Disney Speedstorm: The First Preview

ign.com:

There’s a better-than-average chance you’ve played a Disney-themed kart racer over the years, whether its Mickey's Speedway USA from GoldenEye 007 and Diddy Kong Racing maestros Rare, or Toy Story Racer from LEGO specialists Traveller’s Tales. There’s even the largely-forgotten Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour – a whimsical little racer from Crystal Dynamics helmed by the creator of… horror classic Dead Space. At any rate, Disney is going back to the enchanted well in 2022, courtesy of the crew behind Gameloft’s long-running Asphalt series. Does it have the bare necessities, or is Gameloft taking the mickey? IGN was given an early glimpse at the game in action ahead of this week’s closed beta.

Pitched as a hero-based combat racer, Disney Speedstorm appears to be a typically intuitive and accessible arcade racing game. While IGN is yet is have hands-on time with the game itself, the team has described the handling as easy to grasp, tricky to master, and certainly informed by the experience gleaned from the Asphalt series – particularly Asphalt 8: Airborne, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Asphalt Xtreme.

Of course, approachable driving dynamics are the minimum entry requirement when it comes to competing in the karting space against incumbents like the impeccable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and the successful Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (and even non-karting racers like Hot Wheels Unleashed, one of the best arcade racers of the last decade). Disney Speedstorm’s trump card here is the admittedly unparalleled treasure chest of characters, worlds, and even music it gets to draw inspiration from.

This means Hercules and Megara racing through the Monster’s, Inc. Scare Floor, Baloo and Mowgli blazing through the Beast’s Enchanted