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Destruction Derby Arenas Hands-On Impressions

We check out the latest version of Studio 33's online racer at the PlayStation Experience event in London.

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On a recent visit to the online area of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's PlayStation Experience event in London, we were able to take part in an eight-player game of Destruction Derby Arenas. It's not clear how close to completion the version of the game on display was, but it featured a number of tracks that we've not seen before, as well as reworked versions of one or two that we have.

Our race took place on the Chinatown circuit, which, since we last played it, has been redesigned to incorporate a stretch of track where racers legitimately travel in both directions. The resulting head-on collisions are spectacular to say the least, and the new two-way traffic section (which also appears in other tracks) proved an effective way for racers at the back of the field to slow down the race leaders on more than one occasion.

Like previous Destruction Derby games, Arenas awards you points for spinning opponents. Points can also be earned in a number of other ways this time around, with spectacular jumps, smashing objects, and exceptional cornering all being rewarded. Points bonuses are also one of the many pick-ups that appear on the track occasionally, with others including nitrous oxide, a spanner that instantly repairs all damage, invulnerability, and extra-grippy tires.

The handling in Destruction Derby Arenas definitely has an arcade feel, but it also manages to make every corner and collision something of a challenge. Keeping the accelerator depressed at all times is definitely not an option, so players who prefer straight racing to destruction--as many online are sure to--will have plenty of scope to improve upon previous performances the same way they would in any regular racing game.

No North American release for Destruction Derby Arenas has been announced at this time, but the game should be available in Europe later this year. For more information, check out our previous coverage of the game.

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