Screamer Preview

 I got the chance to check out the Pre-Alpha build of Screamer, a reboot of a racing game that was released on the MS-DOS back in 1995. It was a pretty well-liked series, but remained dormant for nearly 30 years after Screamer 4x4, until its original developer — Milestone S.r.l. — brought it back from the dead, announcing its existence at the 2024 Game Awards with a fresh new, futuristic look. I’m sure fans of the classic series are eager to see all the new bells and whistles, so let’s see what to expect on its official release.

In contrast to its predecessors, Screamer goes for a more anime-esque style with black outlines, neon lights, and ridiculously modded cars. Apparently, its animated cutscenes are created in collaboration with Japanese 3DCG animation studio Polygon Picture, which has worked on a tonne of animated movies, TV shows, and games. You might be familiar with their work in Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man, Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield, or Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence. They have also employed such talents as Troy Baker to voice the many racers who have their own reasons to take part in the tournament that the game centres around.

In Screamer, how you use your car and its powers will be your ticket to winning a race. To control your souped-up ride, you use the left stick to steer and the right stick to drift. It did take a little getting used to, but I soon found myself getting the hang of it. It gave you more control over how you turn corners. The cars felt good to drive, no matter which character I chose (who each have their own abilities and stats). However, what makes it different from other racing games is how it handles its power-ups.

The Echo System is promoted to be the bridge between narrative and gameplay. Throughout a race, you’ll be generating Sync (the left blue bar) to spend on Boost or Shields. However, by doing that, you convert Sync to Entropy (the pink right bar), which is used to activate Strikes (ram a car off the road) or Overdrives (constant speed boost, but if you touch anything but the road and other cars, you explode). If you play your cards right, you can get to the front of the pack either through speed alone or by KOing everyone in your way.

However, don’t expect it to be a breeze, as many of these systems require some skill to fully take advantage of. Cars have a semi-auto transmission, which means that they will automatically shift gears, but by tapping the left bumper, you will execute an Active Shift, giving you a slight boost and generating more Sync. Perfect Boosts, meanwhile, need you to let go of the button at the right time to extend the boost. That’s not to mention how insanely risky Overdrive is, where one mistake will set you back to last place. There are all these little mechanics that you’ll need to keep in mind, or else you’ll be left in the dust.

...I couldn't do better.

After putting a few hours into the Pre-Alpha, I’m excited for Screamer. I may not have grown up with the series, but this new direction is making me eager to see what else is in store for this game. It is kicking my butt trying to get good and actually get podium finishes, but I’m having fun. With a focus on exciting gameplay and story, I only hope that this game gets the attention it deserves.

Screamer is expected to release sometime in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms.