New Indie Game Gives Off Vibes of NFS Underground's Return

      Sealime

      The latest news and reviews in the automotive world, straightforward and honest.

      Last week, a demo for an indie racing game titled Heatwarped appeared unexpectedly on Steam, quickly capturing the attention of gamers. A glance at the screenshots, gameplay footage, and even the menus reveals that Heatwarped aims to evoke a nostalgic vibe that should resonate with many older gamers and fans: it aspires to be like Need for Speed: Underground. Interestingly, it does seem to fulfill that ambition.

      The demo features a few single-player events, including a drift competition, a portion of an open-world city to explore, and basic customization options for a fictional car resembling a mix between a Nissan 240SX and a Lexus SC. Heatwarped—which I regrettably keep misspelling as “Heatwrapped”—is still in development, and no release window has been indicated on Steam.

      Nevertheless, the content currently available makes a strong impression. Developer Sealime has convincingly captured the visual essence of BlackBox’s iconic games, highlighting a team that has thoroughly analyzed why Underground looked the way it did. For instance, the motion blur at high speeds resembles the accumulation blur effect typical of PlayStation 2 games rather than the more advanced per-pixel blur found in modern titles, making Heatwarped’s execution a perfect match for its inspiration.

      Accelerate and, just like in those familiar classics, the visuals become blurred and vibrant.

      The city streets, reminiscent of Underground, have an oddly glossy and reflective quality, even when it’s not raining. The colors, neon lights, bloom effects, and a subtle bluish tint exude that mid-2000s tuner NFS aesthetic—it’s strikingly reminiscent.

      Even if Heatwarped merely looked the part, it would already be commendable, but I’m also impressed by its handling. A couple of characteristics define BlackBox’s physics engine, particularly from Underground through Carbon. Starting from a standstill feels like spinning your wheels in thick mud for a few moments until the tires catch grip and the controller stops vibrating. After that, the handling provides a lot of traction until the lateral momentum shifts to the rear wheels, causing the steering to feel heavy yet still quite responsive. You won't spin out, but you can definitely fishtail at will.

      Heatwarped captures those elements perfectly, but it also takes advantage of the improved framerates and reduced input lag that two decades of technological advancement have brought. As a result, it feels better than those earlier titles to a noticeable degree. Of course, since the demo allows driving just one car, it's too early to judge how the handling will translate to other vehicles. Nonetheless, I felt instantly at ease speeding through this alternate version of Bayview, now oddly named Ratfield, which even features a neighborhood called Ashtray!

      As for additional charming details, I like the BlackBerry-style phone used to navigate the map, check messages, enter photo mode, and locate your next event. (Unfortunately, there’s no Cingular Wireless sponsorship to fully immerse Heatwarped in its era.) The customization options are not overly extensive at this stage but are suitable, with a body kit cheekily named “Ab-Smug.” Plus, I enjoy the music, which seems to come from lesser-known artists, reminiscent of the ambient techno and trance from early Midnight Club games, along with some instrumental rock that would have fit right in with pre-EA Burnout titles.

      Usually, I’m hesitant to promote an indie project without a clear release date from a lesser-known developer, but the glimpse we’ve received of its gameplay, along with the quality of what’s already available, makes me optimistic about Heatwarped’s development. Although Need for Speed may have faded, the spirit of the series remains alive as long as games like this continue to be created.

      Have a tip? Contact us at tips@thedrive.com.