Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

187: Ride or Die stakes its claim on a unique combination of high-octane racing and third-person shooting, forcing players to juggle throttle control, drifting, and accurate fire from behind the wheel. Each mode demands you maintain situational awareness on both speedometer and crosshair, creating tense moments where a split-second swerve can save your life or see you explode in a shower of sparks. Mastering vehicle handling curves with weapon recoil is challenging but rewarding once you find a rhythm.

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The game features a robust lineup of modes that ensure the action never stagnates. Standard races give you free rein to blast rival cars off the track, while escort missions task you with protecting high-value targets under relentless attack. Car bomb and police escape excursions mix things up further: the former sees you ferrying ticking explosives across town, and the latter tests your getaway driving without the aid of guns. Online deathmatches round out the package, pitting you against other players in arena-style maps where the last car standing wins.

Weapons are at the heart of the experience—rifles, shotguns, assault weapons, even dual-wield pistols all hit the asphalt alongside you. You’ll quickly discover that offense is indeed the best form of defense, as raw speed alone can’t match the crowd-clearing power of a well-placed rocket or hail of bullets. Choosing the right loadout before each mission becomes a puzzle in itself: light, nimble cars pair well with rapid-fire SMGs, while heavier rides benefit from explosive ordnance.

Graphics

Visually, 187: Ride or Die captures the gritty, urban “gangsta” aesthetic with neon-lit streets, run-down warehouses, and graffiti-scrawled back alleys. Car models are surprisingly detailed for their era, with realistic damage states that shatter windshields, crumple fenders, and leave bullet holes in metallic paint. The sense of speed is amplified by motion blur and skid-mark trails, giving each high-velocity scrape a visceral edge.

Environmental variety keeps the action fresh: nighttime cityscapes contrast with sun-baked industrial zones, while tunnel passages occasionally test the limits of draw distance. Lighting effects, such as muzzle flashes and tailpipe flames, pop against darker backdrops, though texture pop-in can sometimes detract from immersion. Frame rates remain mostly stable, but chaotic firefights with multiple explosions can cause brief stutters on older hardware.

Character and vehicle customization options allow you to tweak appearances, from flashy rims to custom paint jobs. While the color palette leans heavily into dark, leathery tones, it serves the game’s underground vibe well. Animation is serviceable—drivers react believably to crashes and gunfire—but it’s the raw spectacle of vehicular carnage that steals the show.

Story

You step into the shoes of Buck, a young street enforcer fresh to the rivalry between two crime syndicates. Tasked with eliminating rival crew members, Buck’s journey takes him across a variety of missions that peel back layers of deception, loyalty, and betrayal. The narrative positions you as both driver and assassin, with dialogue snippets between missions delivering enough flavor to propel you forward.

The plot unfolds through cutscenes that bridge the gap between races and shootouts, though they tend to focus more on style than substance. You’ll encounter larger-than-life characters—slick hustlers, double-crossing informants, and brutal lieutenants—each adding texture to the underworld backdrop. While the overarching storyline may feel linear, the mission variety keeps Buck’s ascent through the gang hierarchy engaging.

Though story beats occasionally slip into cliché, the thematic consistency of street codes and power struggles resonates with the game’s tone. You get a sense of progression not just in reputation but in firepower, as Buck upgrades from basic pistols to heavy weaponry. This tangible payoff makes the narrative thrust worthwhile, even if it leans on familiar tropes.

Overall Experience

187: Ride or Die delivers a distinct blend of adrenaline-pumping driving and run-and-gun action that stands apart from traditional racers or shooters. Its greatest strength is the chaotic synergy of two gameplay styles—when everything clicks, you’re rewarded with triumphant moments of precision driving entwined with pinpoint shooting. The game’s mission diversity and online multiplayer modes also provide solid replay value.

However, the dual-control scheme can feel unwieldy at first, especially for players accustomed to focusing on just one input type. Camera angles sometimes struggle to keep pace during tight corners or prolonged shootouts, leading to disorienting moments. Occasional texture loading issues and frame dips in high-intensity sequences remind you that the game’s ambition sometimes outpaces its technical polish.

For buyers seeking something different from the usual asphalt sprint or corridor shoot-’em-up, 187: Ride or Die offers a fresh, if rough-around-the-edges, experience. Its fervent atmosphere, weapon-driven mechanics, and varied mission roster make it a memorable ride—just be prepared for a learning curve on the controls and the occasional visual hiccup. If you relish high-stakes vehicular warfare and a gritty crime narrative, Buck’s world is waiting.

Retro Replay Score

5.9/10