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TrackMania

Score: 80%
ESRB: Everyone
Publisher: Enlight Software
Developer: Nadeo
Media: CD/1
Players: 1 - 8
Genre: Racing/ Puzzle

Graphics & Sound:

More puzzle game than racer, TrackMania is an interesting entry into the racing genre.

Graphically, TrackMania looks good. Let's be honest, the game doesn't exactly rewrite the state of graphics in racing titles, but it doesn't have to. The game looks good doing what it does. Texture work is very clean; although a few spots look a little rough (this mostly occurs in ground areas like grass and dirt roads). Minor problems aside, everything else in the game looks excellent. TrackMania offers three different environments: snow, desert and countryside. Each has it's own distinct feel and comes with its own nice graphical touches as well as their own unique attributes. When playing in the countryside, you'll have to contend with wet roads and mud tracks while in deserts you have to deal with loose gravel roads. A few more environments would have been nice, which is another complaint on a very short list. Cars are modeled a little better than in most arcade racers and show off some nice special effects as well.

Sound is okay and does it's job by filling dead air with something to listen to. The title track is a little annoying, but the rest of the in-game music is bearable. And, it just wouldn't be a racing review without me harping on it a little more, but the option to play your own music in-game would have been welcome.


Gameplay:

TrackMania is an interesting entry into the racing genre in that it places more emphasis on the tracks you race on rather than the cars you race with. The main focus of the game is it's deep and compelling track editor mode that allows you to build the track of your dreams then race on it yourself or share it with your friends.

The main game is split into two distinct modes: Racing and Puzzle. Racing mode is very straightforward and requires little explanation. You take a car and race against opponents in an arcade racer on pre-made tracks. This mode is enjoyable as a racer, but don't expect the depth found in other racing titles. It's just pure fun without having to worry about fine-tuning your car or completing countless driver tests.

Puzzle mode is a slightly different animal altogether. Here you are told to get your car from point A to point B as quickly and easily as possible. You will either have to build a track from scratch or modify a pre-existing track. Once you think you have a course that will work, you have to race your car on the track you just built and beat the predetermined time to earn a medal. If you're able to complete this task, you move on to the next challenge. If not, it's back to the editor to make improvements. Other than the Track Editor mode, this is one of the more enjoyable sections of the game.

Both online and offline modes are also offered. In offline multiplayer, you take turns playing with friends and try to see who can get the fastest time. Online, you can take on other players in head-to-head competition. Multiplayer races are split into three types, including both single and team-based races as well as time trial. As a bonus, you can even send your custom-made tracks to friends and compete on them.


Difficulty:

TrackMania is more of a challenge of your creative skills than racing knowledge. Sure, knowing how to handle a car will help you in the game's racing sections, but if you can't plan the proper track then knowing how to power slide into curves won't help much.

Game Mechanics:

All of the other aspects of the game are entertaining, but pale in comparison to the Track Editor mode. Remember when you were little and you got those cool Hot Wheels play sets with the bendable safety-orange track? You'd search all over the house to make the craziest track you could, then once you finished it have someone walk thought the room (usually the dog) and knock it all down before you could run a car through? TrackMania's Track Edit mode lets you relive that fun without having to worry about the dog tearing through your masterpiece.

After competing in the game's other modes you can come to the Editor mode and spend all your hard-earned cash on pieces to build the track of your dreams. You are given a wide selection of pieces to choose from, including straight-aways, loops, tunnels and zippers (which increase your car's speed). There's really no limit to what you can do here, so just have fun.

One of the more glaring issues with TrackMania is it's menu system. For a game that seems to be built around the ability to just pick up the game and play it for a few minutes (or a few hours), the menus aren't very friendly.

TrackMania is a unique game that should appeal to a number of different people. Race enthusiasts might find the racing elements a little one-dimensional, but the ability to construct the track of your dreams is what provides the game's real high points. Hopefully a follow-up is on the way.


-Starscream, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ricky Tucker

Minimum System Requirements:



Windows 98, 2000, ME or XP; 450 MHz Intel Pentium II; 64 MB RAM; 4x CD-Rom drive; 16 MB 3D card; Direct X 9
 

Test System:



Windows XP; Pentium 4 1.7 GHz; Radeon 9100 128 MB; 40 Gig HD; 640 MB RAM

Sony PlayStation 2 Rainbow Six 3 Microsoft Xbox Dead Man's Hand

 
Game Vortex :: PSIllustrated