Review by John Beck

The latest from Bethesda Softworks LLC (the video game company) is a whirlwind action shooter game by the name of “Rage 2.” Set in a post-apocalyptic world, you take the role of a Ranger—a super-soldier whose abilities will expand as you explore and recover lost arks. The game has a “Mad Max” feel with loads of chaos and intense car engagements. The game draws visuals similar to Bethesda’s other shooter game, Doom, as well as “Fallout” with the bloody mess perk. The gore is overwhelming at times, with almost every scene containing some sort of dismemberment.

“Rage 2” has an open-world environment that allows you to explore the vast emptiness of the space. Bethesda does a great job in the art department creating a world that is alive amongst the ruins of a civilization. The plot seems it’s just a tool to move you from one mission area to the next in order to dispatch the next round of Goons (yes, they just called the bad people goons) or mutants. The plot is the weakest part of the game, being underwhelming and irrelevant to much of the world that you encounter. This is a marked departure from the classic Bethesda open-world feel, but not too rare in the world of the open-world shooter game.

Where the game really comes into its own, however, is the handling of the character. The gunplay is smooth and lethal; mixing the abilities adds a greater depth to the firefights. Mix and match different abilities and firearms—which are all fully customizable—to truly play the shooter the way you want. The vehicle combat is equally customizable and creative.

Peer Rating: 3/5 with a warning for gore that disrespects human dignity.

Review by Chris Clark

As much as life might change, one thing always remains the same: someone needs to save the world from the bad guys. “Rage 2,” the long-awaited sequel to 2011’s “Rage,” puts the player back in the same role. Once again, you’re the only hope against the evil, tyrannical “Authority” in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

“Rage 2” takes place 30 years after the events of the previous “Rage” game, and the landscape has been significantly transformed. Civilized towns have sprung up in more places, and much of the desert wasteland has been replaced by lush swampland and a tropical forest. What has not changed? The Authority. This technologically advanced military group, bent on world domination, still threatens everyone’s peace and freedom. “Rage 2” begins with the main character’s home being destroyed by the Authority, causing them to take on the role of Ranger as they hunt for justice.

“Rage 2” is an open-world, first-person shooter game that gives players a wide array of weapons, vehicles and technological superpowers to use as they fight the good fight. As a Ranger, players have access to traditional weapons, such as guns and more exciting, innovative technology, such as Nanotrites—a.k.a tiny microcomputers implanted into a person that give them superhuman powers. This allows players to run faster, to jump higher and to instantly throw up nanotech shields and gravity traps. This assortment of superpowers is undeniably cool, and exploring them is one of the highlights of “Rage 2.”

The story of “Rage 2” is interesting, but somewhat threadbare. I found myself actively putting off completing story objectives in order to make the game last longer. Even with this procrastination, there was little story that it still felt like the game ended sooner than it should have.

While the story is lacking, the landscape of “Rage 2” is fantastic. As you run, drive or fly around the world, you stumble across countless little fights or bits of action that extend the gameplay. The entertaining details, such as the random cars barreling down the roads in post-apocalyptic drag races, make the world that you are only stepping into feel alive.

If you enjoy open-world action games, “Rage 2” is guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping. However, be prepared for your time in this world to be cut short by a lackluster story. Despite its flaws, I still enjoyed “Rage 2,” and I look forward to more content, hopefully coming to the game in the future.

Peer Rating: 3.5/5