Deliver At All Costs review: Oops, wrong package

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The fun lies in the concept of delivering packages, and video games have pushed this idea to outrageous limits. Deliver At All Costs, developed by Konami and Far Out Games, showcases package delivery at its zaniest level. This game seems like it should be a slam dunk, but its story maintains a tone that contradicts the absurd premise, making for an odd combination, much like pairing peanut butter with salmon.

Return to sender

In the context of Deliver At All Costs, it’s more effective to tackle its most vulnerable point initially. The narrative progresses during the late 1950s and early 1960s, focusing on Winston Green, a struggling scientist who is out of work and is merely striving to gather funds for the upcoming rent. He encounters a family-run delivery service named We Deliver. The elderly head of the business offers him guidance, while his son views him with contempt and doubt.

The goal is to accomplish different delivery jobs throughout the region using the company vehicle. It doesn’t matter how Winston carries out his deliveries. Not at all! In this game, mayhem often ensues as he causes massive property damage, totaling any vehicles in his path, and running over pedestrians with amusing ragdoll effects. This is actually what makes the game appealing, given its world filled with collapsible structures and exaggerated destruction physics. Since speed and chaos are key aspects of this game, one would anticipate a playful narrative to match. However, the satirical tone in the 1950s setting is conveyed through pedestrian conversations and radio ads about constipation, but the main storyline involving spies and secret government weapons clashes with the game’s overall tone and setting.

Instead, Deliver At All Costs offers a straightforward narrative, where everything is portrayed with unyielding seriousness and weightiness. This solemnity contrasts starkly with the lighthearted nature of the primary gameplay, which involves driving around and delivering packages. The story revolves around corporate espionage, out-of-control science projects, and covert government agents, creating a tone that is quite dissonant with the gameplay. A plot twist at the end of Act 2 left me questioning whether I had inadvertently started a different game.

The juxtaposition was quite peculiar, and if the tale had been told in a straightforward manner, it could have become amusing after a full circle. However, it failed to reach that stage, instead leaving me irritated by the storyline towards the end. This dissatisfaction stemmed partly from my lack of connection with any of the characters. None of Winston, Donovan, Gordon, or the others seemed intriguing, and as time passed, my indifference only grew stronger.

Moreover, despite its heavy tone, this narrative fails to deliver any substantial messages. Topics such as fair labor practices and technological advancements in the workplace are mentioned briefly, but they lack depth and fail to make a significant impact. Instead, these themes seem to serve only as stepping stones towards the next plot point, leaving no lasting impression behind.

Pedal to the metal

Experience sheer fun by pushing your limits behind the wheel, crashing through structures, and executing thrilling leaps! Deliver At All Costs simplifies this excitement with its user-friendly driving mechanics. The objectives occasionally take a humorous twist, blending seamlessly with the gameplay style. For instance, one mission required delivering a helium balloon pump, but it refused to turn off, causing the corporate vehicle to hover off every ramp. Another task involved placing a series of miniature toy cars into specific slots, yet these toys behaved just as their larger counterparts would, leading to the absurdly entertaining sight of a miniature car smashing through a full-sized sedan!

In this game, Deliver At All Costs often strays from missions that call for cautious driving, given its main theme revolves around reckless driving. However, there were instances where I had to exercise patience and avoid accidents or drive slowly to preserve my cargo intact. This was like standing before a massive rocket launch button, warned not to press it, yet being compelled to obey. Interestingly, the game starts with a mission that challenges you to transport watermelons without dropping them, which is like having a “Don’t Touch” sign hanging over a tempting pile of watermelons.

As a gamer, I’ve found myself grappling with one of this game’s recurring challenges: time-critical missions. This aspect, coupled with the waypoint system, can be quite vexing at times. The game occasionally displays arrows on the road as guidance, but they can be elusive and easy to overlook when you’re in a rush. In moments where every second counts, this becomes the most exasperating part of the gaming experience.

The core mechanic encourages finding shortcuts, but that’s not always feasible when the route involves scaling a volcano or navigating a precarious bridge. The issues don’t seem to be confined within the main storyline either. There’s no option to set a custom waypoint anywhere, making it challenging to locate shops or fast travel spots, which can certainly be frustrating.

Sign here, please

Deliver At All Costs shines when it fully leans into the wild disorder and pandemonium implied by its concept. Delivering fireworks while they’re exploding? That’s pretty cool! Trying to outrun a burning gasoline path? Just plain crazy fun. However, Far Out Studio occasionally introduces other concepts, but these additions don’t necessarily improve the gameplay. I can admire the complex narrative, but by the end, it seemed more like an obstacle than a complement to the action. The same goes for objectives that demand precise driving; this game is at its finest when it discards caution altogether.

At the conclusion, Deliver At All Costs brought to mind the 2000s, as it was a concept with potential that didn’t fully blossom, but still provided enjoyable moments for a few hours. This game would have thrived in that era. In essence, this game elicits a nostalgic feeling, much like its 1950s backdrop.

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2025-05-22 20:58