Category: IGN

Surprise! A new My Hero Academia game is on the way.

We learned the news during Bandai Namco’s brief teaser for its upcoming Summer Showcase, and while details were light — at least for now — we can expect more when the showcase goes live on July 2 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 9pm CEST / 4am JST.

My Hero Academia debuted in April 2016 and became an instant hit, telling the story of Izuku Midoriya as he navigates a school for superheroes after only just inheriting the world’s most powerful abilities. Alongside the eight seasons of anime, four films and myriad games have been released, too. The eighth and final series is set to air this coming October.

In the same 30-second teaser, Bandai Namco also revealed we’re set to get a new trailer for Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree and a gameplay deep dive of Digimon Story: Time Stranger.

That’s not all. Also slated to appear are Code Vein 2, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Death Note Killer Within, Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots, Little Nightmares 3, Patapon 1+2 Replay, Shadow Labyrinth, Super Robot Wars Y, and Tekken 8.

We had a good look at The Blood of Dawnwalker quite recently, of course. Rebel Wolves — the studio led by former The Witcher 3 game director and co-director for Cyberpunk 2077, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz — confirmed its upcoming dark fantasy action-RPG will release in 2026 when it shared new gameplay footage earlier this month.

Bandai Namco went big on little things last week, too, confirming Little Nightmares 3 will release on October 10. And if that seems very far away, anyone who pre-orders a digital version of Little Nightmares 3 between now and launch day will get to revisit the game that started it all with Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition as an early access title.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Dune: Awakening griefers are at it again, concocting ever-new and exciting ways to make other players’ lives miserable. And once again, the griefing concerns Ornithopters.

Last week, Funcom launched Dune: Awakening’s Public Test Client and then extended the PvE zone of the Deep Desert from about 10% of the map to 50%. It followed an AMA in which the studio told players frustrated by the endgame experience that it was “formulating a plan” to improve PvP in the Deep Desert. Previously, players branded the endgame as “toxic” due to griefing even after the ability for players to squish each other with their Ornithopter was supposedly patched out.

But despite Funcom’s mitigations, unscrupulous players have discovered another way to grief players by landing their Ornis on top of unsuspecting players — this time to prevent them from farming.

“All the griefers are now coming into Hagga to farm spice. They’re doing the same thumper and land on thopter technique they perfected in [Deep Desert]. But now they’re using it to farm all the minor nodes in Hagga,” wrote one aggrieved fan over the weekend.

“This game has some massive issues ahead. Griefers are in an all-out war against everyone else on their server, and yet there’s zero way for solos to band together to stop it. And as a Dune fan, I don’t think planting a thumper and then having four thopters land on you is part of the mythology.”

u/RandoFinder then edited their post to add: “I kept my Thopter at 730 km for 30 minutes until a spice blow, and as soon as I moved, four thopters were chasing me. JFC, y’all are pathetic. This was in Hagga. I had players tonight telling each other to doxx me when I stood up to them in Hagga chat. I’ve been in WoW general and other horrible chats, but Dune general is the most toxic chat that I’ve ever seen.”

“I think it goes without saying that PVP is PVP, and killing other players in a PVP zone is totally legitimate and expected,” responded another player. “Entrapping someone by abusing game mechanics intended to prevent grief of a similar kind, ala pinning people with ornithopters that otherwise can’t be destroyed or escaped in a PVE zone, is griefing. Griefing should be explicitly and implicitly disallowed. If you’re in a PVE zone, you should not have to worry about players killing you through an abuse of mechanics.”

At the time of writing, there has been no public response from Funcom about the issue.

Dune: Awakening has enjoyed a superb launch, with a ‘very positive’ user review rating on Steam. Within hours of going live on June 10, Funcom’s survival MMO had clocked up over 142,000 concurrent players on Valve’s platform, and hit a new high earlier this month of 189,333 players. And it’s already clocked up over 1 million players, too, making it Funcom’s fastest-selling game ever, and securing a Great 8/10 in our review.

If all that’s got you interested but you’re not sure where to start, make sure to check out all the Dune: Awakening classes you can choose from, and keep an eye on our Dune: Awakening walkthrough for a step-by-step guide to the story. We’ve also got Dune: Awakening resource guides that’ll help you find iron, steel, aluminium, and a Dune: Awakening Trainers locations guide to help you survive on Arrakis.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

While Ubisoft keeps quiet about a potential Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake, the actor behind the game’s hero Edward Kenway has offered up some teasing words to fans.

