As the newest intellectual property from the legendary id Software, Rage had a lot to live up to. But while many greatly enjoyed the game, others felt that a lot of its elements leaved quite a bit to be desired, especially compared to more ambitious open world games like Fallout 3.
“For the ten or so hours that it lasts, Rage has a lot of honest, straightforward, amusing action on offer,” wrote critic Jim Sterling. “However, one can’t help but feel that this is little more than a prologue, something id Software put together in order to show the potential of a franchise, rather than realize the potential of a game.”
Indeed, Id Software had always hoped to turn Rage into a franchise but it never was to be… until now. Hopefully Rage 2 will see the franchise finally realize its full potential.
Here’s everything you need to know about Rage 2’s release date, trailer, gameplay, news, and more.
Rage 2 Release Date
The announcement trailer for Rage 2 appeared on May 14 but we didn’t get a release date. We didn’t even get confirmation on what platforms its releasing on or if it’s being developed again by id Software. But we’ll be sure to update the article as soon as we find out.
Update (May 15, 2018) – The official gameplay trailer released and there’s still no word yet of a release date or platforms. We’ll have to wait for E3 for more information.
Rage 2 Trailers
What Is Rage?
Bethesda SoftworksRAGE 2
Rage is an action-adventure, open world game developed by id Software, the developer behind Doom, Wolfenstein, Quake, and more. The game was very much in line with the company’s portfolio, being a first-person shooter with tight combat and buckets of blood. The game was released for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on October 4, 2011. It also received an iOS spin-off, Rage: Mutant Bash TV.
After an asteroid impact leaves Earth and human civilization in ruins, a soldier by the name of Nicholas Raine emerges from an underground shelter after being put into cyrogenic sleep. He is immediately hunted by an oppressive, technologically advanced government organization known as The Authority, who track similar survivors for an unknown purpose. Now Nicholas must liberate the wastes from the ruthless organization while battling countless mutants and bandits along the way.
Gameplay has you engaging enemies with a variety of weapons from crossbows and guns to bladed boomerangs. Weapons can be upgraded and use different ammunition types, such as the crossbow which can use electrified and explosive bolts in addition to standard ones. The game featured some role-playing game elements with an inventory system and looting. Players also have access to their own car that can be customized and pitted against foes in combat or racing. The game also featured competitive multiplayer and co-op.
Id Software first partnered with Electronic Arts for the publication of Rage when it was announced in 2009 as Wired reported, but after ZeniMaz Media acquired the developer in June 2009 the publishing rights went to its subsidiary Bethesda Softworks as IGN reported.
The original Rage received generally favorable reviews from critics upon its release, with the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 versions getting average scores of 79, 81, and 81 on Metacritic. Critics lauded the game’s combat, racing mechanics, and aesthetic and graphical prowess but criticized the story (especially the rushed ending) as well as its repetitive missions.
Id Software hoped that Rage would become its own franchise like the revered Doom and Quake, according to Ars Technica. The publication reported that the team had tons of ideas that either didn’t make it into the final game or could be used in a potential sequel. But while the team was on track to create a sequel, their owner ZeniMax Media cancelled it after the reportedly tepid commercial response of the first game so that the team could focus instead on Doom 4 (which would eventually become 2016’s Doom), sources told Kotaku in 2013. However, during the 21st annual QuakeCon in 2016, Bethesda Softworks vice president Pete Hines told Finder that the game sold enough to justify a sequel.
Rage 2 Gameplay
The announcement trailer, being a live action teaser set to Andrew W.K.’s “Ready to Die,” unfortunately didn’t give us much to go on in terms of how Rage 2 would actually play.
We can see that the bladed boomerang will return along with vehicle driving. We also got a look at some of the environments that could possibly come to the game including desert and forest areas. We also got a look at mutants as well as people wearing what appears to be electrified power armor.
It’s possible that the game will have a bit more focus on multiplayer modes. Not only are multiplayer components popular with big budget publishers lately but the trailer felt like it was showing off all the different customizable options players could have access to from colorful mohawks to animal horns. However, whether or not Rage 2 has a prominent multiplayer component remains to be seen.
Bethesda did promise at the end of the trailer that we will get a worldwide gameplay reveal tomorrow, so we’ll update the article once that drops.
Update (May 15, 2018) – Well the gameplay trailer dropped and we do have a much better idea of how the game will actually play. Rage 2 seems to combine the high-octane gunplay of id Software with the wide open worlds of Avalanche Studios.
Vehicle combat is definitely returning as we saw in the trailer, with players fending off packs of cars and monster trucks with rockets. Cars seem to be more integral to traversing the more open world design.
The bladed boomerang is returning along with a bevy of assault rifles, shotguns, and rocket launchers. We see in the trailer the boomerang sticking to a mutant before detonating as well as slicing through multiple enemies. This may point to the alternate ammunition types from the first game. We also see the player lobbing a grenade that appears to be a cluster bomb with the player setting it off remotely.
There also seems to be some Bioshock-like powers on display along with the guns. The first thing you see in the gameplay trailer is the player character holding out their hand to blast away an enemy. We see it again a minute into the trailer as the player blasts away a group of mutants. During the 1:16 mark, we see the player using a power to launch themselves into the air.
The player appears to have an aerial takedown similar to the glory kills in 2016’s Doom. Players also have access to a double jump.
We also got a look at some of the enemies you’ll be fighting against, from towering mutants to crazed bandits and even giant mechs.
Rage 2 News
Bethesda SoftworksRAGE 2
We’ve actually known about the existence of Rage 2 for a couple of days before it’s official announcement.
On May 9, 2018, in what may be one of the biggest pre-E3 leaks in video game history, Walmart Canada’s video game section listed several titles before they were removed. Such names included Just Cause 4, Splinter Cell, Borderlands 3, Gears of War 5, Assassin’s Creed, and of course Rage 2. Below is a screenshot of the listings taken by Wario64 before they were taken down:
Rather than denying the existence of the game or refusing to comment, Bethesda seemingly decided to have some fun with the leak. The official Rage Twitter account lampooned the listing, editing a screenshot of the webpage with a pink-colored version of the stylized “A” symbol in the original Rage’s title.
The next day, Bethesda’s Twitter account would post pictures edited with the same shade of pink used by the Rage Twitter account.
Finally on May 12, Bethesda teased a reveal on May 14 with yet another image using the same pink color.
The Rage Twitter account would tease the reveal in their own way, all but confirming that the game revealed would be Rage 2.
Finally, a short section of the announcement trailer to be played supposedly as an advertisement was leaked before the whole trailer’s official release.
Update (May 15, 2018) – With the gameplay trailer, we got a little bit more information about the story of Rage 2:
In the year 2185, humanity’s numbers are dwindling. Ruthless and bloodthirsty gangs roam the open roads and the tyrannical Authority seek to rule who remains with an iron fist. You are Walker, the last Ranger of the wasteland. Robbed of your home and left for dead, you’ll tear across an unforgiving wasteland battling bloodthirsty gangs to find the tools and tech needed to take the fight to The Authority and crush their oppressive rule once and for all!
We also got confirmation that id Software is behind the game yet again but this time they’re partnering with Avalanche Studios.
Avalanche is known for their open worlds filled with explosive action, most notably their Just Cause series. They even have experience working with post-apocalyptic, open world games with driving as they were behind 2015’s Mad Max. Now that is a little bit concerning as Mad Max received mixed reviews at best, but hopefully they can turn it around especially when partnering with id Software.
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