Mad Tracks
| Mad Tracks | |||
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| Studio |
 Load Inc.
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| Publisher |
Micro Application SA (PC) D3 Publisher (Xbox 360) |
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| Erstveröffent- lichung |
February 27, 2006 (Windows) May 30, 2007 (Xbox 360) |
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| platform | Windows , Xbox 360 | ||
| genre | Racing game | ||
| Game mode | Single player , multiplayer | ||
| control | Keyboard , gamepad | ||
| medium | 1 CD (Windows) Xbox Live (Xbox 360) |
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| Age rating |
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Mad Tracks is a video game out of the racing game genre of developed by Load Inc. and published for Windows and Xbox 360 . Initially released in 2006 for PC only, the game has also been available for download on Xbox Live since 2007 . It has strong parallels to the Mario Kart series from Nintendo and games from the Micro Machines series from Codemasters .
Gameplay
The game has no fixed plot, it is much more a compilation of various mini-games such as table football or billiards , time trials and simple sprint races. These are organized in a kind of career mode. Initially, only three races are unlocked - the player can unlock the other races linked in a kind of network by winning them. The races take place in atypical surroundings such as a mini golf course, a French bar or a medieval castle. They are carried out with toy cars that are about the size of a standard Hot Wheels or Matchbox car.
Various power-ups can be activated during the course of the game . These include bright lamps that blind the enemy, missiles with which enemy vehicles can be brought off the track and catapulted through the air, and fake power-up boxes that do not give out a power-up when picked up, but control the Reverse vehicle. If the player steers to the left, the car now drives to the right. All power-ups are time-limited.
The vehicles are driven by a coil. So the player has to take off the gas from time to time to recharge the engine . Jumps are an effective way to do this.
The multiplayer mode, which has since been switched off, allowed online races with up to eight players. However, it is still possible to play the game online on the LAN or via a virtual LAN network over the Internet.
The vehicles
The game has a total of twelve vehicles, three of which are divided into four nations. In addition, there are three racing classes - light , difficult and sporty - into which the vehicles are divided.
A list of the vehicles with the names given in the game and the original model. This is done in the order easy , difficult and sporty :
- Bug ( Volkswagen Beetle ), in some versions of the Trabant 601 replaced
- Hunter ( Mercedes-Benz G )
- Wonder car ( Porsche 911 )
- Froger ( Citroën C2 )
- Palace ( Citroen DS )
- Mirage (Peugeot Oxia concept vehicle)
- Pep's ( Mini Cooper )
- Silver Club ( Bentley Arnage T)
- Scigacz ( Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato )
- Nimble ( Chrysler PT Cruiser )
- Bison Deluxe ( Buick Riviera )
- Thunderfox SR ( Ford GT40 )
reception
The game was rated as mediocre for the most part. The large number of different mini-games and races was positively highlighted. Much more negative, however, was the criticism of the relatively short playing time and poor sound design . Gamespot awarded only 4.6 out of ten possible points. With Metacritic , Mad Tracks scored 62 out of a possible 100 points, with IGN 6.8 out of 10. However, the ratings of the players themselves were significantly more positive.