The Crew took on a very serious tone when it came to it's open-world racing experience. While it wasn’t the worst idea ever conceived, it left players of Ubisoft’s ambitious project feeling somewhat dissatisfied. Sure, you had a massive open world with the ability to drive any car you want across a vast environment, but the game was lacking much by way of personality and character. This, however, is the first big change you'll notice in their monotonously-named sequel The Crew 2.

When looking at The Crew 2’s shift in tone, you need only look to Watch Dogs 2. Ubisoft attempted to have actually some fun with the game it was presenting, a massive change over the dour original. Developer Ivory Tower took that shift in tone and has gone to insane lengths to present The Crew 2 in the same manner and it’s a more than welcome change.

Thanks to the era we live in, the focus has been shifted to gathering as many followers as possible. Everything you do in The Crew 2 builds your reputation, with the end-goal to become the next viral sensation. The more people know you, the more disciplines and racing styles you can unlock - a simple progression system centred around a concept that everyone is familiar with. Blow up the world of social media and be rewarded based on achieving milestones.

It's worth noting that this can be a bit cumbersome at times, as “cool racing dudes” are consistently throwing buzzwords at you. Thankfully, this becomes background noise in context of the overall package. It’s the racing itself where this game comes alive and, in this regard, The Crew 2 is leagues ahead of its predecessor in terms of sheer enjoyment.



At first, I thought I would dislike the addition of boats and planes added to the mix. In fact, I was fearful that this might even cause the game to have less character than the first game but, thankfully, I was wrong. Not only does it change up the game’s pacing, but it keeps players tapping into different skill sets; you're no longer just behind the wheel of a car. The beta showcased the entire map - it’s borderline intimidating when you first see it - and content isn’t going to be an issue in The Crew 2. There’s so much to do in the game that it will definitely give players more than their money’s worth.

All of the aforementioned changes would be for nought if the game couldn’t live up to expectations and, thankfully, this isn’t the case. While the cars do lack that arcade-like feel from the previous game had, The Crew 2 is shifts a little closer to the sim-like handling of Forza Horizon and, in that regard, the racing feels spectacular. The cars require some time to learn how to control them, and getting too carried away will result in you experiencing the offroad scenery with a more hands-on approach. Given time, learning to master your vehicles becomes intensely satisfying. Taking a corner with precision as you kiss the apex can give you a genuine feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Paired with the fact that the AI will not go on easy on you, this makes victory in The Crew 2 all the more rewarding.

Street racing, in particular, felt very true to the goals that were set for The Crew. Each track is located within the open world, that means that there’s no such thing as a barrier. You have signs that will tell you where to turn but if you do make a mistake and go off course, you'll be redirected and continue tearing across the map. Of course, there’s a high chance you won't be winning the race after that but it is refreshing to know that you won’t just hurtle into a wall of some sort and be bounced back onto the track.

The different racing styles change up this formula and you’re able to test drive your cars within each discipline available in the beta. It’s undoubtedly the highlight of The Crew 2; the more you progress, the better it gets. Sadly, I was limited to rookie status for now but when the final game comes along I will eagerly work my way to the top. Labelling The Crew 2 as an arcade racer seems unfair, but it does retain that fun factor and accessibility. The game is focused on making you participate in the breathtaking races than worrying about making you explore the different ends of the map.



As for the boats and planes, the refinements made to the cars trickle into these elements quite nicely. I felt fearful of getting into them, mainly due to the fact that I was afraid of what they could do to the game. Thankfully, they’re not bad by any stretch of the imagination and I thoroughly enjoyed the boat races (though I did find myself longing to get back behind the wheel of a car). Anything else felt like a break from the fun.

Needless to say, my fears were laid to rest and it is a very welcomed addition to the game. They do a good job at breaking down the game: if you’re bored of four wheels then there are other options and that’s very important. Without it, the need for speed would be a little too extreme.

Moving on to other features, the ability to upgrade is based on a loot system, which allows you to interchange car parts with other cars in your garage - a much needed feature that breaks up the monotony of racing a low-end car, grinding out currency for a new model; now you can keep your older cars competitive for longer. Aside from the ability to switch vehicles whenever your heart desires, exploring on four wheels gives players plenty to do; ranging from the typical slalom challenges to taking photos of landmarks and animals.



The Crew 2 takes the promises made by Ubisoft during the marketing of the first The Crew game and expands on it. It may have lost the darker tone and pure arcade-like feel, but it more than makes up for it in its attention to detail and overall fun factor. If you’re looking for a racer that doesn’t take itself seriously but puts in the effort where it counts, The Crew 2 may have the chance to be it. This beta showcased the potential of the game, and we will have to wait for the final release to see if they have capitalised on that. Stay tuned for our full review coming soon at Nexus.

Have you been given access to the closed beta? What are your thoughts having played through the beta? Let us know in the comment section below.