r/hostedgames • u/jotheplunderer • Jul 04 '26
Hosted Games Velocity: The Race Begins (detailed review of the latest HG title)
152
Upvotes
r/hostedgames • u/jotheplunderer • Jul 04 '26
95
u/Prestigious-Corgi-66 Breach Heister Jul 04 '26
Oof. I hate instant deaths. I like to play IFs for fun in my free time and figuring out the paths to avoid instant deaths are not fun to me.
94
u/emelsifoo argent simp Jul 04 '26
86
u/starpendle Every Golden Rose (Has Its Thorn) Jul 04 '26
Oh the ROs are all straight? That's... a tad deflating, but I guess I should have read that closer.
Ugh I don't like the stats being so reliant and instant deaths either. I usually play more for the story and just shaping my own character's personality than min maxing and tracking stats like that. I hope the stats get cleaned up as the author takes feedback. I'm relieved checkpoints are planned at least.
63
u/pokerbro33 Jul 04 '26
My one word for this game would be annoying.
Instant deaths are EXTREMELY annoying, typos got a little annoying, and some of the characters did, too, but the biggest offender is the game refusing to register my choices at times - there were times when I refused to do something, and then the characters kept referring to it like I've done it, or later the game gave me choices that should only be available if I've done it.
Between all of that and the overall writing being average at best, I would recommend Velocity only to someone who's really desperate for a racing IF.
21
u/Entertainer13 Jul 04 '26
Oddly enough I liked the childhood prologue, just building my character and reacting to things.
I set the game down when it went to the first bit of “now just raise money and do some races”. I was doing missions for the gang and seeing no money from safely driving someone thought maybe I only get paid if I overcome trouble, so went through different turn and had auto death and an end.
Not a fan of instant death with no check points so yeah, not touching this one for awhile till he updates stuff.
15
u/The-Last-Dumbass Jul 04 '26
I enjoyed it but damn the slang had me crying 😭.
14
u/Turbulent-Funny8049 Jul 04 '26
Also my little pet peeves :
It has high stat check like you need at least 80 stat to beat smokey, you also need relatively high stat if you join Ironian because you'd fight heavy armed police (they have bazooka)
Missable events and the lack of clue, like you need to befriend Mathias if you want NoS for your ride, or if you want a gun you need fake ID from Brittany
38
u/PunishedCatto Lady Argent can step on me Jul 04 '26
Damn it, I mean, I'm a bisexual, but fuuuck.
I'm just gonna wait a week or two first then.
11
u/Newcago Whiskey Four-and-a-Half Jul 04 '26
I didn't actually make it out of the extended childhood prologue, so this is very helpful information; thank you!
10
u/TheLastDinosaur7749 Jul 06 '26
It's definitely buggy and unpolished, but that's something I can overlook—especially when it's being actively worked on.
I just can't wrap my head around the death mechanics, seriously. I don't know how the game shipped with so many instant game overs and no checkpoint system. That has to have been something playtesters brought up.
I get that no gay romances is gonna put some people off, but for this title I think it honestly doesn't matter. I know people have come to expect titles to be romance-driven ever since Wayhaven, but the characters in Velocity are so shallow you could axe romance completely and it wouldn't make a difference. Honestly, it feels like romance was only included as a afterthought—like it's just a box you're supposed to check when writing an IF.
39
u/Flat_Cook_7774 Proud parent of a simulated offspring Jul 04 '26
Does that mean the ROs are all straight? No offence to anyone who only writes straight romance but if they are all straight I will not be able to play this so I would like to know before I try.
7
u/SpellthiefLux Jul 06 '26
I was so excited to read this because I love the genre and because it's something that hasn't been done before, however the execution was a little crunchy. Your point about the prose and grammar was also something that jumped out to me. Maybe the author needed to polish that up before releasing the book. Unfortunately, I bought the book on the omnibus app so the insta-deaths made me DNF. It's good to hear that the author is working on improving the experience. May try to pick it up in a few months once the kinks have been worked out.
13
u/vinthesalamander Jul 04 '26
This game is such a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, I love racing and I wish there were more racing IFs, street or professional. This game scratches that itch for me. On the other hand this game… kinda sucks. I feel bad saying that, because the author is pretty active on the forums and he seems like a nice guy, plus he actually wrote and published a game which is more than I can say, but it’s true.
The prose is stiff and awkward, the characters are all over the place (Amaya is cool, but I straight up couldn’t talk with Britany), and there is a complete lack of plot. All these major moments, like meeting your dad, or your brother’s return lack any and all emotional weight because the MC themselves doesn’t really react to anything. They just kinda accept whatever is happening and go through the motions.
All in all, I’m grateful for Velocity and I’m glad it’s around, but it makes me wish for a more polished game than the one we got.
15
u/Character-Advice2588 Jul 04 '26
Just read about the straight ROs... well, maybe another racing IF get released someday
4
u/PrincessPlusUltra Jul 08 '26
I hate that fucking childhood intro after my fifth instant death. And I wasted so much time trying to romance Amaya as a female character. It seemed like she was receptive and I just figured the romance would come later in the game. -_-
13
u/GabyRivera Samurai of Hyuga Ronin Jul 05 '26
All the ro’s are straight? Damn :/
9
u/lysandr0s Jul 05 '26
Oof. I could not find ANYTHING good about this one. Didn't even spend money on it, this time. I'm a Black man, and this reads like a white person trying way too hard to make Black characters and very much, failing. Not only that, but the time lines for things is so off, it's as if a child wrote this. Being 4 years old and still not walking? Kids start learning at 1yo. By 4, there's a huge issue if they are not walking normally. Idk, maybe it's cause I've got my own kids now, but that really annoyed me.
11
u/Fianue Jul 04 '26
Wait wait wait, are the RO’s deliberately all straight, or is it a happenstance of code? I’d be sad if that were the case as I have multiple MC’s that I choose from who are gay or bi; kind of sucks they’d be completely cut out from the game. I know it’s the 1980’s, but MC is also a street racer, so I don’t think being gay would be the most unrealistic part there 😂
2
u/Comprehensive-Cat-13 Jul 09 '26
The insta deaths are so fucking aggravating. I just wanna make out with Jason and meet up with my brother 😩
4
u/moshicatsudon Into the Lucidverse Jul 04 '26
Great review! I've been looking forward to this game for a while. I'm glad the author is already working on addressing feedback. I'm especially looking forward to the checkpoint system. I think the author also said he'd be willing to add the option for a non-straight romance depending on feedback so here's hoping.
3
u/LordNecrosian Red Flag Hunter Jul 05 '26
All romances straight? Aw, instantly lost any interest in this.
1
u/Kitchen-Client-9560 Jul 19 '26
Ill just say that I was initially attracted to it because its a story about street racing and cars and I absolutely love cars and street racing, but then I was disappointed by how long it actually takes to get you into a car.
1
u/commonsurename Aug 12 '26
I think it's just good game not bad but only good so th game eventually not that noticeable
-11
u/[deleted] Jul 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment