RAGE 2

Coming directly from RAGE, well... They're two different games. Completely. RAGE was a decently well-paced, linear shooter with some very mild exploration. RAGE 2 is an open world driving and shooting game with a poorly written story but in general- not in all aspects, though- better gunplay. Driving is worse. TLDR; don't play this as a sequel to RAGE- play it as DOOM's weird cousin.

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.

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.

For All the hate this game gets I really enjoy it. It is very Formulaic and can be repetitive in parts but it's a great first person shooter to turn your brain off and go destroy wasteland goons for awhile. It's not game of the year but that doesn't mean it's not some good Temporary fun.

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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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.