Mad Tracks= A fun racing game on XBL, but one that doesn't last very long.
User Rating: 7.4 | Mad Tracks X360
Mad Tracks is a unique racing game on XBLA. It features tiny cars that have pull-back friction. This means that when your racing, you'll sometimes have to let off the gas to recharge the battery in your car. Mad Tracks features 15 challenges, from your standard races to mini-games similar to darts, and golf. The Gameplay in Mad Tracks is actually pretty good, while racing, you can collect power-ups to blast the A.I. cars out of your way. It's a fast paced racing game as well, but that seems to contribute to the fact that the game doesn't last very long. The races are fun, although not that challenging, but can be an OK challenge when set to the hard difficulty. The mini-games in Mad Tracks are amusing at first, but aren't as fun to play the second time around. There is also an Encore expansion pack that you can purchase on the Xbox LIve Marketplace for 350 Ms Points. This pack adds 15 more challenges to the game, and does give it some extra value. However, these challenges will only last you around the same time it takes to beat the 15 challenges that come with the game. But if you liked Mad Tracks, it's worth the 350 Ms Points to double the challenges in the game. Graphics in Mad Tracks aren't the best I’ve seen on an XBLA game, but they are good enough. The cars look detailed, and the tracks look Ok. The tracks feature gigantic items around them, showing you that your car is indeed really tiny. The audio in Mad Tracks is also Ok. The sound of your car as it speeds down the track is another thing that makes you feel like your driving a tiny toy car. The music isn't that great, but it's not so bad that it becomes annoying. Multiplayer in Mad Tracks is another positive for the game. You can play 4 player local split-screen, or you can play online with other racers. Online is more fun then playing the standard A.I. opponents. This adds some replay value to the game, but the bad thing about online play is that after each match, you are sent back to the lobby, and have to join a whole new game. This is annoying, but doesn’t ruin the game. Mad Tracks is a good XBLA game overall. Even though the standard challenges won't last you very long, the online multiplayer features will keep you playing the game longer then you normally would. The gameplay if fun, fast-paced. The expansion pack that was just released doubles the number of challenges, and makes the game that much longer. So if you want a fun racing game for XBLA, check out Mad Tracks, it won't last you a long time, but it's a great game that you can play with your friends or online.
