Now is the time to introduce the newest racer on the block. The game in question is called Funtasia, so let’s look at what it’s all about. The world of Funtasia is described on the Steam listing as a “colourful paradise being polluted by airborne garbage.” For the premise of this 2D racer, you are set to meet the Furry Road.
What this game is about in terms of approaching gameplay is simple. It’s a 2D side-scrolling physics-based racer with the goal being short but sweet. Drive as fast as you can to cross the finish line to save the world and its inhabitants by defeating the garbage monster to end the dumping of garbage on the planet.
Described as “simple to pick up and play yet challenging to truly master” your task isn’t as simple as a foot to the floor either. Each track is devilishly designed so you need to get a balance to each part and time each obstacle. You have hills and obstacles to navigate such as geysers. Hence the timing. You can upgrade your car though.
The four upgrade categories are engine, traction, suspension, and wheels. Engine upgrades will improve thrust and top speed. Traction when developed adds four-wheel drive capability. The better suspension you have, the sturdier and more shock absorbent it becomes. Wheel upgrade increases wheel friction. However, upgrading these may require you to rethink your strategy for tackling the course. We also have a demo on the store, so you can also try it out and see if it’s for you
First up let’s look at the requirements to run the game according to Steam
Windows
- OS: Windows 8 or newer
- Processor: Intel Core i3 M380
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD 4000
- Storage: 2 GB available space
macOS
- OS: Lion 10.7.5 32/64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i3 M380
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: OpenGL 3.0+ (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable)
- Storage: 2 GB available space
Graphics
Visually what you see in the trailer is what you get. Retro feel to the background and simple textures to the main track. Which for me works brilliantly. It holds up well and its simplicity is also its charm. On the downside, there’s a lot of repetition in the background. Not a glitch or anything that is gonna impact the gameplay in a negative way, just it feels packed detail-wise.
Gameplay
Funtasia is accurately described as being simple to pick up. It really is simple to play. However, it’s extremely hard to master. The genre of 2D scrolling games is a genre I don’t choose to play. However, this game is refreshing and at the same time very annoying. With that in mind, don’t worry as it has to counteract that the fact it’s addictive, the game has a please just one more try feel to each track. It’s addictive and when you pass an obstacle that’s caused problems, very satisfying. Being a huge racing fan the 2D transition works really well as well. It is fluid to play and held a steady 60 FPS across all levels tested. The only time it ever dipped was in the story introduction. We have a simple menu system and it’s easy to navigate and find where you want to be.
Audio
The soundtrack suits the feel of the game and sits subtly in the background. It’s noticeable, but it’s quiet enough to not distract from the gameplay. The sound effects are simple and more constant as the opportunity to collect credits for upgrades is plentiful.
Multiplayer
We have the option of co-op play and online play for release. Though at the time of writing these were unable to be tested. The co-op is advertised as having up to four players and offers a split screen. The official line on multiplayer is the option to challenge up to 3 friends on competitive or cooperative game modes
Story
It’s a pretty basic story but for a game like this, it’s certainly sufficient. It’s not going to the depths of award-winning narratives like The Forgotten City. When that was a Skyrim mod it won a writers guild award. For a game of Funtasia’s level, you don’t expect that level of writing. Unfortunately, it’s not the most memorable part of the game and isn’t going to sell the game. That will be down to the gameplay which you can try with the demo. So, for me, the weakness of this game is the story. Thankfully it’s not going to be a huge issue when you try the game.
To Conclude
Normally this is a style of game I’d scroll past without giving it a thought. After playing a considerable amount of time and for the most part not getting very far fast is another reason that I don’t play these a lot. However, Funtasia is different. It may not be the most memorable story, but it has charm. Yes, I found this hard, I found it frustrating at times. However, it has a knack for getting you to go for more tries, which leads to another and another. Funtasia will drive you up the wall but has an addictive quality. Even with the downsides which are small and may not even bother you it’s still worthy of a look. There is a demo on Steam right now. The UK price point is £11.39 with a 40% discount until 6th October. It is also available via the Epic Store as well as on Nintendo Switch.
Funtastia - Furry Road
£11.39
