Been playing RAGE since the moment of its release. Bought all three versions to see differences, play with with friends on each system, etc... see major changes mainly.

Pretty much the same game on each platform, albeit the consoles seemingly have the difference in defib mode, with a minigame to increase health received. I had some of the texture issues the first couple hours, and fixed quite quickly with some tweaks on the forums (the cache fix, 8k texture fix, and vpf fix, and 4x AA fix). Fixed all the issues right away... no other issues were present on my PC version. Runs silky smooth on 360 and PS3 (installed the discs as recommended by id) and looks gorgeous on every system.. PC really shines... very impressive. The only thing I could remotely see anyone having any concern about is the PC version, small objects seem a bit fuzzy... like tires, cans, ojects laying around... but nothing serious, and definetely nothing that hasn't already been promised to be fixed. I see alot of great comments on RAGE, tons of them actually. Alot more greatness than negativity.

But I've seen a few comments where folks are saying there's no content... more FPS than RPG, more of Fallout than anything. That the game was short, etc, etc. And of course, the PC version had its numerous complaints for driver related issues and auto-settings switches that are being resolved either by patches or unofficial fixes. That's a given.. any PC game of this size, your probably going to expect a few conflicts here and there.

I will admit, I am completely baffled by folks saying anything negative about the games length or content or gameplay.

It's LOADED with content... from weapons mods and upgrades, to ammo types, secondary weapons, enhancements, etc.. you can literally upgrade everything. Even your secondary weapons, very impressive... upgrading RC bomb cars, turrents, bombs, mines, wingsticks, etc. Just the sheer content of the arsenal is just mind blowing, not just variety of weapons, but what can be done to enhance them. Weapons balance and animation, even sound, are just superb... very top notch. Plenty of sniping, plenty of need for assault rifles, perfect times for shotguns, plasma rifles, crossbows, grenades, etc. No weapon will go without a need, each situation feels like your going to need a variety of weapons to get the job done.

And you've got everything on the fly to control, being able to switch ammo types, weapons, inventory items, secondary stuff... all during action, all during real-time fights... very well integrated and makes it seemless.

Moving forward there is the schematics, construtible items, cashable junk, everything else you can pickup and modify/sell/build... oodles of stuff to find and collect... you always seem to be finding stuff on bodies, vending machines, ATM machines, laying around, hidden, behind locked doors.

Vehicles are about as great as they can get in a game, racing and offroad exploration also seemlessly intergrated into the gameplay, its there when it needs to be, you don't have to use it, but you can sure max evewrything out if you choose too.. your vehicle weapons and secondary weapons/armor options are just oozing of amazement, LOTS of stuff to add or select from. And the vehicles themselves... being able to choose pretty much any parts upgrade or vehicle destruction enhancements (grills, suspension, frame, shocks, engines, boosts,tires, jumps etc etc) just makes it much more worthwhile. Never in a game have I seen so many aspects added in a mammoth sized terrain to explore and destroy. Being able to just hop out of the vehicle at any time in the wastelands makes exploring and searching a very impressive mode.

Onward, you have gameplay... The game is very adaptable to how you want to play... you can play it like fallout-depth, or you can play it like a borderlands, or you can play it like far cry 2, or if main missions are your focus, you can play it like half-life 2, crysis, or doom 3. I hear reports of people rushing through just to primary missions, skipping everything else and completing it in 8 hours, and i hear people doing some of the side stuff and minigames, and completing in 15, and then there are folks milking every mission, objective, race, minigames that are able to get 23+ hours from it. Personally, it took me 14 hours to complete everything on disc 1 for xbox 360, and I probably even missed a few things. Thats just disc 1, lol... i have an entire disc yet left to go.

Atmosphere is just incredible. The art deisgn and levels are amazingly detailed, the wastelands just breath taking. Nothing seems rushed.. everything just looks better and better as you go along. The enemies are well modeled, beautifully animated.. characters well voiced and very fluid, fitting into the landscape perfectley. lighting and ambience exactly where it needs to be... it certainly bleeds "cutting edge" as far as graphics go. in-game FX are all quite awesome.. from explosions, to debri, to sunlight, wind, terrain detail, vistas, cities, sewers and tunnels, villages, skymaps, even the little "dust devils" and tumble weeds blowing around. Sound FX are all up to par, and very well done. Phenomenal soundtrack, as well. The game is epic when it needs to be, intense when it's appropriate, spooky just at the right moments.

AI is another huge aspect of this game.... it's probably the best I've ever seen in a game. Enemies dodge, jump, crawl, strafe, run in manors we've never seen.. very beleivable. Their taunts and conversations always perfect... they do not seem scripted in movement... their decisions seem realtime and make for a very challenging experience. Some are a bit too life-like, adding a extremely eerie vibe... The numbers that come at you vary, and increase as the games go on. The mutants being the perfect "velociraptor" of the game, and the authority bringing in a killzone/half-life 2 government threat.. withr raiders and gearheads and other creatures playing their respective rolls in fine detail.