A souped-up version of Ubisoft’s piratical Assassin’s Creed entry has been the subject of numerous leaks over the past few years, and is now widely expected among fans. But Ubisoft itself has never confirmed the project — and declined to comment on the matter when contacted by IGN last month, when an Assassin’s Creed merchandise maker also dropped an obvious Black Flag remake hint.

Now, at a fan convention, Edward Kenway voice actor Matt Ryan has given perhaps the most obvious tease so far that something is on the horizon.

“Have you beaten the game?” Ryan asks a fan, as captured on video by TikTok user therebelarchive. “Well, you might have to beat it again…”

When the fan replies “Is this true? I have to run through all of them again,” Ryan responds with a knowing wink, and then says:

“Well, especially this one. There’s a reason I say that, but I can’t say anything.”

Matt Ryan (Voice of Edward Kenway) Teases Black Flag Remaster via a fan interaction at a convention!

Quote
“Have you beat the game?… well you may have to beat it again 😉”
And
“There’s a reason I say that but I can’t say anything…”@TheHiddenOneAC @TheRealZephryss pic.twitter.com/vg6RghgcE7

— YT.com/Super DropKick (@SuperDropKick17) June 29, 2025

While Ryan is likely aware of the ongoing speculation around a Black Flag remaster, could his involvement in it extend beyond seeing his prior work re-released? Reports have suggested Ubisoft is working on a substantial re-working of Black Flag — does that mean Ryan himself is involved, re-recordling dialogue, or contributing to new story elements?

Multiple reports charting the game’s development have surfaced over the past couple of years, with the Black Flag remake allegedly being worked on by Skull and Bones studio Ubisoft Singapore (remember that Skull and Bones itself started life as a Black Flag spin-off), with work underway to offer something ultimately more substantial than just a simple remaster. Reports have suggested that this new version of Black Flag will boast all of the visual fidelity found in the recent Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as well as expanded wildlife and combat systems.

With no all-new Assassin’s Creed game set for the end of this year, fans believe the Black Flag remake would be well positioned to arrive in time for the holidays. Here’s hoping Ryan isn’t made to walk the plank for dropping this latest hint, and it’s not too long before Ubisoft makes the remake official.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Sega has addressed Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition’s rocky launch, extending its refund policy for the game, offering a 50% upgrade path discount, and promising a string of patches.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is a re-release of Relic Entertainment’s 2011 action game, Space Marine. Both Games Workshop and publisher Sega are not calling this a remaster. Instead they point to quality-of-life and graphical improvements “that take the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine experience to the next level.”

These include higher fidelity and improved textures, 4k resolution, “improved” character models, a modernized control scheme and interface overhaul, and remastered audio.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition launched on June 10 across Xbox Series X and S and PC, and straight into Game Pass (there’s no word on a PS5 version). While it appears to be going down okay on Game Pass, on Steam, where Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition costs $39.99 / £34.99, it has a ‘mostly negative’ user review rating.

Most of the complaints revolve around the high price of the game relative to the changes it makes over the Anniversary Edition, with other issues including usability problems and somewhat baffling visual changes. A lot of the negative reviews are from fans who say Sega should have given this Master Crafted Edition to owners of the original game for free or with a discount, which leads us nicely onto Sega’s latest update.

In a post on Steam, Sega said “we’ve heard your concerns around pricing,” and outlined the steps it was taking. To start, it has extended its refund window for Master Crafted Edition to July 10. This means that if you bought the game you can get a full refund, regardless of playtime, as long as you request it before 6pm BST / 10pm PST on July 10, 2025 (when the Steam Summer Sale ends).

Meanwhile, there is, as so many fans had asked for, now a 50% upgrade discount. If you own Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Anniversary Edition, you’re eligible for a 50% discount when buying the Master Crafted Edition until 6pm BST / 10pm PST July 10 2025 when the discount offer ends.

Yes, that means if you already bought the Master Crafted Edition and qualify for the discount, you’ll need to request a refund manually via Steam Support (before July 10) then re-buy the game at the discounted price.

