RAGE 2

The combat is top-notch but the open-world setting is pretty pointless for such a linear game. Story missions which should unlock sequentially have to be unlocked by completing repetitive side quests.
RATING: 6.5/10

I was a bit spooked by the mixed reviews, but to be honest I get it since the opening of this game is just absolutely terrible and the worst part of the experience. Once you get past it and into the midgame where you have some abilities and weapons/weapon mods under your belt is when the game really opens up. The easiest way to describe the gameplay loop is to say that it's like Doom but with Far Cry outposts and instead of stealth, you have a bunch of cool abilities on top of some interesting weapons that are either reminiscent of Doom and Resistance or something unique entirely. The gameplay was so addicting that I really couldn't put it down.

Not bad, but not worth anywhere near full price either. Shooting combat is about on par with DOOM 2016, but not as intricate or satisfying as DOOM Eternal. The open world aspects are rather limited, it wants to be Mad Max but never really gets there. The tacked on in-game purchases for cosmetics is an insulting gimmick to beg you for more money in a game without any coop or multiplayer to show them off.
The story is the real let down though, a terribly generic experience with no attempt at being unique. It's strange just how much story and cut scenes they tried to fit in, while making no attempt at making them interesting.
You play as "Walker, the last ranger" and you must stop the oppressive "Authority" and you must "RAGE" for justice. You'll be told this repeatedly in the blandest possible way from mother figures, and cry over the dead who you have no time to ever get to know or care about.
Does it do enough to be recommend? Yea, sort of. If you're into FPS games and ran out of other options, wait for a sale price and you'll be killing generic mutants to your hearts content with a variety of weapons. It's functional, just not all that impressive. If you're looking for in depth story or something you won't forget a week later, skip it.
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Bottom Line: If you just want another mindless FPS with a pseudo open world, this is serviceable and can provide some hours of entertainment.
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Can't help but feel like this game just didn't get enough time to bake. Positive score because I did enjoy playing it, but I wouldn't call Rage 2 a great game.
The combat is probably the some of the best amongst any FPS I've played, but it's the only thing this game has going for it. My playthrough pretty much consisted of seeking out bases and clearing them, and once those were all done, it didn't really feel like there was much else to do since the story, world, and characters weren't very captivating.

Just a Fun Shooter
Rage 2 is often forgotten and even hated when discussing id Software's more recent games, often compared to the new Wolfenstein and Doom games and even criticized for being a bland, generic, open-world shooter with a terrible story.
Truth is, Rage 2 is not a bad game at all, and I would go as far as to say it is unjustly hated and misunderstood. This isn't the type of shooter where you are supposed to care about the story, and this isn't the type of open-world game where you are supposed to explore or feel immersed. Rage 2 is simply a fun game with a fun gameplay loop, and sometimes that is all you need.
The best aspect of this game is that it understands what it needs to do well and accomplishes it. The weapon sandbox is balanced and fun to use, the superpowers and abilities you unlock throughout the game are all satisfying, the vehicles control surprisingly well, and the game missions are short but ultimately sweet.
Once again, Rage 2 isn't some sort of masterclass shooter like Doom Eternal or Ultrakill, but it doesn't need to be. I beat the game, explored almost the entire map, completed all the outposts and missions, and thoroughly enjoyed my experience from beginning to end.
Ultimately, getting this game depends on if you value gameplay above everything else. If that's the case, id Software's satisfying weapon feel and balance, plus the simple 30 seconds of fun gameplay loop, should be more than enough reason for you to get this. Just make sure you find all the Arks at the start of the game so you can unlock all powerups and weapons as soon as possible.

Awesome moment-to-moment combat. Very much an Ubi-Open World game (its a product of its time for sure) but its so damn fun. Doom 2016, Mad Max & Just Cause DNA makes for a very fun game. Also, the new game + mode is one of my favorites in any game ever. Fully upgrade everything (and there is ALOT) and crank that difficulty up. I'd argue its the best part of this game.

It's difficult to recommend, but the game provided me with positive emotions due to the new gameplay experience, so my review is positive.
I missed Rage 2 at launch and only tried it now. I was quite surprised to find that the game isn’t terrible, just mediocre. It feels like the offspring of Mad Max and Bulletstorm. A modest, straightforward game that doesn't aim for greatness.
Technical state and performance: the game runs smoothly. There are minor animation glitches (for example, if you equip a pistol and immediately press the button in an elevator, the gun-holding animation breaks, causing the hand to jitter rapidly up and down). However, I didn’t encounter any crashes or game-breaking bugs during my 5-hour playthrough.
The narrative isn’t for everyone. It’s packed with clichés and references to 90s action movies, which might not resonate with all players. NPCs deliver their lines with over-the-top bravado, and the main objective of the game is repeatedly spoiled—it comes off as self-parody, but I wouldn’t consider that a strength. Naming the protagonist Walker and making him a ranger—it’s somewhat original, but also a bit cringe-worthy due to the on-the-nose approach.
Gameplay is solid. The gunplay is particularly satisfying, clearly influenced by the creators of Doom. The controls are a bit clunky, but you can remap the layout to suit your preferences.
The game world is a mixed bag. On the one hand, with contributions from the teams behind Mad Max and Just Cause, the post-apocalyptic setting is visually appealing. However, the game severely lacks content. Points of interest (like outposts, mutant dens, etc.) are architecturally distinct but gameplay-wise identical, which is problematic. We're used to repetitive locations, but usually, there’s an abundance of them; here, each gas station, each raider base is different in design but identical in gameplay, and there aren’t many of them. This leaves the world feeling empty.
What’s missing: a co-op mode. The game, with its in-game currency for purchasing cosmetics and DLC, seems to aim for a live-service model. But there’s no online mode! And the content is critically lacking. So playing solo quickly becomes tiresome (unless you’re the type who loves to explore every inch of open worlds, like I do).
What surprised me was the AI and side activities. The AI is smart, responding to your actions and exploiting opportunities, like attacking during reloads. Enemies attempt to flank you and react to your behavior—this offers a refreshing experience. More than once, I found myself running in circles around a raider base, taunted by the last surviving NPC who played hide-and-seek with me, attacking from a distance. I was also pleasantly surprised by the ability to take down vehicle convoys in a Mad Max-style—that’s a nice touch. NPCs driving around add a bit of life to the world of Rage 2.
So, is the game worth high ratings and a must-play recommendation? Probably not. Games like this need either a wealth of content, multiplayer, or a captivating story. In Rage 2, despite its title, boredom is the predominant feeling most of the time.