by As we've already covered today elsewhere on Pure Xbox, we've got two brand-new additions to Xbox Game Pass for May 5th, including one that literally only got announced a few hours ago in the form of Motorslice.
So, what is this game? It's actually an indie parkour adventure title in which your goal is survive a harsh environment where everything is trying to kill you. Along the way, you'll need to climb, slide, crouch, run, jump, wall run and use your chainsaw to navigate the environment, while also engaging in "brutal fast-paced combat".
The question is whether this all translates into a good game or not, and we've obviously got a few Motorslice reviews already hitting the web, so let's take a look at what a few of the critics are saying so far:
Gamer Social Club (9/10)
"With level design that begs to be explored, a world that is vast and inviting, and an ambience that is unfiltered or obstructed, Regular Studio have tuned every element of Motorslice, from its art direction to its sound design, to keep the player focused and driven, especially through approachable and cleverly interwoven design and controls. By never wandering from its simple and enthralling premise and backing it up with fun, satisfying gameplay, Motorslice is proof that sometimes all you need a game to do is make you feel cool while doing cool stuff."
Noisy Pixel (8/10)
"MOTORSLICE delivers a compelling blend of high-stakes parkour and streamlined combat, creating a rewarding gameplay loop that thrives on precision and mastery, even if its narrative ambitions fall flat. The movement system feels weighty and deliberate, making every jump and traversal decision meaningful, while the integration of chainsaw mechanics adds a distinct layer of creativity to both traversal and combat. Overall, MOTORSLICE stands out as a strong action-parkour title that excels in gameplay but stumbles in storytelling cohesion."
SteamDeckHQ (3.5/5)
"Motorslice is a fun game that feels great when it works, but the odd controls keep it from realizing that potential. The simple combat can be fun, while the parkour moves that we have flow nicely with each other and are accentuated by the good level design. However, there were too many times when I would want to do a specific move and ended up doing a completely different one. This would’ve benefited from a little more polish, but there is still something to enjoy here."
COGconnected (66/10)
"Motorslice has the heart and soul of a classic adventure title, but it lacks modern sensibilities that sometimes hinder the experience. Platforming across its well-crafted linear levels is wonderful, but open areas are not as well-tailored. The controls can also be frustrating, with P not always feeling as responsive as you’d expect. Combat is serviceable, featuring a parry system with a harsh timing window, and it’s in these mechanics that the game channels its Shadow of the Colossus-inspired boss encounters most effectively. Although some genuinely strong ideas shine through, the rough edges make them hard to fully appreciate."
As things stand, Motorslice has a pretty decent Metacritic average rating of 75 for the PS5 version, while there aren't enough reviews yet to generate an average for the PC and Xbox versions. Not a bad start!
It's included with both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, or you can pick it up for under $20 on the Xbox Store. Better yet, this is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, so you get the PC version for free if you buy it on console!
Parkour through the ruins of a megastructure, climb massive bosses, and hunt down every construction equipment in this slice of life action-adventure with immaculate vibes. Play as a girl named ‘P’, and use everything at her disposal to escape from deadly traps. Run, climb, slide, crouch, wall run, perform stunts, and even use your chainsaw to cross impossible distances.