The exhilarating fusion of bloodsport drama from The Finals meets the breakneck velocity of Mario Kart and the adrenaline-fueled parkour of Mirror’s Edge in the electrifying new revelation of Deathsprint 66, exclusively unveiled in Edge Magazine.
In the dystopian landscape of 2066, a world grappling with the ravages of climate change, the forsaken urban sprawls left behind by humanity have found a grim new purpose – as the battleground for a lethal spectacle.
Deathsprint 66 thrusts players into the heart of these dilapidated cities, where speed is only part of the equation: reminiscent of Mario Kart’s iconic items, players must wield deadly tools like the buzzsaw and seeker saw to maintain their lead, introducing a blood-soaked twist as these lethal projectiles can sever limbs or cleave opponents in twain.
The influence of Mirror’s Edge is unmistakable in Deathsprint 66’s parkour-inspired mechanics, capturing the essence of free-running in a manner that few games have achieved since the acclaimed title’s inception. However, the connection to The Finals may appear less obvious at first glance.
According to design director Andrew Willan, Deathsprint 66 is crafted as a visceral sport, drawing parallels to the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome with its blend of spectacle and brutality.
While The Finals opts for a more sanitized virtual reality experience, both games are framed as competitive sports within their respective fictional universes.
This emphasis on spectacle is deeply rooted in cinematic inspirations from cult classics of the ’70s and ’80s, such as Rollerball, Death Race 2000, and The Running Man. Yet, Deathsprint 66 also taps into a contemporary resurgence of interest in such intense spectacles, spurred on by modern entertainment like The Finals and cultural phenomena such as Squid Game.
For developer Sumo Newcastle, this signals a renewed appetite for high-stakes thrills, now realized through the interactive medium of gaming.
Scheduled for release on PC, with potential console ports on the horizon pending a successful debut, Deathsprint 66 holds its release window close to the chest, promising further revelations during the Future Games Show Spring Showcase in March.
