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It´s been over a month since I watched Stainless Games trailer for their upcoming ultra violent driving game “Carmageddon: Max Damage“. And during that time I´ve been collecting my thoughts on the game, because let´s be honest. Stainless Games previous Carmageddon title “Carmageddon Reincarnation” was nothing less than a big disaster of a game (the average grade was 43,67% via Gamerankings and 54/100 via metacritic). And keep in mind that Stainless Games collected $625,143 via Kickstarter to develop “Carmageddon Reincarnation” (15,736 backers supported the game). Even so, the game still turned out to be anything but good.

“Carmageddon Reincarnation” is an even weaker title than “Carmageddon TDR”. And that game is pretty darn terrible.

And that makes me both sad and upset, because I´ve been waiting a very long time for a worthy sequel to “Carmageddon 2”. However, the hard fact is this. “Carmageddon 2” is still the best “Carmageddon” title to date (thanks to fan patches and mods). I mean, “Carmageddon TDR 2000” was a joke of a game when it got released back in the year 2000 (the game was nowhere near as good as “Carmageddon 2”). Sure, I (we) can´t blame Stainless Games for that abomination of a game, since Torus Games are the ones who developed TDR 2000. Nevertheless, “Carmageddon Reincarnation” is still on Stainless Games conscience.

You can´t have a new “Carmageddon” game without cows, because it´s a tradition.

So let´s just say that I have very blended emotions about “Carmageddon: Max Damage”. As I felt a large disappointment when “Carmageddon Reincarnation” launched in May last year (the game was everything but what I had hoped for). So yes, I´m having a rather big trust issue with Stainless Games at this time. And that´s also why I´m not quite certain if I can trust them with my money one more time. Sure, this time Stainless Games won´t launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund “Carmageddon: Max Damage” (the game is set for a release to PS4 and Xbox One on the 3rd of June in the UK this year).

“Welcome to the homicidal world of Carmageddon: Max Damage, the driving game where you gain points by mowing down the local inhabitants and your opponents are a bunch of crazies in a twisted mix of killing machines! With insane PowerUps, surreal environments and a variety of ways to win, it all adds up to endless hours of violent and hilarious FUN.

Coming to Xbox One and Playstation 3rd June 2016″ – Carmageddon: Max Damage, Stainless Games

“Carmageddon” and ultra violence go hand in hand. And it´s been like that since 1997.

Nevertheless, I´m quite sure that the game will cost about 49-59 USD on release. So I will keep my eyes open for Streams and gameplay videos of “Carmageddon: Max Damage”. As I have no desire to throw my money into the garbage bin for the second time in less than two years. However, it´s said that those who bought “Reincarnation” for PC will get the game for free. So I guess that I´ll just have to wait for the PC-version to launch, and speaking of which, for some strange reason. There seems to be no nailed down release date for the PC-version at the moment? (I don´t own a Xbox One nor a PS4 at this time, so I won´t be able to play “Max Damage” on release). So I really hope that Stainless Games will spill the beans about the release date in the near future.

Any ways, I´m going to share my thoughts and opinions on what I´ve seen and heard from “Carmageddon: Max Damage” so far (the trailers, screen shoots and a handful of previous articles). Well, right of the bat. “Max Damage” looks rather good when it comes to graphics (and I guess that the PC-version will look even better, 4K yes?).

And it seems like Stainless Games “might” have learned their lesson from “Carmageddon Reincarnation”. Well, at least if you choose to believe them and the features which they have listed for “Max Damage”:

+ 90 entertaining PowerUps
+ Three-game modes (Career mode, Freeplay and Multiplayer)
+ Over 30 metal mangling vehicles
+ Plenty of pedestrians to kill
+ A wide range of large open-world environments (ten to be exact, and that include everything from deserts, cities to icy wastelands)
+ Different event types (race, kill or chase your A.I or human opponents)
+ Those who bought Carmageddon Reincarnation for PC will get Max Damage for free
+ Four different online event types
+ A fully featured action replay mode
+ Complex car damage with a sophisticated repair system

His coach told him to do whatever it takes to win. So he brought his car onto the football field and brought victory to his team.

So “if” Stainless Games play out their cards right this time. Then we “might” actually get a “Carmageddon” game that kicks-ass instead of sucking ass. On a personal level though, I have no idea (whatsoever) what went wrong during the development process of “Carmageddon Reincarnation”. Because I really thought that “Reincarnation” was freaking awesome at first (when I saw the Kickstarter trailer). However, as we all know. The final production of the game was anything but “the bomb”. So I truly hope that Stainless Games will be able to avoid all of their past mistakes while developing “Max Damage”. I mean, it´s about darn time that Stainless Games kicks “Carmageddon 2” down from its throne. As the game has been on that damn throne for over 17 years time now. And it´s also a matter of keeping the “Carmageddon” legacy alive, because the series is turning 19 years old this year (on the 13th of June).

Well, we will know for sure on the 3rd of June this summer. So I wish Stainless Games the best of luck!

With that said, what do you think about “Carmageddon: Max Damage,” so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!

What I hope for:
+ A release date for the PC-version
+ A very heavy soundtrack
+ Good controls
+ A solid online mode
+ Mod possibilities
+ Car customizations
+ Online tournaments and Gaming events
+ A fun driving experience (like in the case with “Carmageddon 2”, for example)
+ Tons of gore and destruction

What I don´t hope for:
– A buggy mess
– Carmageddon Reincarnation 2.0
– A none working online mode
– A boring and non playable game

***Disclaimer***
This is a personal opinion of the writer, and it doesn’t necessarily represent the other writers (nor The Gaming Ground´s) opinions.