Fast RMX: An Early Switch Gem

In the Fast Lane

Contrary to popular belief, the Switch launched with more than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! As Switch owners begin to wrap up Zelda, many people are beginning to ask what they can play next. The AAA scene is barren, with both 1-2 Switch and Super Bomberman R rightfully earning middling scores from critics. On the surface, your Zelda machine might appear vapid while we begin the forty day streak without a first party title. While I am still deep in the trenches with Breath of the Wild, I have been doing some investigating into the growing Indie scene already present on the Switch’s eShop. From what i have experienced so far, Fast RMX is the cream of the crop.

Fast RMX is a beautiful game in motion

Fast RMX makes a strong first impression, and Shin’en Multimedia should be commended for the game’s presentation. The graphics on display here are incredibly crisp, and so far this game is the most technically impressive game on the Switch. Too often Indie games fall back on crutch of pixelated graphics to present their game with. Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a great game, but its presentation could never stand shoulder to shoulder with AAA releases. Fast RMX though is a different story. Between the weather effects, the lighting, and the high fidelity models, Fast is just as impressive as many PS4 titles I have played. Although, graphics don’t make a game. Horizon Zero Dawn is a stunning game, but that does not make it fun to play. Thankfully, Fast RMX is just as fun to play as it is to look at.

In Fast RMX you must switch the color of your vehicle to
obtain corresponding speed boosts scattered around the track

I have a confession to make; I have never played an F-Zero game. I know, I'm a bad Nintendo fan. With that out of the way, Fast RMX is a clear successor to the F-Zero formula, and it plays like a dream. Mario Kart is a blast to play, but no Mario Kart game has given me the same thrill I get from Fast RMX. This game will have you gripping your Joy-Cons like no other. Your vehicle moves at a blistering pace that demands every ounce of your attention to keep on the track. You’ll find yourself in a trance as you speed down the road frantically switching color to get boosts of speed as you avoid the onslaught of hazards bearing down on you. This action is only accentuated by the HD Rumble support that barrages you with intense and realistic vibration patterns as though you are really being jostled in high winds, or soaked in a torrential downpour. The racing is not without its faults however.

Fast RMX is tough; expect to crash often

On certain courses I feel as though trial and error is relied on a bit too much; some obstacles and color changing strips are just too hard to pick out in the heat of the moment on a first go, and that causes some cheap crashes. While the amount of modes and options present here are not equivalent to a AAA racing title, Fast RMX lacks time trials in the current patch, for example. At $20 though, this game has plenty of tracks to race on, and the online mode will certainly keep players invested in the experience.

While AAA support is light right now, Indies are carving out a place on the Nintendo Switch, and Fast RMX is an early example of success. Personally, I hope we can reach a better balance in 2018, but in the meantime, the sheer quality and frequency of these releases will carry gamers from Nintendo game to Nintendo game. If you are still interested in the Indie scene on the Switch, check out my last post where I delved further into the balance between first party releases and Indie content on Nintendo’s newest console. For the time being though, I am going to hop right back into Fast RMX and I hope that many of my fellow Switch owners decide to do the same.