This week saw the launch of Disney Speedstorm on Xbox in "Founder's Pack" form, which means you have to pay for it at the moment, but it'll eventually be going free-to-play - it sounds like a similar structure to Disney Dreamlight Valley.
So far, there's been a lot of positive feedback directed towards Disney Speedstorm's action on the track, which is no surprise considering the game is being developed by the studio behind Asphalt 9.
Here's what some owners are saying about the gameplay specifically:
However, it's not all good news, as the progression system has been getting quite a bit of criticism.
Various outlets, including GameSpot, have discussed this in their reviews:
"Gameloft's Disney-infused kart racer makes a great first impression, but it isn't long before its aggressive, confusing progression hits the brakes."
"While the first few hours of Disney Speedstorm are a raucous joyride, the leveled gating mechanics and confusing web of menus are a blinking "check engine" light. It doesn't immediately spoil the fun, but it's definitely cause for alarm."
There are plenty of other Disney Speedstorm buyers who feel similarly as well, with a few of the "Most Helpful" reviews on Steam being negative ones, again targeting the structure of the game rather than its actual gameplay.
The big takeaway from these first impressions, then, is that the racing in Disney Speedstorm is really good fun, but the structure behind it all isn't great. It'll be interesting to see how this evolves over time as we approach the eventual free-to-play release, which doesn't yet have a targeted launch date.
We'll leave the purchase links for the various Founders Packs below in case you're interested.
- Disney Speedstorm - Standard Founder's Pack (Xbox Store)
- Disney Speedstorm - Deluxe Founder's Pack (Xbox Store)
- Disney Speedstorm - Ultimate Founder's Pack (Xbox Store)
Welcome to Disney Speedstorm! Drift into the ultimate hero-based combat racing game, set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds. Master each character’s unique skills and claim victory in this thrilling arcade racing experience from the creators of the Asphalt series!
Have you bought Disney Speedstorm? Let us know your thoughts on it down below.
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Comments 39
I'm looking forward to trying this but I'm not paying to play a F2P game in beta. So once it actually launches I'm jumping in.
If it lacks voice overs I’ll stick with crash racing
@TheSimulator There is voice overs and quite a few is the original voice actor!
I really having a blast playing this game. I like to play a career where you gradually unlock characters, they feel more worth when I have to earn them. Graphics is great with exciting races full on action. There is quite some depth to the play and it gets deeper as you progress. Music is a true highlight, with loads of classic and remixed tunes.
Kind of tired of Mario Kart 8 right now, and this is something else and feels fresh. Teams behind Asphalt and Disney Valley did a great job. I feel no regret paying for Early Access!
I’ve been wanting to try this out, but I have read that it requires Xbox Gold, which I do not have. I need to look into it and see if that is truly a requirement.
@TheSimulator
It has voice acting. I just stated playing it this morning, I bought the most basic pack for $29.99. It included Mickey, Donald and your choice of a third character. I chose Captain Shang from Mulan. I am only on Chapter 3 of the single player campaign and I've also unlocked Mike from Monsters Inc and Goofy.
There is no option to purchase optional currency and as far as I can tell you can unlock all the other characters just from normal play.
@Quasicat
Do you have Gamepass Ultimate?
@ZuneTattooGuy you have to buy voices ?
@ZuneTattooGuy I used to, but rarely ever used it. The only multiplayer game I play once a week with friends is Fortnite, which does not require Gold or Ultimate.
@Quasicat i thought that they took the gold requirement away for F2P games? Maybe it was just for the few big ones but I'm pretty sure it was for all F2P. I have gamepass so i never paid much attention to it unfortunately.
@Krzzystuff That’s what I thought too. I did just check out the official website and it says that Gold is required. I’ll try it out when I get home this weekend.
@Krzzystuff
Disney Speedstorm is not f2p yet
@ZuneTattooGuy isn't it just early access if you pay for it but it's actually a F2P game? It will be available to everyone in a month or two? Actually curious as that's how i understood it and am just waiting for the full launch.
@Krzzystuff
Dreamlight Valley hasn't left paid beta yet it's been over 4 months
I love "karts" games. My favourites are Super Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart Double Dash, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, Team Sonic Racing and I want Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3. My most-played games are usually these since I started gaming on SNES.
I don't want this to be like Asphalt 9. Asphalt 9 is my most played Switch game but I don't want anything like that and I'm talking exactly about what people are complaining about. If there is a way to pay a price to get rid of all that **** in Disney Speed Storm, I'll do it. I don't feel like going through it all again. I couldn't hate Asphalt 9's menus and gating mechanics more. If paying doesn't get rid of all that **** I don't know if I'll play this.
Either launch it as F2P, or make it a paid experience. Was kind of interested in this game until I realised they want you to buy into a $30 minimum 'founder's pack.' Seems like having your cake and eating it too.
