PS5 Open World Racer Clutch Is Dividing Opinion with Its Story and Gadgets

Spread the love

Guest
Login | Sign Up

Guest
Login or Sign Up
Grappling with it
Clutch is a recently announced new racing game, being made by a team with former Forza Horizon developers on staff.
You can definitely see some similarities to Xbox’s beloved racing series, but it’s the ways that Clutch differs from its competition that are proving to be the most divisive.
Here’s a video on the game, with numerous clips of gameplay between the commentary:
To recap, Clutch is an open world racer that has a focus on narrative. You follow a pair of siblings as they navigate the dangerous world of racing as they get involved with both the professional and underground sides of the sport.
Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube170k
Reactions online have been somewhat mixed about the idea of a proper story within an open world racer, but perhaps more contentious is the inclusion of gadgets, such as the harpoon seen in the above video.
Here’s another one:
It seems that some racing fans aren’t sold on having a grappling hook you can use to swing around corners or flip enemy vehicles.
Personally, I’m perfectly okay with it. A lot of modern racing games take themselves much too seriously, and if the story introduces silly gadgets like this, and they make for some really fun missions, I’m totally down.
Apparently they’ll be optional in the open world and disabled for proper races anyway, so no harm done in my view.
Still, with the visuals skewing towards photorealism, I could maybe understand how the juxtaposition might rub some people the wrong way.

Pedal to the metal

Full reveal at Summer Game Fest
What do you think? Are you liking Clutch’s focus on story and its inclusion of things like a grapple hook? Tell us in the comments section below.
[source youtube.com]
About Stephen Tailby

Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of video games to his role as Assistant Editor. Having grown up playing every PlayStation console to date, he’s developed an eclectic taste, with particular passion for indie games, arcade racers, and puzzlers. He’s also our go-to guy for Sonic-related matters, much to his delight/chagrin.
Comments 30

I thought it looked pretty cool. I’m certainly more interested in a story driven driving game more like Driver than yet another open world one. Obviously it’s early days so maybe it won’t deliver, but they have my attention.
The full Dustin Eden video above did a good job of showcasing it imo, never seen his channel before but I thought that was a good vid.

Ha that looks awesome. Nice to see smth a bit different – haven’t seen this since Amiga Batman way back. But this looks far cooler naturally.
I love a good racer but found the turning in Forza 5 so unresponsive – and this maybe looks the same? Looks like they’re driving and turning in treacle? Looks so HEAVY.

Hey if they want to add gadgets and gizmos to make their racer more unique, I say go for it. If people want a realistic sim racer where every vehicle handles like it does irl, there's Forza for that.

I like it, reminds me of Midnight club 3 abilities you could use.

God forbid someone actually tries to do something a bit different 😱

As long as it doesn’t have blue shells I’ll be happy.

Wait, mixed reactions not even about the story but about the IDEA of "a story in an open world racer"? And what else do these people excel at besides getting bored?

I generally avoid racing games, but anyone who tries something a little different for the sake of fun game play gets my approval, I might actually check this one out if it really leans into the gadgets aspect.

Not bothered about a story and I'm not bothered about having silly gadgets either. If the game let's you turn off the chaff so you can play it as you want then no harm done. Bring on next spring when it's released.

I like both story and gadgets, so to the wishlist this goes!

This is one of my most anticipated games this year and whilst yes it is a tad daft to have gadgets I’m just hoping the driving physics are decent as the game looks the business so far.
Doesn’t help that the driving in that video is shocking

We need more games that do wacky stuff, not just another Horizon clone from a new developer. Good on them, can't wait to see more!

Looks like something from Speed Racer or James Bond.
Not every racing game has to be a serious sim – fun and crazy arcade racing can be a blast, too. A variety of well-implemented mechanics can breath new life into the genre – it doesn't have to go full kart racer, but new ideas to shake things up are appreciated IF they're done well.

Just give me a made for ps5/xbsx burnout.

Wait, so you're telling me that gaming discourse is full of interminable bores who are allegergic to fun?! Surely not…

@themightyant feels like proper story driven action games could be on the verge of a return, the impending GTA has got to have put it in developer’s heads we just need more of that funky stuff like Bullitt or Driver! Tearing around as Barry Newman would be fairly fly too

Man people just want to complain. When devs try something keep doing the same thing in an existing IP it's a problem, when they do something new in an existing IP it's a problem, when they do something old in a new ip it's a problem and when they do something new in a new ip it's a problem.
IMO it's always been execution. If something is done well and works within the framework of a game it's fine. Looks like an interesting title to me.

Well I am sold on that nice spoof version of test card F at the start. Arcade racing games are my favourite games, I dont mind a silly story as long as doesn’t go on too long as I know I’ll be mashing to skip the cutscenes.
@bring_on_branstons ah, that glorious ‘ping’ on Amiga Batman as you manage to hit the lamp post with the grapple.

1) Nothing wrong with a good story – think about how Mortal Kombat 9 and Injustice upped the game for the genre. Granted the stories have sucked since then but that's a writing issue.
2) I love a racing game with gadgets. What else would set this apart from every other modern racing game?! I miss Blur

Hah anyone remember Batman on the Amiga where you used a grappling gun to get around corners?
No, just me? Ok

Stories in race games are like stories from politicians. Not for me.
The game itself looks pretty Solid.

Sounds cool to me! These contentious aspects are the only reason I'm even interested given that racing games are generally wayyyyy outside my wheelhouse.

I respect that they don't want to just remake Forza Horizon.

A developer tries something different and then still have people complaining. Ridiculous.

This looks good, and I'm very open to it. Sometimes driving games for the sake of driving get tedious, the addition of a story could work very well. Unless the story is as colourful as a WW1 photograph… There's a lot of 'wait and sees' for me recently, but I think come Christmas I'll not be struggling for things to do.

@SMJ Ha! Some people aren't happy unless they've something to moan about… Personally I think I'm optimistic. As much as I love track racing if they get this right I'll be well happy with it. Maybe even willing to pay full price.

@themightyant Didn't like the video at all, hes too chatty and too much showing himself and not the game. He said he will let the game do the talking and then talks through most of it 🤣
Game looks alright, will follow it.

Always fun to see the strawmen people build to hate on something cause it has brown people in it, lol.
Grappling hooks make everything better. This is as much a videogame rule as secrets behind waterfalls. I just don’t want to play a racing game with a story.

The problem is as soon as you say a game from ex (insert game here) devs. Immediately comparisons get made. Crossfire will suffer from the same issues.
Love the look of this and it's separated itself as it's own thing but the constant Forza comparisons will prove a challenge in sales which is really sad.

Can I pick different main protagonists?
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment…

First PS Plus Essential Game for August 2026 Announced
You can go for a Big Walk

8 PS Plus Extra, Premium Games Announced for June 2026
And they’re big ones

25+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store’s Mid-Year Deals Sale
PS5 and PS4 games going cheap we recommend

Round Up: All the PS5 Reveals from Summer Game Fest 2026
All the PS5 reveals from SGF

PS Plus Adds This Iconic RPG to Extra’s Catalogue in September
This one’s got scale
Game Profile
Title:
Clutch
System:
PlayStation 5
Publisher:
Maverick Games
Developer:
Maverick Games
Genre:
Racing
Release Date:
PlayStation 5
Where to buy: