Developer: Memory Leak Games
Publisher: Cleversan Games, Ultimate Games
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Tested on: PS5
CarGo! (PS4) – Review
We occasionally receive games we are already familiar with, often as ports of titles we’ve played before. This time, CarGo! arrives on PlayStation. We previously reviewed the Xbox Series X|S version and found it to be a fun party game. As a result, readers who have already seen our Xbox review will largely know what to expect. For this article, we focus specifically on how enjoyable CarGo! is on PlayStation, whether you’re delivering materials against the clock with friends or playing solo.
Story
Let’s start with the story – or rather, the lack of one. CarGo! doesn’t have a narrative, which is fairly common for party games. You can always make up your own story with friends, though none of that would be canon. In a way, we’re glad the game didn’t try to force a storyline on us. If it did, CarGo! would have felt more like a co-op RPG instead of the lighthearted party game it’s meant to be.
Graphics
Featuring a colorful, cartoony art style, CarGo!‘s visuals are easy to read at a glance. The game uses low-poly models set in compact city environments where players can freely drive around. We don’t expect cutting-edge visuals from a game aimed at younger audiences, especially when the focus is clearly on fun gameplay rather than realism. The graphics do their job well and aren’t distracting during longer play sessions. While the levels share a similar structure, there are subtle visual variations that give some stages a warmer or colder atmosphere.
Sound
Sound design is serviceable. CarGo!‘s sound effects work as intended, but the music becomes repetitive fairly quickly. There’s little to no variation within the tracks, and it feels like the game only includes a handful of music pieces: one for the main menu, one between levels, and one during gameplay. It’s easy to see where budget cuts may have been made. More musical variety, especially to match the different visual themes of the levels, would have been a welcome addition.
Gameplay
Focusing on accessibility first and foremost, CarGo!’s gameplay is straightforward and easy to grasp. The core loop involves picking up materials, refining them, and selling the finished products. Each level has a target score that must be reached to earn stars, which are required to unlock subsequent levels. The game supports up to four players in local co-op, making it well-suited for party play. Admittedly, controls take some time to get used to, but once they click, the game becomes much easier, although it still feels intentionally a bit wacky. That awkwardness seems to be part of the game’s charm rather than a flaw. There will also be obstacles barring your access to where you need to deliver or pick up supplies. Some obstacles are more realistic than silly, like opening bridges or roads closed for construction. Your vehicle can break, but you’ll simply respawn, keeping the experience forgiving. A harder difficulty mode with limited lives could have added more tension for experienced players.
While the gameplay concept is fun, the game doesn’t fully explore its potential. You travel between levels by boat, but surprisingly, there are no levels featuring boats or planes. Yes, the game is called CarGo! -emphasis on “car”- but a bit more experimentation would have been appreciated. The game includes only 16 levels after all, which makes it feel somewhat short. Adding another 20 or so levels, possibly with different vehicles, would have significantly improved both longevity and replay value.
That said, the mechanics of collecting materials and refining them into new products are well executed. The use of a production queue adds a layer of strategy, especially when combined with time limits and obstacles. These elements create the most enjoyable moments in the game. However, we did find CarGo! to be far more entertaining in multiplayer compared to playing solo.
Conclusion
CarGo! remains as enjoyable a party game on PlayStation as it was elsewhere. The PlayStation port doesn’t differ from the previous versions, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone. While the levels tend to feel repetitive and the music becomes tiresome fairly quickly, the low-poly visuals suit the game well. Given publisher Ultimate Games’ track record, we were pleasantly surprised by this better-than-expected port, even if it largely feels like a copy-and-paste release. CarGo! is by no means a bad game. There’s just a noticeable amount of untapped potential, particularly when it comes to level count and vehicle variety.
No Comments