Destruction AllStars

International cover art, depicting the characters of Shyft (back) and Genesis (front)

### Developer

Lucid Games

**Additional support**:
Wushu Studios

### Mode(s)

Single-player, multiplayer

***Destruction AllStars*** is an 2021 vehicular combat video game developed by Lucid Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 5. It is Lucid's second collaboration with Sony following 2012's *Travel Bug*.

The game's premise revolves around the titular "Destruction AllStars" event, a global sports entertainment event which pits participants and their vehicles against each other. Each of the sixteen available characters, dubbed "AllStars" have their own unique vehicles as well as skills available to them when their vehicles are destroyed. The game features both single-player challenges and a multiplayer mode.

Development of *Destruction AllStars* was primarily handled by British developer Lucid Games with assistance from Wushu Studios; Lucid began production in 2017. Many of the game's developers previously worked on Sony's *WipeOut* franchise, which was handled by the defunct Studio Liverpool. The game was originally announced in June 2020 as part of Sony's PlayStation 5 reveal event, and was planned to be a retail, launch title for the console. It was eventually delayed to February 2022 as a PlayStation Plus title.

*Destruction AllStars* received generally mixed reviews. It was praised for its visuals, character designs and their abilities, aspects of the gameplay and the title's potential with its existing elements. In contrast, it received criticism for issues relating to its online experience, lack of content at launch and implementation of microtransactions which some considered predatory. Lucid Games continued to support the game with post-launch content.

## Gameplay

*Destruction AllStars* is a vehicular combat video game presented from third-person perspective and can be either played online in various multiplayer mode or in single-player mode which consists of various challenges. Players can choose one of sixteen playable characters called "Heroes". Every Hero has their own unique appearance, personality and abilities. The game also has a collectible in-game item called Gears.

The game's multiplayer portion is comprised of several online modes:

* **Mayhem** is a deathmatch-style multiplayer mode, which can be played individually or through teams. Players have to deal damage and destroy other players within the time limit, with the highest-scored player winning the match.
* **Carnado** is a multiplayer mode focused around a risk-reward system. Players must earn Gears by damaging and defeating other players. A core aspect of this mode includes sacrificing the player's vechiles by driving them to the map's central point, where the titular 'Carnado' appears.
* **Stockpile** is a capture and control multiplayer mode focusing on team-based matches. Players obtain Gears through damaging and wrecking other players and their vehicles. The game's map has three banks, on which players stand on to deposit their collected Gears for the team. The team with the most banks captured wins the match.
* **Gridfall** is a battle royale-esque mode where up to 16 participants fight against each other while the map's floor begins to crumble. Players have respawns which allow them to return to the game; once they run out of respawns, a player is eliminated. The match concludes when there is only one AllStar standing.

## Development

Development on *Destruction AllStars* began around 2017.

## Reception

### Pre-release

*Push Square'*s Sammy Barker, following the game's announcement in June 2021, summarized that *Destruction AllStars* would be Sony's "big multiplayer card" for the PlayStation 5 after the publisher expressed interest in adding online titles to its catalogue. The announcement of rise in retail games' prices and *Destruction AllStars*'s $69.99 price tag drew some controversy,, with IGN's Joe Skrebels remarking the price hike's timing "couldn't be worse" due to the COVID pandemic. On the game's delay and transition into a PS Plus title, Taylor Lyles of *The Verge* wondered whether *Destruction AllStar* could become a success akin to *Fall Guys* and *Rocket League*, previous games that launched with a PS Plus free download. Chris Moyse of *Destructoid* noted how the game's pre-release marketing didn't capture "many eyes out of the gate", but expressed interest in the title and considered it "worth keeping an eye on".

### Reviews

* MetaCritic: 68/100
* OpenCritic: 76/100
* Game Informer: 8/10
* PlayStation Universe: 5/10
* VGC: 4/10

*Destruction AllStars* received mixed critical reception. It holds a 68/100 on MetaCritic based on 12 reviews. It holds 76/100 on OpenCritic based on 8 reviews.

*Game Informer*' Jeff Cork cited the driving mechanics and character variety as the game's strongest assets, though he considered the mode variety to be thin and criticized the lack of meaningful character customization. He found the game to be enjoyable though he was uncertain whether the game's launch content would be enough to keep him engaged.

Joe Aspyn of *PlayStation Universe* gave the game a mixed review, calling it "disappointing". He criticized its lack of key multiplayer features and light content, as well as the lack of lore to the setting.  Jordan Middler of *VGC* summarized that "the reasons to come back to *Destruction Allstars* are painfully few". He further lamented how the "wonderfully designed" characters were confided to a title that "never comes close to utilising their potential".

## References

1. ↑ Martin Linklater's Twitter.
2. ↑ https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/06/gallery\_destruction\_allstars\_is\_ps5s\_big\_multiplayer\_card
3. ↑ https://www.polygon.com/2020/9/16/21440546/ps5-launch-games-pricing-playstation-5
4. ↑ https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-full-priced-first-party-games-will-be-70
5. ↑ https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/26/21534475/destruction-all-stars-ps5-launch-title-delayed-ps-plus-february-2021
6. ↑ https://www.destructoid.com/stories/destruction-allstars-shows-off-its-2-fast-2-furious-ps5-action-609177.phtml
7. ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/destruction-allstars/critic-reviews
8. ↑ https://opencritic.com/game/10884/destruction-allstars
9. ↑ https://www.gameinformer.com/review/destruction-allstars/destruction-allstars-review-wrecking-havoc-in-the-arena
10. ↑ https://www.psu.com/reviews/destruction-allstars-review-ps5-a-clunky-convoluted-and-disappointing-multiplayer-offering-filled-with-unrealised-potential/
11. ↑ https://www.videogameschronicle.com/reviews/destruction-allstars/