Jet Car Stunts Review (PC)

good
key review info
  • Game: Jet Car Stunts
  • Platform: PC
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: Yes  
  • Reviewed on:
Jet Car Stunts review on PC

Jet Car Stunts from True Axis made a big splash on the iOS mobile platform, and it has finally reached the PC thanks to publisher BitComposer and Grip Games.

Promising a big emphasis on physics-based racing but also on traversing all sorts of crazy tracks, the game is certainly looking pretty good, even though the simplistic graphics might put a damper on those looking for a visually pleasing experience.

Can Jet Car Stunts pull off a great performance or does it miss the landing? Let's find out.

Jet Car Stunts, like its name suggests, features a car that can employ a massive jet for extra speed and for crucial liftoff when going off ramps and launching in the air.

Review image
Review image
Master the basics ...
... and start racing

The game features three different modes, starting with the main Platforming one. Here, players must maneuver their car through a circuit in order to reach the finish line. The tracks range from Very Easy to Very Hard and they are quite imaginatively designed, taking cues from Mario Kart or Trackmania.

There are quite a lot of jumps, barrel rolls, vertical loops, and a huge amount of ramps that require some tricky approaches and jet use in order to make sure that you reach the destination with the car intact. Getting as little crashes as possible is really important, as you only have 10 faults per circuit until you restart from the beginning. The checkpoints are pretty common, however, so crashing doesn't impose that big of a penalty.

The second major mode is Time Trial, in which players must navigate different courses in the fastest time possible and with as few retries as possible. The tracks are designed more around speed than precision and you should certainly use the jet to gain more speed on straighter portions of the track.

Last but not least, there's the Collector mode, in which players must traverse different tracks and collect five different stars. Don't think this is easy, as this is practically the hardest mode, due to the actual placement of the stars. While some may be found on the main track, most are actually scattered all around it on platforms that can be accessed through convoluted ways.

While the game certainly has a lot of tracks and content, the actual physics system for the cars is pretty erratic. While in the Time Trial mode it's quite similar to other kart racing titles, for example, allowing for easy drifts and good jumps, in the Platforming and especially in the Collector modes, it's off the rails.

Jet Car Stunts boasts the ability to control your car in the air but it's mostly just a game of trial and error before you can stick a good enough landing. In the Collector mode the camera also bobs around uncontrollably, making the whole experience even tougher to complete.

The game does have a Ghost function, which can be turned on or off, but it also means that your performance will be uploaded to the game's servers each time you complete a track, resulting in a tiny bit of waiting before being able to continue your session.

In terms of visuals, the game uses a simplified geometric shape system with vibrant colors. However, the sky boxes in which the actual races take place aren't that well done and their quality level isn't that great. The soundtrack is quite disappointing because it actually has just one song, which is the main theme. During the actual races, you only hear the car and the possible audio cues for when you deplete your jet fuel or miss the target times for the trial mode.

Review image
Review image
Use ramps ...
... and find stars

The Good

  • Lots of varied tracks
  • Good handling in Time Trial mode

The Bad

  • Erratic handling in the air
  • Wobbly camera in Collector mode
  • Just one song
  • Simplistic graphics a bit too simple

Conclusion

Jet Car Stunts is a challenging experience not just because of its tricky circuits and different modes, but also because of the slightly wonky physics in Platforming mode or the wobbly camera in Collector. It's still a simple yet fun racing title, but it's weighed down by such weird design decisions.
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
Review image
story 0
gameplay 7
concept 8
graphics 6
audio 5
multiplayer 0
final rating 7
Editor's review
good
 
NEXT REVIEW: Daylight