“We know this situation has been frustrating for some of you, and we’re sorry for the confusion it’s caused,” Sega added. “We hope this approach offers a workable solution while we continue improving the game itself.”

Speaking of which, Sega released the patch roadmap for Master Crafted Edition. It includes a number of improvements all due out in the coming weeks. Highlights include user interface enhancements, fixes for the game running on Steam Deck, and networking improvements. The details are below.

“We’ll continue listening, improving, and communicating as these changes go live,” Sega concluded. “Thanks for sticking with us.”

Warhammer 40,000 video games have been on a great run lately, with the likes of Space Marine 2 leading the charge of well-received, successful titles. Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition is a rare misstep, then, ahead of the launch of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War Definitive Edition later this year.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition Patch Roadmap

🌍 Localisation

• Updated Dutch, Polish, and Italian translations.

• Improved localisation for game modes, controller options, and key terms (e.g. Skar Boyz).

🧭 UI/UX Enhancements

• Major improvements to chat input, scoreboard layout, and HUD elements.
• Added glow effects, spacing fixes, and better alignment across menus.
• Improved mission selection, unlock notifications, and subtitle persistence.
• Added new button prompts, SFX, and controller glyphs (including Steam Deck and Switch Pro).
• Fixed softlocks, graphical glitches, and input issues in various screens.

⚔️ Gameplay Fixes

• Fixed softlock in Exterminatus wave 5.
• Restored coop live tokens and fixed weapon wheel ammo display.
• Improved challenge decorators and shield visualisers.
• Fixed campaign info and map loading inconsistencies.
• Legacy black screen issue fixed

🎮 Platform & Controller Support

• Steam Deck now launches correctly.
• Improved controller disconnect handling on PC.

🌐 Networking

• Fixed session code visibility in streamer mode.
• Improved EOS invite handling and native session stability.
• Disabled team auto-balancing during gameplay.
• Enhanced P2P connection handling to prevent lobby splits.

🛠️ Technical & Build

• Moved local user profile data to AppData to prevent config crashes.
• Added memory safety for loadouts and improved fade animations.

🔊 Audio & Visual

• Fixed missing or duplicate SFX events.
• Updated button textures and fixed VFX issues.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, June 29 below:

Assassin’s Creed Shadows for $49.99

This Legend of Zelda canvas wall art is the perfect gift for any Zelda fan. It recreates the timeless Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai, but with a fun Wind Waker twist. It’s the same exact art, but now Link and the King of Red Lions are sailing in the foreground. It’s silly, fun, and a great mash-up of the famous painting and one of the best Zelda games of all time. If you’re looking for a great Legend of Zelda gift for yourself or the Nintendo fan in your life, this is definitely worth considering.

The Legend of Zelda Great Wave off Kanagawa Canvas

There are 16 different versions of the print, with five main configurations. There’s regular gallery wrapped, black-framed, 3-piece, 4-piece, and 5-piece versions to pick from, so you have plenty of variety to find the right one for your nerdy interior decorating. Each of the divided versions come in medium and large versions, and the gallery wrapped and black-framed styles come in five sizes.

They vary in price between $39.99 and $29.99. The 24 by 18-inch gallery wrapped version is 7% off, now at $69.99 while the 4-piece medium is also 7% off, bringing the price to $129.99.

Now is the perfect time to pick one of these up, since The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker has gotten a second wind (nailed it) on Nintendo Switch 2. You can access the game on the Nintendo Switch Online GameCube app along with Soul Calibur 2 and F-Zero GX, with many more to come. The Wind Waker is one of my personal favorites, and we gave the 2002 original a 9.6, saying that it’s “a masterful achievement — a shining example, in fact, of how video games should be made and a case study for developers wondering what makes a compelling game”.

See more Legend of Zelda gifts

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

Want codes for Grow a Garden? Well, a code redemption system is finally here! It was added to the popular gardening experience as part of the Lunar Glow event. This big change means it’s likely there will be codes released in the future, so IGN will now keep you covered as and when new codes are released!

Working Grow a Garden Codes (June 2025)

I’m sorry to say that even with the new Bizzier Bees update, there still currently no active Grow a Garden codes! As soon as new ones are announced, we’ll update this article to include the new ones. For now, check out all there is to do in the new Bizzier Bees and Friendship Update.

