This game was received for free from the developer.

• Genre tags: Racing, Off-road, Arcade, Casual
  
  
• Value Proposition: I think this game is a bit overpriced. Personally, I'd say $30 is a better launch price. That'd still be a tad high in my opinion but it'd be a fair price.
  
  
• BSERC - (Borderline Sardonic and Extremely Reductive Comparison): I've heard people comparing this to Sega Rally Revo though personally it reminded me of Rallisport Challenge. It's a bit like a less chaotic version of Insane 2 and Motorstorm without mixing vehicle types or nitro.

If Valve doesn't implement a sideways thumb option soon, I'm going to have a hissy fit!

Gravel is a bit of a disappointment. It isn't a bad game by any means. It's just very archaic. You could say it was stuck in the early double aughts.

I feel kind of bad about saying this as it was given to me for free but I simply cannot recommend this game. And at this price point, I cannot put my “seal of approval” so to speak on this game. It's just too mundane and mediocre.

Let me provide more detail:

As for the gameplay itself, it's very very very arcade-y. You can tune the cars but it really has no or very little consequence. Even with all the driving assists off (which I very much recommend) the game is the total opposite of simulation. And that part isn't a bad thing per se, but it seems like they tried to bridge a gap between arcade and sim by allowing for tuning and then having it affect very little. And ultimately were left with something that satisfied neither type.

The checkpoint races are especially bland. Mostly consisting of holding the accelerate button and lightly redirecting every so often. Gone are the ways of the Jamboree style race in 1nsane where the map was wide open and active checkpoints would engage. First to 5, wins. There is very little in the way of needing to feather the brake or engage in proper drifts to edge around corners.

There is a sort of career mode but it has very linear progression. The earn 1-3 stars for doing track specific objectives to unlock more is very old design wise. It's fine, it's just not very interesting. The entire game feels very bland. It is functional and it does have it's moments. But they've chosen this “Gravel” channel nonsense that just lacks character and feels very ham-fisted if not intentionally campy.

THE GIST
It's a very old feeling game which is great for nostalgia but we've come a long way. At full price I simply cannot endorse this game. I think $30 would have been a much more appropriate and fair launch price. But, as far as my recommendation goes it's a very average game with some decent moments but ultimately does too little too late. ..And for too much.

More here — Station Argus

[b][i]This game was received for free from the developer.[/i][/b] [list] [*][b]Genre tags:[/b] Racing, Off-road, Arcade, Casual [*][b]Value Proposition:[/b] I think this game is a bit overpriced. Personally, I'd say $30 is a better launch price. That'd still be a tad high in my opinion but it'd be a fair price. [*][b]BSERC[/b] - (Borderline Sardonic and Extremely Reductive Comparison): I've heard people comparing this to Sega Rally Revo though personally it reminded me of Rallisport Challenge. It's a bit like a less chaotic version of Insane 2 and Motorstorm without mixing vehicle types or nitro. [/list] [h1]Exposition and Summation[/h1] [i]If Valve doesn't implement a sideways thumb option soon, I'm going to have a hissy fit![/i] [b]Gravel[/b] is a bit of a disappointment. It isn't a bad game by any means. It's just very archaic. You could say it was stuck in the early double aughts. I feel kind of bad about saying this as it was given to me for free but I simply cannot recommend this game. And at this price point, I cannot put my “seal of approval” so to speak on this game. It's just too mundane and mediocre. [b]Let me provide more detail:[/b] As for the gameplay itself, it's very very very arcade-y. You can tune the cars but it really has no or very little consequence. Even with all the driving assists off (which I very much recommend) the game is the total opposite of simulation. And that part isn't a bad thing per se, but it seems like they tried to bridge a gap between arcade and sim by allowing for tuning and then having it affect very little. And ultimately were left with something that satisfied neither type. The checkpoint races are especially bland. Mostly consisting of holding the accelerate button and lightly redirecting every so often. Gone are the ways of the Jamboree style race in 1nsane where the map was wide open and active checkpoints would engage. First to 5, wins. There is very little in the way of needing to feather the brake or engage in proper drifts to edge around corners. There is a sort of career mode but it has very linear progression. The earn 1-3 stars for doing track specific objectives to unlock more is very old design wise. It's fine, it's just not very interesting. The entire game feels very bland. It is functional and it does have it's moments. But they've chosen this “Gravel” channel nonsense that just lacks character and feels very ham-fisted if not intentionally campy. [b][i]THE GIST It's a very old feeling game which is great for nostalgia but we've come a long way. At full price I simply cannot endorse this game. I think $30 would have been a much more appropriate and fair launch price. But, as far as my recommendation goes it's a very average game with some decent moments but ultimately does too little too late. ..And for too much.[/i][/b] [quote]More here — [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28295405/]Station Argus[/url][/quote]