars is a mostly satisfying modernisation that has some neat ideas and looks fantastic, though ultimately spins its tyres on repetitive rival-wrecking gameplay and a lack of truly worthwhile content at launch.

• Read full review

Push Square 60

Destruction AllStars can be a brilliantly frantic multiplayer game, with fun characters and cars, great DualSense feedback, and entertaining modes. However, it can ring a little hollow at times when the action dips. Lacklustre customisation options and mictrotransaction-locked content doesn't help matters, but when everything is playing out smoothly, this is more than capable of giving you a good time. Currently free to PS Plus members, it's well worth taking for a spin.

• Read full review

PlayStation Universe 50

Destruction AllStars is a clunky mess of a multiplayer experience, committing a few cardinal sins when it comes to its online experience and offering uninteresting and dull gameplay most of the time. Each character feels unique and their abilities and vehicles are fun to use, but when meshed with the rest of the experience, it doesn't work. Predatory microtransactions, a lack of lore and backstory into the AllStars, and poor single-player offerings make this the weakest PlayStation Studios title in a long time.

• Read full review

TheGamer 40

I wanted to love Destruction AllStars. I still do. There’s just not enough there to make it worth my while right now. A couple of times, I ran into a weird technical issue where I would jump into a brand-new car, but it just wouldn’t move. I think that issues like this can certainly be fixed in a future patch, though. I also know that the development team of Lucid Games has a year’s-worth of content planned for the game. As such, although I can’t recommend playing Destruction AllStars right now, I do have high hopes for the future of the game. Especially since the car combat genre is ripe for the taking with no new Twisted Metal in sight.

• Read full review

VGC 40

Out of the 4 modes available at launch, 2 of them feel redundant and unbalanced. The single-player content is slim and if you want even a crumb more, you’ll have to pay, which leaves Destruction Allstars feeling like a clumsy, hollow product whose fun moments go by in a blur.

• Read full review

 

[iconmaster]

Oof.

At a glance it looks like the kind of colorful, arcadey experience that I could easily love. Splatoon with motorcars and explosions. Just a little thin, it seems.

 

[Vangellis]

Gave this a shot, it's a solid 6. Could push higher with updates

 

[LisaMariaMartin]

Putting it on ps+ literally saved this game

 

[Warnen]

who said Sony doesn’t have Gamepass quality games!

 

[Kuranghi]

Saw the top review and I was like its getting 90s?!?? Then I scrolled down, *Mr Plinkett Ohhhhhh*

 

[Certinty]

For a ‘free’ PS+ game it’s honestly great, just mindless fun to kill time on. But if you’re buying it then I sort of understand the lower end of the reviews.

 

[megreotsugua]

I really like this game. I've been having fun since. It's 10/10 for me.

 

[bitbydeath]

For a ‘free’ PS+ game it’s honestly great, just mindless fun to kill time on. But if you’re buying it then I sort of understand the lower end of the reviews.

Agreed. It should have been made FTP from the beginning, given what’s included. It can be fun though, but that’s not enough.

 

[Bruno_Arrais85]

It's no good. I have 0 intention to replay it after the my first day.

 

[Captain Toad]

For a ‘free’ PS+ game it’s honestly great, just mindless fun to kill time on. But if you’re buying it then I sort of understand the lower end of the reviews.

A review score shouldn't take into account the cost.

I disagree when Xbox fans say their 6 out of 10 games should be rated higher since they are included with GamePass. And I disagree Destruction All-Stars should get rated higher because it's free with PS+.

 

[Warnen]

Ya all know stuff can be free and good? Ala fall guys

 

[kingpotato]

Didn't really care for my first session with the title, but will try the rest of the game modes before I write it off. It has potential, but I feel like the should be more joy in smashing the cars about than there currently is. Also I didn't really get the whole hijack mechanic figured out.

 

[Nvzman]

A review score shouldn't take into account the cost.

I disagree when Xbox fans say their 6 out of 10 games should be rated higher since they are included with GamePass. And I disagree Destruction All-Stars should get rated higher because it's free with PS+.

I mean with content in mind cost should 100% matter because charging $60-$70 for a game sets a certain mindset. You want your money's worth.
Also, the whole point of GamePass is for the games, PS+ is primarily for online gaming with the monthly games as a side bonus. That's not a very apt comparison. I'm still getting my money's worth with PS+ because I can actually play online with my friends, if GamePass (besides Ultimate) games suck then whats even the point in paying for it?

 

[driqe]

Higher than I expected

 

[mejin]

Perfect for gamep...oh, wait.

 

[Entroyp]

Sony trying to compete with MS first party at their level.

 

[Dad_Of_Chicken]

Sony finally got their own Bleeding Edge.

 

[MDSLKTR]

Sony trying to compete with MS first party at their level.

Not even MS would have considered charging 79$ for this.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Played 2 games then uninstalled

 

[THE DUCK]

Guess we know the real reason why it was free now. Tried it last night, its ok but its kind of an xbox live arcade sort of thing to me.

 

[Dane]

Bleeding Edge Kart?

 

[skit_data]

Thank god they put this on PS+, i wouldve been really pissed if I bought this at full price. I expected better from Playstation Studios.

 

[SoloKingRobert]

A review score shouldn't take into account the cost.

I disagree when Xbox fans say their 6 out of 10 games should be rated higher since they are included with GamePass. And I disagree Destruction All-Stars should get rated higher because it's free with PS+.

Destruction AllStars is only free on PS Plus for 1 month.

Sony finally got their own Bleeding Edge.