Expired Grow a Garden Codes (June 2025)

Unfortunately, these codes have now expired:

• LUNARGLOW10 – This gave players 3x Seed Packs.

How to Redeem Grow a Garden Codes

Now that there’s a code redemption system in the Roblox experience, here are the steps you need to follow to use Grow a Garden codes:

1. Launch the Grow a Garden Roblox experience
2. Look in the top left corner to find the Settings cog next to the icon of the backpack
3. Click settings and scroll down to the bottom
4. Copy and paste codes from this article into the Redeem Codes box
5. Press claim and enjoy your goodies!

Why Isn’t My Grow a Garden Code Working?

There are usually two reasons why a code isn’t working. It’s either because:

• The code is expired
• The code has been entered incorrectly

If a code has been entered incorrectly or is expired, it will say the “code is invalid.” To stop this from happening, we’d recommend copying and pasting the code directly from this article. We check and test each of the codes before we add them to our articles. However, when copying them, you can sometimes accidentally include an extra space somewhere, so always double check there’s no additional spaces!

Where to Find More Grow a Garden Codes

If new codes are added to the game, we’ll update this article, so you can always check back here and keep up-to-date with the latest codes. Grow a Garden has its own dedicated Discord server where codes will be announced, as well as game updates.

What is Grow a Garden in Roblox?

Grow a Garden is a new Roblox experience that’s become incredibly popular since it launched. The gardening simulator allows players to show off their green fingers, as you buy seeds and plant a variety of crops from basic carrots to exotic dragon fruit trees.

As fruit and vegetables finally sprout, you’ll be able to harvest them to sell for Sheckles. To go from a beginner gardener to a pro worthy of awards, you’ll want your crops to experience mutations that increase their value. This can happen randomly, with Gold and Big mutations being down to chance, while weather events like snow can increase your luck of a Frozen mutation. There’s also gear, and even pets now, that can affect how fast your crops grow, their value, and more.

When is the Mega Harvest Update in Grow a Garden?

Grow a Garden hosts new events each weekend, where players can come together and try out the fresh content for the ever-expanding game. The next update is planned for Saturday June 28, 2025 and is being called the Mega Harvest. While we don’t know much yet besides the fact that the Summer Harvest event is being extended, we can guess that there will be new seeds, new pets, even more craftable items to come.

Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.

Although it’s been well over a year and a half since the Pokémon TCG’s 151 expansion of the Scarlet & Violet set came out, stock demand is higher than ever, fueled both by nostalgia for the original Pocket Monsters featured and the ongoing scarcity of cards.

Even rare cards from packs that are readily available can still be worth quite a lot of coin, but the Pokémon TCG’s regular lack of supply to meet the demand has certainly made certain cards especially pricey.

From the least-expensive to the most wallet-busting, these are the ten most expensive Pokémon TCG cards you can pull in the S&V 151 set right now (ready for any potential special restocks during Amazon Prime Day, and rival sales at Walmart, Target, and more).

TL;DR – 10 Most Expensive S&V: 151 Cards

For those who just want to jump straight in, the ten most expensive cards in the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet 151 set are just here, determined by their current market value on TCGplayer. The top five are all worth at least $40, with the top three going above $50.

Compared to some other sets, that’s all-in-all fairly reasonable… unlike the $500 plus you’re looking at for the rarest Destined Rivals singles right now!

While other recent sets have more expensive cards in general amongst their top ten, the special illustration Charizard ex is still among the priciest cards in the recent TCG right now, regularly floating between $170 and $185.

10. Ivysaur – 167/165

Video games are more expensive than ever nowadays, and even a small sale can make the world of a difference. With the recent release of Nintendo Switch 2, many players are jumping into the Nintendo Switch ecosystem for the first time, and there are dozens of amazing games waiting for them. There is no bigger Nintendo franchise than Super Mario, and the Nintendo Switch received many of the plumber’s best entries to date. Today, you can save on select Mario games like Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, and more. It’s not every day that Nintendo games go on sale, especially from the Super Mario series, so don’t miss your chance to save with these limited summer deals.

