Although it’s had its hat in the ring since the 1980s, Disney has never really managed to release a top-tier video game, though some have come quite close. WhileEpic Mickey,The Lion King, Hercules,andAladdinall have their own merits, they don’t hold a candle to the best games of their respective eras. It doesn’t seem like it’ll break the mold too much, butDisney Speedstormdoes seem to have a lot of potential.
Announced duringNintendo’s February Direct,Disney Speedstormis a free-to-play cart racer being developed by Gameloft, the studio behind theAsphaltseries of mobile racers. All the elements of a good cart racer seem to be there, with beloved Disney and Pixar characters taking the wheel, an upgrade system, and tracks based on iconic franchises. But there’s something aboutDisney Speedstormthat seems a little off.
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Disney Speedstorm’s Carts Look Too Real
Though the game looks like a solid cart racer, especially for a free-to-play one,Disney Speedstorm’s carts don’t seem to fit tonally with the rest of the game’s visual design. IftheDisney Speedstormannouncement traileris anything to go by, then the game’s art direction looks a little confused.
In the trailer, each cart racer is shown to take on a generally cartoon-y appearance, looking similar to theirDisney Infinitycounterparts. Mickey Mouse looks like a cartoon mouse, Sulley looks like a highly stylized and colorful monster, and even live-action characters like Jack Sparrow have been given a cartoon-y visual design. Similarly, the game’s tracks also seem to take on a generally cartoon-y visual design, with thePirates of the Caribbean-themed trackshowcasing some stylized ghostly pirate ships and theMonsters Inc.track looking like a scene ripped straight from the movie.
This same cartoon-y visual design doesn’t extend to the game’s carts, however, with pretty realistic-looking vehicles being shown throughout the trailer. While this isn’t a big issue, the tonal juxtaposition of a colorful cartoon character driving a real, drab-colored car is quite noticeable, and it might make the game feel a little off to some players.
Disney Speedstorm Should Have Themed Carts
The easiest way to fix this tonal issue is by adding themed carts to the game. Right now, the carts shown off inDisney Speedstorm’s announcement trailer do not fit their cartoon racers, with practically no references to the franchises they belong to. Captain Jack’s cart is just a long speedster with dark colors, whileMulan’s is the samebut with an orange and red livery and the words “Dragon Flame” written on top.
To make each individual racer stand out more, and to help keep the game tonally consistent, each racer should have a themed cart. Captain Jack could drive a miniature Black Pearl, likeMario Kart 8’s Landship cart, and Sulley could drive a cart made from the iconic wooden doors on the Scare Floor. Each racer’s special abilities could also incorporate the themed cart, like Mulan’s speed boost that could be visually represented by Mushu breathing fire behind the cart like an engine.
Adding themed carts toDisney Speedstormseems like an obvious move, especially considering the game’sfree-to-play model. Though its free-to-play model hasn’t been fully explained yet, it seems likely thatDisney Speedstormwill want to charge players for something in the game, whether that’s new tracks or new racers.
IfDisney Speedstormadded themed carts, then this could be beneficial for both Gameloft and the player, asGameloft could make themed cartsa premium item that requires an in-game purchase. As for the player, they would receive a cart that actually fits the game’s aesthetics and theme.
Disney Speedstormwill be available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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