Vibrant colours, flashing lights and pulverising sense of speed – Distance is distinctive in its approach to driving games.
As a result, it’s hard to draw direct comparisons between contemporaries. Perhaps the time trial-based nature of level structures is akin in a small way to Trackmania, the aesthetic at times like Wipeout HD Fury.
But really, Distance is its own thing, especially thanks to the boost (balanced with temperature), jump, flight and thruster mechanics mixed with online leaderboards.
Created by independent studio Refract, its creation story is long and tortuous. It began with a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2012, then entered early access in 2014 before finally releasing on PC in 2018.
Now, in 2024, it will be released for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Included is the central story mode, which challenges increasing in required dexterity as you progress – presumably not blinking, such is the concentration required. An arcade mode with the aforementioned leaderboards sits alongside the campaign, plus there is a four-player split-screen multiplayer and ‘ Trackmogrify’ random track generation.
Different vehicle types can be unlocked, such as a motorcycle or bubble car.
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