The Best Deals on Mario Games for the Switch Today

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury brought one of the best Wii U games to Switch, and it’s better than ever with a brand-new expansion. The base game has 12 different worlds to explore, with both local and online co-op available for up to four players. New to this version of the game is Bowser’s Fury, an entirely unique experience that features 100 different Cat Shines to collect.

Even at $41.99, Super Mario Odyssey is well worth the price of admission. It’s still arguably the best Mario game to date, featuring a giant sandbox to explore, hundreds of collectibles, and an unbelievable soundtrack. For 3D platformer fans, Odyssey is nothing short of a masterpiece, and it’s a game you can replay time and time again.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is another game that was given a second life on Nintendo Switch, having first released on Nintendo 3DS in 2013 as Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. Finally, there’s also the Ubisoft-developed Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. This sequel to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle improves on nearly everything from its predecessor, with all sorts of humor and chaotic battles awaiting.

If you’re buying for your Nintendo Switch console, the eShop will be your best bet. However, if you wish to purchase a key to either gift to a friend or redeem on your console, Humble Bundle has the same Mario games on sale for similar prices.

The Steam Summer Sale Is Also Live Now

In addition to Nintendo’s sale, Steam has also launched its annual summer sale on PC games. If you’re looking to find some discounts outside of Nintendo, this is one of the best times of the year to do so. Below is a quick roundup of some of the best discounts in that sale as well.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

Following in the jet trail of futuristic racing games like F-Zero and Wipeout, Fast Fusion’s blistering speed has all the hallmarks of what has made the Fast series so fun since its 2011 debut. Every muscle in my body tensed up as I blazed through its handful of sci-fi courses, boosting my way to the finish line while using the new jumping mechanic to find shortcuts. As one of only a very small handful of current Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives, this is a dazzling technical showcase for the power of Nintendo’s newly minted system – but annoying progression choices and minimally inventive changes to a well-worn formula dull some of Fast Fusion’s shine.

If I had a dollar for every racing series that added the ability to jump as part of its arrival on Switch 2, I’d only be two bucks richer, but it’s still weird that it happened twice. That jump option is also just about the only thing Fast Fusion and Mario Kart World have in common: where the latter takes things in a bold new direction with its open world, here developer Shin’en sticks to what it’s done well since Fast Racing League on Wii. There are a few new bells and whistles to mess with as you tear through its fifteen courses ( three of which were added in its first update on June 26), but this flavor of hypersonic speed will largely be very familiar to anyone who has played past entries.

Fans of F-Zero or Wipeout will also know the drill: Fast Fusion is set in a distant future where the only speed is fast and every road is dangerous. High-tech racing machines careen through obstacle-laden courses at blinding speeds. The Fast series sets itself apart with a unique boost system, where driving over boost pads or through other elements of the course will give you an extra push as long as you switch your vehicle to the corresponding orange or blue color. Making that swap only takes the press of a button and rewards you with a satisfying burst of speed. Fast Fusion knows how good it feels to go faster than the speed of sound, and it leans into it as its highly detailed, staggeringly impressive environments melt into a blur as you carve through them.

You can also collect orbs to fill up an independent boost meter, and switching as you weave between tight turns before boosting through a straightaway to shave nanoseconds off your time adds just enough to focus on without becoming overbearing. But that has always been true of the Fast formula, and Fast Fusion’s jump button breaks from tradition in a smart but ultimately not too impactful way. Shin’en used this change to add more complexity to its courses with alternate paths stacked on top of each other, but I wish the Munich-based studio had leaned into the change even more, as it doesn’t amount to much more than adding small shortcuts and an extra way to dodge some obstacles.

These are still fun, but I feel like there’s just a bit too much rigidity in how and where you can use the jump to put yourself ahead. It has a ton of range, and you can cover some massive gaps with the right timing, but I never felt rewarded by pushing these mechanics to the absolute limit or mastering them beyond jumping where it felt natural or obvious.

The mechanical changes from 2017’s Fast RMX on the original Switch to Fast Fusion mirror the similarly incremental jump in graphical power between these hardware generations, leaning into one or two specific improvements rather than attempting a complete overhaul. This is easily one of the most impressive-looking Switch 2 games available right now, with incredible lighting and gorgeously smooth visuals while playing in 4K docked, but it’s missing some of the initial wow factor that Fast RMX had. Don’t get me wrong, it still looks stunning, but the generational jump just isn’t nearly as exciting or surprising.