I’m confused why would you pay if it’s going to be free eventually and can still unlock the characters by regularly playing or am I missing something
I own it. And I'm glad I got it for near free via free gift vouchers, because it's designed like a Gambling Machine, to addict kids to the small dopamine hit of unlocking things in the menu. It's not a proper Kart Racer with a Grand Prix or Storyline or anything. The whole point of the game is to race a little and then hear the bells and whistles of a Gambling Machine animated graphic, as you are "Rewarded" by a "Surprise Bag" of in-game currency. It's pretty evil and sinister agenda really. If you have kids, I'd recommend going with Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 or 3, or Crash Team Racing instead. The racing is fun though, but the sinister nature of the interface is really really bad.
@Quasicat
You don't, you can play without game pass ultimate or live gold, I have been... but maybe read my other comment/warning about it
@Banjo-
I am like you, Kart Racers are my favourite gaming genre. I have played all the ones you mentioned and own about 3x that amount.
See my comment about the Disney Speedstorm UI/game being like a Gambling Machine. I've never played Asphalt 9, but if that's what you're talking about (Gambling Machine-like), then definitely avoid it. The menu is designed as such and you can't pay to remove the evil of it.
@Krzzystuff
They are saying 6-months to a year for the F2P release version.
@nomither6
No, the voices are included without extra payment.
@TheSimulator
Has voices, but see my other warning about the Gambling Machine-like evil nature of it, much much worse than the Microtransactions in Crash Team Racing
Interested but cautious for so many reasons. I had hope for KartRider: Drift, but it wouldn't even let me play because their website would also glitch and would deny my emails for account creation, and the 'play without an account' sent me through endless ToS loops. Through from the non-meme reviews I may have dodged a bullet 'cuz people were reporting that the devs were selling their info among other things. That aside, I don't have high hopes for a Disney game considering the current state of the company, and that Dreamlight Valley was a game you had to buy and got a mobile game experience.
@SAH77777 thats weird. So they testing that FOMO real hard. How you gonna buy a game knowing it's going to be F2P within a year? It's reverse beta tester pay....you pay to be a tester vs them paying you?
@SAH77777 Thank you for the information. I will avoid it.
@shoeses
Disney Speedstorm is like KartRider: Drift's "Designed to generate FOMO, addicting people to playing just to unlock every little skin file" on steroids. It's a type of evil.
@Krzzystuff
Yeah, a type of madness, and I'm glad I got Disney Speedstorm for free via free gift vouchers. I'd be so annoyed if I paid for it fully. It's not even a proper Kart Racer with a Grand Prix or Storyline or anything.
@TheSimulator
The goal in a Kart Racer shouldn't be to unlock endless skin files, it should be to Win Races and Grand Prixs with a fun Storyline attached. You are correct though, if you wait for the F2P release (they are saying 6-mths to 1-year), then you could 'unlock' everything for free, but that would probably take a player like 200 hours, based on my 3 hours of gameplay so far.
@SAH77777 Thank you for your warnings. I try to stay away from these types of games as I have a very addictive personality and don’t want to fall into gambling. Plus, I have Mario Kart and Sonic Racing games which cover that kart racer need. As much as I like Disney and DreamLight Valley, this one will be a hard pass.
@Quasicat
No problem, those other games are good. Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2/3 and Crash Team Racing are also good too I think, if you want something new. I don't have a game-addictive personality, but the UI in Speedstorm still really frustrates me, so similar to a Gambling Machine at a Hotel in Vegas!
@SAH77777 got you I just think to pay the 69.99 is insane I’ll just wait my issue is I think I have ocd because I just always have to get the most expensive version because I feel it’s the most complete and I’ll miss out on the full experience lol
@SAH77777 crash to me is probably the best so far but I’m going to give this a try being my wife family loves Disney so it’s something to play together
@TheSimulator
In your case, waiting for F2P is good, but I really don't recommend paying anything for a few silly skin files etc. Just play for free until you get sick of the tracks and characters, which for me is like 10-20 races on each track, of which there are only 8! (https://speedstorm.fandom.com/wiki/Maps, but with different paths).
It sounds like fun but if it's like Asphalt 9 it's a hard pass from me. Life's too short to put time into this sort of rubbish.
@SAH77777 It wouldn't surprise me that it takes 200 hours to unlock everything but, based on Asphalt 9, it will be much more and they will keep adding new stuff to unlock. Like you said, it's not just that (that could be skipped paying) but that UI, server connections and infinite pop-ups reminding players of new events recycling tracks and goals. It's a constant selling of the same product and advertisements of the same pointless events with tiny rewards and steps up on a never-ending staircase.
@Banjo-
Lol!, Yeah so stupid... You have also described Disney Speedstorm exactly.
@SAH77777 Thank you. Your comments about this game are very important. I recommend everyone to skip this game and play one of the others we have mentioned. One of the best thing about consoles is that we pay a price for a real game compared to the rubbish that quickly populated the mobile market. I hope that we all reject that kind of corruption in console games from now on. Believe me, it's not worth your time. I've spent more time on clicking, accepting, closing, unlocking and upgrading menus on Asphalt 9 than playing races (really).
Good news everybody, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3 and Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3 Turbo Edition are 70% off!
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