The storyline, contrary to what some may say... is very fitting. Asteroid impacts earth, wipes out nearly everyone, most people who went underground die off even in their arks. Those who survive, awaken. You awaken some time after they do (and some are apparently survivors of the impact who never had gone into hibernation underground). You pretty much know nothing, The game fills you in a bit on your background and why your of importance, but really you create the story as you go along. It's very open... eventually you do come to find you serve a purpose in the game and why your of interest to a certain faction. There's no over-the-top dramactic reason your there, but you do know your being sought after as you move along this chaotic post-apocalyptic land. It's seems very id software style... keeps it basic, but has a direct point. Your there more to make up the story of the game as you go along rather than having it all laid out for you. You uncover bits and pieces, adding a certain inetersting mystery to the game itself.

Finally you have multiplay... which cuts out the tired days of age old DM, CTF, TDM, and opts for something of a "twisted metal" freshness. With several different modes, huges maps to roam and destroy, along with numerous vehicles, upgrades, and levelups... It's a blast! Some of the best MP I've done in a long time.. very refreshing and a step away from the usual. Very fast paced, alot of ingame bonuses and powerups, with various capture the rally points, asteroids, racing, or just total onslaught. I kind of wish Unreal Torunament had offer this some years ago with their vehicle modes, but I'm glad to finally see it in RAGE. And then you have the first person COOP modes... there's indeed a dozen of them to play... and they add a very interesting spin-off persepctive of the singleplayer story that fills in the gaps of how some of the situtations came to be. The COOP works wonderfully, and really keeps the pace for each level.. adding pretty heavy challenges to you and your buddy.

There's numerous other aspects I've probably not mentioned, but everythings here. The game is intense and certainyl one of the best games I've ever played. It's loaded with content.... if you want it to be. And it's own originality is a combination of the id software magic touch along with inspirations of DOZENS of other titles really blend together quite well. If you want it to be a racer or offroad exploration, it can be... if you want it to be a FPS, it most certainly could be, or if you wanted to add some RPG to your style, it's definetely there. My suggestion? Milk everything from it, and your going to find yourself deep inside hours of another outstanding title.


I'd expect with a such a huge success and the content overflowing from RAGE's release, we're probably going to see tons of DLC to add to the storyline, and likely alot more multiplay for vehicles, coop, and likely additions of TDM/CTF/DM down the road.

A definite "must buy". Amazing job id software & bethesda!

Great review...very thorough i don't agree with everything but I do love RAGE. I think why RAGE is getting many complaints from the PC elitist is because they feel shunned..it's hilarious and sad at the same time since I would probably not play fps on anything but mouse and keyboard.

All the complaints are valid but overly exaggerated IMO and many are just trolls and [censored] for other games they are cheerleading.

My biggest complaint is the ending, I think they could have accomplished both goals at the end of the game; proper kick-ass closure while opening it up for DLC and possible sequel... That's the biggest sin in this game, the frothing of the mouth by some players and reviewers about other aspects of the game I do not agree with.

It could have been much more but it doesnt take away that it's awesome at the things it does right; gunplay, graphics, animation and sounds and could use work on story, and a more compelling and dynamic wasteland.

Why you so Kracee?

Oh and at least they are headed in the right direction , for an Id game this is freakin Dostoevsky compared to their prior collection.

I honestly don't beleive the ending was the actual "ending". I think what occured is they simply want to save some more hours of singleplay for DLC. Alot of games are doing this nowadays, and quite honeslty, I don't think they could have fit much more into an already 3-dvd game, lol.

I didn't have a problem with the ending on the PC version... just felt like a "to be continued" or end of a episode (like in the original DOOM game).

I'm sure we are going to see episodic content, or at least a release of another half of single player in the soon future.

Oh and at least they are headed in the right direction , for an Id game this is freakin Dostoevsky compared to their prior collection.

My only complaint is the restrictions in movement. I′m talking about some invisible Walls or obstacles you can′t jump over.
The game is very well done otherwise. I love how creative ID was with the enemies and buildings. Yesterday i fought against the well designed Jackal Clan with all their yelling and battle cry and i said to myself "this is just great!"
In contrast to these primitives i went into the Authority′s high technology base. Just beautiful and again great sound design.
Finished it today and i will definitively start another campain.
Great game.

I really like this game. Can't wait for DLC!

I get it's not the ending but The general consensus is that the purchase needed closure, it wasnt advertised as say fellowship of the rings (which I hated the ending as well) but at least with that movie I saw it coming-- it was a trilogy. Perhaps if they had titled it RAGE volume 1 they would have gotten a lot less grief about the insanely abrupt ending

Yeah I know most it had to do with fitting this game in 3 discs I'm sure there were some pretty hard calls by Id's brass to cut and compress to fit on 3 DVDs... And I bet even in Id there was slot of sad faces when that happened.

I think Rage will under perform in sales and that's sad because one day perhaps they will say wow look at the production quality in Rage those were the days, don't be surprised if that happens. I means what's left of big franchises left in PC? blizzard and valve?

Just bought it today, I like it so far. Nothing fantastic but it is one beautiful game.

could not have said it better myself great review !!!!!!!!!!!!