Bleeding wasn't even full Retail price. Meanwhile, Destruction AllStars is priced at full retail €80 here, with hardly any content.

 

[Pantz]

Wish they made Destruction Derby 3

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

Guess this means Microsoft has the highest rated next-gen exclusive of 2021 so far with The Medium.

 

[Rudius]

I don't like the style of this game and would have preferred a new Twisted Metal made by them. Guess I'm just an old man now, despite not even being middle-aged yet.

 

[Dad_Of_Chicken]

Bleeding wasn't even full Retail price. Meanwhile, Destruction AllStars is priced at full retail €80 here, with hardly any content.

I completely share the sentiment that it's truly inexplicable how anyone at Playstation would ever think for one second this game should retail at 80€. I cannot wrap my head around this fact.

 

[Golgo 13]

 

[hroerekr]

oof

Now we know why they didn't send review copies.
This looks shallow. I hope they keep it as a freebie after this month so new PS5 owners can also join. Maybe there is a future for this game.

 

[SafeOrAlone]

Guess this means Microsoft has the highest rated next-gen exclusive of 2021 so far with The Medium.

How the turntables have turned...

 

[VolticArchangel]

So, the developer was trying to price their game on their internal prediction of it's metascore huh...

 

[ethomaz]

Average scores seems to fit that game.
No buy for me.

 

[MrS]

Average scores seems to fit that game.
No buy for me.

What do you mean "no buy"? It's on PS+ for free you lunatic. Only a fool would pay for this.

 

[Aenima]

6's and 7's seems about right for this game right now. Game is fun to play for a few quick matches from time to time, but lacks content. Thers no sense of progression. You keep raising ur exp, but its just a number, you earn coins to unlock diferent colors for the same outfits, some banners and avatars for ur player profile and thats it.

Single player mode has arcade against AI bots, and then has challenges that i liked to do, but only the 1st set of challenges are free, the rest is locked behind premium currency that you cant earn ingame yet.

Depending on the support this game gets and the quality of the updates, it might become something better, but for now is just a fun game to play a couple matches when ur bored and move to other game.

It should remain F2P or at maximum a 20$ game. If they go for 70$ price tag, the game is already dead.

 

[Aenima]

Destruction AllStars is only free on PS Plus for 1 month.


Bleeding wasn't even full Retail price. Meanwhile, Destruction AllStars is priced at full retail €80 here, with hardly any content.

Just some corrections. The game is free on PS+ for 2 months, and the game is not for sale on PSN store or at retail yet. The price tags might change, since amazon dont list any price and has the game tagged as "Unavailable".

 

[MiguelItUp]

Sounds about right. Especially after it was being tacked onto PS+.

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Surprised it’s that high. Also surprised that there’s less backlash about them locking the single player behind a paywall. Seems if other pubs had pulled this, there’d be a lot bigger fuss. Idk if it’s because it’s Sony or if it’s because of what this game is.

 

[ethomaz]

What do you mean "no buy"? It's on PS+ for free you lunatic. Only a fool would pay for this.

So no try
I forgot to check the Plus... it refreshed yesterday, no?

PS. I'm still without my TV since Jan 22nd

 

[Gamerguy84]

Very action packed, fast, fun, game that looks and plays well.

Characters are weird but that's the case in many games.

Can't wait to see updates and will buy if it catches on.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Ya all know stuff can be free and good? Ala fall guys

Wasn't Rocket League free at launch with PS+? And that game was awesome.

 

[bitbydeath]

Surprised it’s that high. Also surprised that there’s less backlash about them locking the single player behind a paywall. Seems if other pubs had pulled this, there’d be a lot bigger fuss. Idk if it’s because it’s Sony or if it’s because of what this game is.

It does and it doesn’t. There’s a mode that’s free and other modes it asks money for. It looks like they’ll be switching modes in and out so there will likely always be a free mode + paid modes.

It’s not story based or anything, just unlockables placed under challenges.

 

[Snake29]

It’s really fun to play and it looks amazing in HDR on my LG CX. The game is better then some people might think.

 

[SkylineRKR]

This game is pretty much online only, and for online, you need Plus. And this game is free with Plus.

 

[D.Final]

This game is pretty much online only, and for online, you need Plus. And this game is free with Plus.

Unfortunately
This

 

[hemo memo]

it’s frustrating that new twists on modes and backstory for characters (scant as it is) will be locked behind a paywall as new Series are released. Especially when this currency is buyable in chunks of 500 and the first two Challenge Series’ cost 600 combined.

Lucid knows what it’s doing here, and it’s not great, even if the game is effectively free if you own PS Plus.

Yeah fuck this predatory MTX. I’m deleting this now. I have no respect to a dev who does this crap and i’m not giving them my time.

 

[IbizaPocholo]

 

[Chukhopops]

Just some corrections. The game is free on PS+ for 2 months, and the game is not for sale on PSN store or at retail yet. The price tags might change, since amazon dont list any price and has the game tagged as "Unavailable".

Not everywhere it seems:

Although to be fair, it seems it's not the final release cover.

 

[Endless Fluff]

It was kinda expected after they shoved it onto PS+. Sony themselves lost confidence in this.

Being on PS+ may save it, though... but only if it turns into F2P in May and devs manage to pull a No Man‘s Sky.

 

[Dane]

Surprised it’s that high. Also surprised that there’s less backlash about them locking the single player behind a paywall. Seems if other pubs had pulled this, there’d be a lot bigger fuss. Idk if it’s because it’s Sony or if it’s because of what this game is.

Wait what?