The firstFastgame released on the Nintendo Wii all the way back in 2011, and ever since, the series has exclusively called Nintendo consoles home.Fast Racing Neolaunched on the Wii U in 2015, whileFast RMXwas a launch title for the Nintendo Switch. TheFastseries wasted no time coming to the Switch 2, withFast Fusionserving as one of five Nintendo Switch 2 launch exclusives. Hardcore fans of far-future racing games in the vein ofWipeoutorF-Zerowill have a blast withFast Fusion, though missteps in some key areas do hold it back from reaching its full potential.
Fast Fusionis a high-speed, sci-fi racer where players zip across gorgeous tracks, smashing into opponents and utilizing color-coded boosts along the way. Unlike many other racing games where speed boosts are a simple matter of driving across them, players have to manually swap between blue and red power depending on the situation. This adds an extra layer to the racing, rewarding players who can swap between the different settings at the exact right time. Extra boost can be stored by picking up coins on the track that players can employ whenever they need an extra bit of speed.
Fast Fusionraces are blisteringly fast, which keeps things plenty exciting. Zipping around tight corners is thrilling and figuring out the best times to utilize the vehicle’s jump functionality to not only get the most air but get the biggest advantage over opponents adds a nice challenge. When it comes to the core racing experience, there is nothing to complain about inFast Fusion.
Fast Fusion’s 12 tracks look fantastic and offer a great deal of variety. One track may be set in a desert with giant sand whales jumping across the road while another takes place in a stormy area full of hazardous tornadoes. One of my favorite tracks seems to take direct inspiration fromFinal Fantasy 7’s Midgar, set in an imposing city with a green glow. The game takes great advantage of the Switch 2 hardware to ensure that everything pops.Fast Fusionis no slouch in the performance department either. There are zero hiccups, slowdowns, or any other kind of technical issue, with players able to choose between a variety of settings to tailor the visual experience however they want. It’s easily one of the best-looking Switch 2 launch games.
Cash is King
The main game mode inFast Fusionis Championship, which is the equivalent of something likeMario Kart World’s Grand Prix. In it, players compete against NPCs across a set of three tracks, with the obvious goal of getting first place. And this is whereFast Fusionstumbles a bit. In similar racing games, getting first, second, or third place is enough to advance to the next cup.Fast Fusioninstead has players purchasing the cups using in-game currency.
On paper, there’s nothing wrong with this idea. The boost tokens players pick up on the track give them cash, and players earn a healthy amount of cash from winning cups. The issue is that this currency is also used for purchasing new vehicles and taking advantage of the game’s fascinating namesake fusion system where players can combine two existing vehicles to create a brand-new ride with upgraded stats. If players choose to spend their hard-earnedFast Fusionmoney on vehicles, they will force themselves to have to repeat cups they’ve already done to get enough money to purchase the new ones. It would make a lot more sense to tie cup progression to completion, while reserving the currency for vehicles.
There are a couple of other ways to earn money besides repeating Championship cups, but they aren’t nearly as efficient.Fast Fusionfeatures a “Super Hero” mode that is basically a super-tough race where players can’t crash and have to deal with a few other requirements, plus Time Attack. It would have been nice if cash could be earned from playingFast Fusionmultiplayer, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be possible. This would have givenFast Fusionmultiplayer a nice sense of progression, especially since Championship mode is strictly a solo affair.
Fast Fusion’s multiplayer is the other area where the game drops the ball. On one hand,Fast Fusionshould be praised for its 4-player split-screen support andSwitch 2 GameShare functionality. On the other hand, the fact that players can’t earn money inFast Fusionmultiplayer is disappointing, and there isn’t any meaningful online support. It’s possible to race online with a friend, but there is no matchmaking. The lack of traditional online multiplayer inFast Fusionis the game’s biggest downside and is something that racing game fans should keep in mind before they decide to pick it up.
Fast Fusion players can reach the end credits in less than an hour, but multiplayer, Super Hero Mode, Time Attack, higher-difficulty Championship leagues, and unlocking everything adds significantly replay value to the experience.
Then again,Fast Fusionis available at a budget price of $14.99. Compared to some other Switch 2 games, it’s super cheap, and it definitely gives players their money’s worth, even with the lack of proper online multiplayer and misguided progression. Racing game fans that need something a little different fromMario Kart Worldshould consider givingFast Fusiona look. As long as they are aware of its shortcomings, they should still walk away satisfied with the overall package. Plus,Fast Fusionhas new content on the horizonthat should make it even more worthwhile.
