Super Woden Rally Edge is the three-quel to the original Super Woden GP and Super Woden GP II racing titles. Unfortunately, not much has changed or improved with this latest edition.

The Woden series isn’t a typical racer because gameplay is almost entirely built around shaving milliseconds off the timer as opposed to racing opponents in real time, using items, or hitting that exciting boost. In the few instances the player races against the AI, there is only one opponent that competes on a parallel track. Since there are no boosts, jumps, items, weapons, or damage systems in place, gameplay is mostly unexciting. The simple, top-down presentation mixed with drab colors and 2D background sprites doesn’t help with the overall fun factor either. If you veer off the road even slightly, the game auto-respawns the vehicle on the track, demanding near perfection too. The difficulty is no joke.

Like the first two games, the player must navigate a clunky map-UI that takes time to understand. Upon first start up, the player must buy a default clunker with the initial starting funds. However, this vehicle is like trying to drive a boat on ice; there is essentially no traction. The problem is, in order to upgrade the vehicle’s handling and top speed, credits are required. Credits are earned by winning but winning cannot happen unless a car is upgraded. This gameplay loop is a frustrating conundrum where the only way forward is inch by inch. For example, I had to replay the first challenge about a dozen times before I gained enough muscle memory to earn a small amount of cash to upgrade the car’s horrible handling one level. This slow grind and test of patience is absolutely not for everyone.

There are tons of vehicles to unlock too. Then, each vehicle can be upgraded numerous times, which also costs more credits. However, the small amount of cash, even you have the incredible skill to earn any at all, requires tremendous effort. The juice simply isn’t worth the squeeze.

With a couple games already released in this series, it is disappointing when very little has changed and all the original blemishes still remain. The difficulty is unfair, the grinding gameplay loop isn’t exactly top-tier fun and without a gimmick, the UI is overly complex, and the presentation isn’t eye catching. Does anyone even know what a Woden is anyway?

By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com

X/Twitter: @ZackGaz

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