Chained Wheels Review (PC)

Chained Together led me to despise collaboration. At the time I figured it couldn’t possibly get any worse than that. If I had to shackle myself to another human and forcefully push both myself and another restless soul across vast distances, then I wouldn’t have to face another obstacle once I finally reached the precipice. But then Chained Wheels came along. Suddenly, I wasn’t at the precipice; I was at the foot of yet another summit, shackled to another vehicle, and with another archipelago of obstacles to traverse. I wanted to give it the cold shoulder, but I couldn’t. Annoyingly, I felt that I had yet another point to prove. I didn’t want to overcome another peak, but curiosity got the better of me, and before I knew it I was back behind the wheel, ready to do it all over again from a different point of view.

Chained Wheels isn’t all that different than Chained Together. As it turns out, it’s the exact same problem that you have to deal with: to tandem with your friend (eventual enemy, but we don’t need to dwell on that just yet) and navigate a series of unruly obstacles and ludicrously complex terrain whilst veering back and forth in two shoddy trucks. Shackled at the chassis with a ridiculously short tether, both you and your accompanying wheelman must throttle the gas pedal and plough through all sorts of hazardous conditions, all in the hopes that both of you will finally make it to the apex and out of the storm. Here’s the catch: if one of you make a mistake, then both of you have to face the consequences. In other words, you have little to no room for error; a simple miscalculation can ultimately lead to appalling outcomes. But that’s a rage game for you. It’s sick, twisted, and yet, annoyingly, also a lot of fun to pull your hair out to. Well, for the first twenty or thirty minutes, anyway.

It all begins with a couple of teasers—a rough bit of terrain, and just a handful of obstacles to navigate. Once you cross the threshold and accelerate into the dusty dunes and seemingly picturesque woodlands, however, your journey soon begins to escalate and become an uphill struggle. With teamwork being your only source of strength, both you and a friend must collectively band together (not that you have any other choice, mind you) and overcome each portion of the in-game world, whether it means having to tackle bumpy roads, fallen trees, or rickety bridges. And if you’re beginning to wonder whether or not there’s a point to any of this — there isn’t. Alas, there are no treasures at the end of the road — only bragging rights to obtain and flaunt once the final hurdle has been successfully dismantled. It’s reaching that point that’s the tough part.

On the bright side, Chained Wheels isn’t a difficult game to learn. In fact, if you’re vaguely familiar with matchbox racing games and precision platforming mechanics, then you ought to have the willpower and patience to survive Chained Wheels. As a driver, you don’t have a great deal to learn. Rather, you have the monumental task of knowing when to hit the gas, and when to squeeze the brakes, as well as when to strafe left or right. The only problem here is that, even when you do get a feel for the basics, the odds of the other driver finding similar ground to tread on immediately begin to plummet. And if you think this sounds like hard work — it is. The driving might not be overly difficult to come to grips with, but everything else, including the environment and the obstacles, on the other hand, are painfully daunting to navigate. And yet we continue to subject ourselves to them. Strange, that.

While a headache is inevitable in the long term, the saving grace is that, if you are able to sweep through the pain and discomfort, Chained Wheels has a lot to offer, including some great biomes and obstacles to carve through. It also features some interesting puzzle elements and weather conditions, both of which can cause you to think outside the box and carefully plan your actions. In one case, you might need to time your movements, whereas in another you might need to consider who will pick up the slack, and who will stay at the back to act as a counterweight whilst the other pushes forward to ascend a certain obstacle. It’s all still incredibly challenging, but it does make the act of reaching the climax all the more satisfying, at least.

Personally, I wouldn’t go back to Chained Wheels. But that isn’t to say that I wouldn’t recommend it to the die-hard gamer — especially if you happen to be a fan of rage games and ruthless co-op exploits. I might have lost a friend to the graft, but who’s to say that you will fall into the same trap? I suppose, really, there’s only one way to find out. Better buckle in.

Verdict

Chained Wheels takes the slack from other coveted rage games to a new level with a painfully daunting and psychologically demanding co-op experience that has all of the tedious elements of a classic rage baiting indie. To call it a smooth ride would be a bit of an overstatement. For the record, it isn’t smooth; it’s grueling, passive-aggressive legwork that forces you to push not only your pedals to the limits, but you mind, body and soul, too. That might be an exaggeration, but you get the point. There are no winners here — only egotistical wheelmen who can’t take no for an answer.

Let it be said that, if you did happen to enjoy Chained Together, then I would like to think that you’ll get just as much of a kick and a good giggle out of Chained Wheels. If it’s a peaceful road trip through the barren dunes and idyllic meadows that you’re after, though, then I’d suggest hanging up your keys until the next expedition comes along. The only worthwhile sight you’ll catch here, sadly, is a blazing inferno and a bunch of veins pulsating from a forehead or two.