Thankfully, Fast Fusion does at least offer a decent selection of different graphics settings, making it easy to favor framerate, graphical quality, or a balance of both. I usually went for the second-best quality setting that promised 4K output and some high-fidelity lighting while maintaining a consistent 60 frames-per-second, but then opted for a higher framerate choice when playing in splitscreen. I love that Shin’en decided to include this option, really letting me juice my Switch 2 for every last drop of processing power it has.

Just like Formula 1 or NASCAR, futuristic corporations have a mechanical horse in the race. Instead of racing bounty hunters and samurai clashing on the track, you’re controlling faceless cars made or sponsored by different manufacturers. That sterile, far-flung futuristic vibe has the same somewhat empty, tech-demo-like feeling you see in those videos of Unreal Engine fan mockups where a beloved character runs around a grey box and the comments are begging some publisher to, “Please hire this man.” But Fast Fusion moves so quickly that you hardly have any time to pay attention to those basic-looking spiky balls rolling around the course unless you’re doing your best to steer around them.

Separated by standard racing stats like top speed, acceleration, and boost, Fast Fusion’s garage has a great selection of vehicle configurations that cater to tons of different playstyles. Maybe you’ll aim for a high boost stat, which rewards you for precisely switching between blue and orange when driving over boost pads or through color-coded zones. Alternatively, a high acceleration stat makes it easier to get your zero-G legs, allowing you to catch up to the herd more quickly as you contend with Fast Fusion’s somewhat punishing wipeouts. I usually went for a blend of high top speed and boost once I got used to each course, dodging obstacles and nailing hairpin turns while optimizing routes that allowed me to boost as much as possible.

Finding that perfect build isn’t easy at first because you start with a paltry three vehicles, and are forced to use the in-game currency won by completing races to expand your stable of zero-gravity racers – and eventually fuse them together. Fusing vehicles results in goofy corporate merger names and better vehicles with improved stats. You’re all but required to unlock higher-grade vehicles and fuse them to compete at the highest speeds and difficulties Fast Fusion will throw at you.

Each fusion is nebulously graded on a lettering system, which I still haven’t completely deciphered even after a dozen hours of racing. But as far as I can tell, it rewards saving up cash to unlock the most expensive vehicles you can and kit-bashing two high-ticket rides together more than anything else. Frustratingly, fusing racing machines removes the option to use either of the original, pre-fusion vehicles. I get this from a flavor perspective, but it doesn’t make sense within the context of an arcade-y racing game where you want to unlock many different options. Fusing and de-fusing cost in-game currency, making its artificial scarcity all the more annoying; this wouldn’t be as much of a problem if you didn’t also need to use that currency to unlock new cups to compete in. To make things even worse, Fast Fusion forces you to unlock the second, third, and fourth cups in each speed class, which doubles as a difficulty setting.

I understand that Fast Fusion isn’t meant to be as forgiving or easy to pick up as a kart racer; gating higher difficulties behind reaching the winners’ podium in every cup would make sense. But obscuring cups I’ve already completed by making me unlock them at every difficulty – while also making me buy nearly every car and then additionally pay to fuse them into better ones – unnecessarily stalls Fast Fusion’s economy. It’s like putting training wheels on a Harley.

Side modes can at least make for fun alternate ways to earn extra cash beyond just repeating the same cup over and over again, like the sudden death-style Hero Mode where your vehicle’s boost and health are linked. That’s neat, but I wish the challenges offered in these other modes had a little bit more going on. Instead, they’re mostly just slight tweaks to a normal race with no change to the courses themselves, which doesn’t alleviate the repetitive grind of unlocking everything.

Compared to 2015’s Fast Racing Neo, Fast Fusion is smaller – but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. Most courses offer clever designs that had me white-knuckling my controller, from a fun series of shortcuts on Yama Crest to dodging tornadoes on Tempesta. This laser-sharp focus on great levels is probably the best and most interesting part of Fast Fusion. Every time I’ve booted it up, I’ve found a new, satisfying way to shave a few seconds off of a lap I thought I’d mastered. Boost orbs make for compelling breadcrumbs in that pursuit, encouraging you to find new ways to approach a turn or hinting at a hidden path or more efficient way to handle an obstacle.