Screamer Review

Screamer is an arcade racing title developed and published by Milestone. Set against the backdrop of a secret underground street racing tournament, the game introduces the unique “Echo” engine, an extraordinary technology that resurrects destroyed vehicles, ensuring the competition never ends. Players follow a diverse cast of racers, each drawn into the high-stakes event by the enigmatic Mr. A., with a staggering grand prize of one hundred billion dollars.

Who will emerge victorious? Buckle up and prepare for the ride of your life in Screamer!

Start Your Engine!

Screamer opens with the flair of a late-90s or early-2000s anime series, complete with a full musical intro, a melodramatic revenge prologue, cutesy characters and moments, and a tutorial that quickly shifts into high-octane racing. At first glance, it feels familiar, echoing classics like Need for Speed or more recent titles such as JDM: Japanese Drift Master.

As a twin-stick racer, Screamer introduces a unique control scheme in which the left analog stick handles steering, while the right stick is dedicated to drifting. This dual-stick approach can be challenging for players accustomed to traditional arcade racers like Forza Horizon, but early missions ease players into the mechanics, gradually layering in the game’s unique systems.

Initially, transmission is automatic, but players soon encounter the Active Shift System, which allows manual gear shifts at high speeds. Reaching maximum velocity unlocks a natural turbo mode, and if you require more assistance, you can use the Boosts to add the pick-up you need to clinch a race or get out of a pinch.

What makes Screamer unique is the introduction of their Echo System, which introduces two modes that expand on your standard arcade racer and branch away from traditional racing elements, enhancing its science fiction setting. The blue bar is the Sync, which is the main resource for movement and defense. By using the active shift system, you can increase the blue bar to activate your boosts and shields.

The orange bar is Entropy, which Powers offensive maneuvers, letting racers strike opponents to gain an edge. Rivals can counter with shields, but well-timed attacks can temporarily knock them out. Additionally, overdrive is a high-risk, high-reward state that grants near-invulnerability and devastating speed, but ends in self-destruction if you collide with obstacles.

The Echo System allows for a unique racing experience in Screamer, which you can experience through its many modes, including the Tournament (Story) mode, Arcade, and Multiplayer. While it stands out from typical arcade racers, the new mechanic adds the extra novelty that makes it fun.

Burn Like A Shooting Star!

The Tournament Mode in Screamer unfolds like a serialized anime, spanning over one hundred episodes and introducing a wide roster of characters. Each racer is distinct, with voice acting in multiple languages. While the reliance on familiar anime tropes adds charm, the sheer length of the narrative can feel repetitive and, at times, exhausting.

Completing Tournament Mode takes roughly 15–20 hours, depending on skill level. Unfortunately, uneven difficulty spikes often disrupt the pacing, testing even the most patient players. The inventive Echo System, while a highlight, can also be a source of frustration because enemy AI frequently pulls off last-minute maneuvers that derail progress and force retries.

Replayability comes through Arcade and Multiplayer modes, where players can select from 15 unique characters and their specialized vehicles. Additional modes such as Time Attack, Score Challenge, and Overdrive (a survival-style mode) provide variety. Victories yield customization rewards, though these are limited mostly to color palette swaps, falling short compared to deeper systems in titles like JDM: Japanese Drift Master.

For racing fans, it doesn’t quite match the polish of genre heavyweights like Forza Horizon or Sonic Racing, but it gives just enough novelty to check out. While its quirks may appeal to dedicated anime enthusiasts, the experience risks overstaying its welcome once the initial charm fades.

Verdict: Wait For It…

Screamer is a distinctive arcade racer that blends anime-inspired storytelling with inventive mechanics, offering a quirky world for fans of the genre. Its ambitious scope, however, is weighed down by an overly long story mode, unpredictable difficulty spikes, and AI tricks that can frustrate newcomers.

Despite these shortcomings, there’s still enjoyment to be found, particularly in its Arcade and Multiplayer modes. While not essential as a Day 1 purchase, Screamer demonstrates Milestone’s willingness to experiment, leaving us curious to see how the studio will refine its approach in future racing titles.

*Screamer was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.