Games for Lunch: TrackMania DS
In a nutshell: Mini-TrackMania in a nutshell
5/21/2009 6:43 PM | 3 Comments | Page 1 of 3
Kyle Orland
Status: "You can't get quality video game editorial from a value menu!" "No, really, you can't."
Developer: Firebrand Games
Publisher: Atlus
Release Date: March 17, 2009
System: Nintendo DS
ESRB Rating: E
Official Web site
0:00 I've probably put over 100 hours into the free PC version of this simple, technical stunt racer, primarily in the endlessly inventive online tracks. So, naturally, I'm excited about this DS version.
0:02 I'm digging the low-fidelity chiptunes on the menu screen. Let's start with some solo racing, in the "Stadium Practice" area.
0:03 The 3-D graphics on the top screen are surprisingly smooth for the DS, even with three ghost cars (which represent bronze, silver and gold-medal times). That said, everything's very blocky and not really up to the PC resolution. Still, passable. I finish in second on the extremely short, simple course because I accidentally scraped against a wall and slowed to a crawl. Still getting used to the controls...
0:05 Two more simple tracks down already. Lots of jumps, lots of going horizontal against walls. The physics are incredibly simple, but they have a good self-consistency to them.
0:07 Another silver medal on the fourth practice race. I'm having real trouble avoiding the walls... I have to remember to let up on the accelerator on some of these turns! The fifth practice race is still locked ... do they want me to get more gold medals? Screw that ... I'm moving on to the Desert tracks.
0:09 The F1 cars I was racing in the stadium are replaced with taller rally cars in the desert. They lurch back and forth as I turn around the wide-open course. It's a little hard to tell where to go exactly on the first try. I run into a pylon and finish third. Bleh.
0:10 My second attempt is going very well, now that I know where to go, but on the final straightaway I fall THROUGH the track and onto the sandy floor below, totally missing the finish line. That's, um, not a good sign for the game.
0:11 One minor annoyance: The default menu option after finishing a race is "Retry," even if you finished with the gold medal. Come on, game ... I want to go to the next race, not repeat the last one!
0:12 A crappy bronze-medal performance on the second desert track. I'm having trouble in the sandy areas, where the handling is totally different. Also, the twangy rock music is getting super-annoying. I know ... excuses, excuses.
0:14 Don't get me wrong; I have nothing against lightly tapping a d-pad repeatedly to turn. I've been doing it for years. That said, this is exactly the kind of game that would benefit from more precise, analog control.
0:15 Desert Course 4 is a veritable obstacle course full of highway dividers, speed-boosting dash plates and some high jumping ramps. Just figuring out where to go next is half the fun!
0:20 A few retries and I have all the gold medals on the first four desert tracks. I even managed a rare "platinum" medal on No. 4. And STILL Track 5 is locked. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, GAME?!?! Moving on to the "Rally" tracks, I guess.
0:22 The first Rally race seems to be atop the Great Wall of China. Wow ... how original. Anyway, the rally cars are much lower to the ground and lurch violently when I tap the turn buttons. Got to use a very light touch.
