Playing the Chaos on Wheels demo

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Chaos on Wheels is all about cars, destruction and explosions. Here is a look at the demo ahead of its September 2022 release date.

Back in the day us oldies were spoiled with vehicle destruction-based games. Carmageddon made it acceptable to run over pedestrians for points, while Twisted Metal – originally on PlayStation – really did let you twist all the metal.

And now we have Chaos on Wheels, not to be confused with Meals on Wheels. At least, we will have when it is released on the 23rd of September 2022. For now, here is a look at the Steam-based demo on PC, which features a tutorial to help you get up to speed.

And said tutorial is actually worth doing, not joking, because you have more guns than the Matrix series. There are machineguns on the front, more rapid-fire weaponry on the sides and multiple missile launchers including of the skyward-launching, homing variety.

Each car also gets a unique move – one example, the only example in the demo, is a quick burst of speed to either get close to your opponents so you can watch them blow up all close and personal. Ya sadist. Or run away from them in a ball of fire.

Dying to drift

It is also possible to be all Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift if you press another button – X on the Xbox controller I used to play the demo. This is not just for burning rubber; it allows you to point those front-facing guns at your opponents as you strafe, enhancing your damage output while hopefully avoiding theirs.

Yes, all of that is quite a lot to take in. But, no, the concept is simple. Blow or be blown. No, wait. Simply put, driving in circles while firing everything you have really is a huge part of the Chaos on Wheels experience.

Exactly what you fire at varies. Somewhat. In the campaign it is turrets, turrets and turrets. Also some missile bays and a few other vehicles. All of it blows up with a satisfying explosion if you shoot at it long enough. Or you do if you fail to retreat fast enough to regen your health.

In multiplayer, which is limited to offline-only in the demo, you can go against turrets or other cars or both. Select a difficulty level, ranging from easy to chaos, and shoot your way to victory.

Well, try to. Even on normal difficulty, some enemy vehicles soak up bullets and missiles better than Amber Heard soaks up bad publicity.

Multiplayer mayhem

While the concept of the campaign could wear thin in the long run, the fast-paced antics of the multiplayer is likely where Meals, sorry Chaos on Wheels will shine. Especially as there appears to be many, many vehicles. And many, many upgrades. Most of which fire projectiles.

Honestly, if the developer can nail the combat against other players and ensure enough weapon and vehicle variation, Chaos on Wheels could be a convincing enough nod to those old and lovable car and bike combat games.

As it stands, there are some heavy-hitting competitors out there that have more mileage on the clock. Such as Crossout or even the likes of War Thunder if you want a more military vibe. Maybe even Wreckfest if you are not so fussed about weaponry but like Destruction Derby vibes.

Still, it is early days for Chaos on Wheels and a lot of the gameplay that would be most appealing, such as online multiplayer, unlocking new vehicles and customisation, is locked in the demo. Basically, there is less I can’t tell you about than I can.

Feel free to check out the Chaos on Wheels demo. Link here. Or consider giving it a blast when it becomes an early access game on Steam. A state in which it will remain for “at least a year”, according to the team, as development progresses.

A price is yet to be announced, but developer and publisher Acodeon Gaming says to expect a modest fee that increases as the amount of development time and content progresses. Fair enough.

On that monetary note, let me know your constructive thoughts in the comments below and be sure to like and subscribe to the help the Tribe.

Chaos on Wheels demo screenshots

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