Screamer Reviews

Screamer builds upon the impressive racing chops Milestone has developed with recent titles like Hot Wheels Unleashed, introducing a unique control scheme and focusing on an in-depth story. While some elements of the story drag or spin their wheels, there are enough strong character moments to propel you to the credits, even with some odd pacing. The side modes don’t have the depth I wanted, but what is there still features excellent racing mechanics.

Arcade racers can be a ton of fun, but they’re rarely especially deep or complex. Screamer is one of the exceptions. Unabashed in its embrace of many classic arcade sensibilities, it also gleefully throws new mechanics, concepts, characters, storytelling tropes, and customization options at the player, keeping the action fast and furious while layering in all sorts of twisty complexity. At first, this depth feels rewarding, but as more and more pieces drop into place, it all starts to feel ...

Screamer pushes arcade racing toward something distinct, and whilst its myriad mechanics, story modes, and uneven presentation stop the game from reaching full cohesion, it’s an enjoyable, oftentimes rewarding racer that stands alone as daring to be different.

Screamer won’t be for everyone. It’s challenging. It’s unique. It’s different. But it deserves your time and attention, even if you aren’t a huge fan of anime.

When it comes to racing games, Screamer asserts that realism is overrated. It’s an adrenaline-fueled blast from the past that feels current, too. Although it can be a bit repetitive and over-exacting at times, there’s a lot of depth to Screamer’s narrative premise and racing mechanics. Screamer is definitely worth a look for racing fans a bit tired of another lap around the traditional tracks.

Screamer looks great and has some neat ideas. But this anime-inspired arcade racer is let down by inconsistent and unbalanced competitor AI and controls that can often feel overcomplicated for the sake of it.

A solid story mode combined with tight racing mechanics make Screamer the potential racing game of the year!

Screamer moves away from a somewhat stale formula and delivers one of the most engaging racing titles in recent years, accompanied by a memorable story full of excellent characters.

Screamer is a rare Arcade racing game featuring both a rich story and a wealth of fun game mechanics and tracks to get lost in.

The Tournament Mode is overly long with cutscenes that drag, and you may not find it to be as pleasingly accessible as the games it cribs inspiration from, but Screamer does its darnedest to impress, and it does so given the myriad of modes and how on point the presentation is. You'll certainly be screaming with approval when you get your hand on Screamer, just don't wake the neighbours.

In the 90s, Virgin Interactive published a game called Screamer, a PC racing game from Italian developer Graffiti that was praised for how it combined a realistic control style with the exaggerated animations of an arcade game. Screamer became a short-lived series, and Graffiti rebranded as Milestone, going on to make all kinds of racing games over the years, from Hot Wheels Unleashed to Monster Energy Supercross. Now, Milestone is going back to where it started with a new Screamer, but approaching that classic IP from a totally new angle. This game is more in conversation with high-octone anime like Redline, Speed Racer, and Initial D and games like F-Zero or Star Wars: Episode I Racer than a normal racing sim, and even has splashes of things like Mobile Suit Gundam and Overwatch. Can a hardcore racing game developer produce an interactive anime? Is that a real thing that’s happening here? The answer to those questions is, somehow, yes. Screamer is dope.

An immaculately presented arcade racer with a thousand good ideas, but the twin-stick drifting wasn’t one of them.

Screamer is a pure shot of adrenaline. Learning the game's intricacies rewards players with an exhilarating, aggressive, and action-packed experience. With its engrossing storyline and anime aesthetic, Screamer is sure to captivate players.

Screamer is a fast, chaotic arcade racer that brings back the spirit of the classics with a modern twist. The speed and twin-stick drifting feel fantastic, but aggressive AI and rubberbanding keep it from reaching its full potential.

Screamer ends up being exactly the kind of surprise that reminds you why you fell in love with racing games in the first place as a kid. It’s bold, a little chaotic, and completely committed to putting gameplay front and center, even when a few rough edges manage to show through. Between the unique twin-stick handling, the risk-reward chaos of the Echo System, and a story that leans hard into its over-the-top anime inspirations, it manages to carve out an identity that feels both fresh and nostalgic. It’s not perfect, but it doesn’t need to be because when everything clicks during racing, Screamer is an absolute thrill to play. For anyone craving an arcade racer with personality and depth with a riveting storyline, this is one worth taking for a spin at full throttle.

Coming in fast and furious, Milestone's Screamer is an excellent arcade racer. It's a successful reimagining of a beloved '90s series, and it looks, plays, and feels incredible. It is a competent racer, providing enough challenge to test all skill levels around every bend. As far as arcade racers go, Screamer is technical, stylish, and immensely capable of offering thrills at breakneck speeds.  

Tight controls, excellent fighting-game-inspired mechanics and an anime aesthetic that can't be overlooked are all reasons to start the engine, so it's a shame Screamer's story mode is so stuck in first gear.

Arcade racing games still exist, but only just. The only big budget series that's still around is Forza Horizon, which is fine if you're in the mood to zip around in a fairly safe open world.

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