Multiplayer appears in the form of local multi-cart or shared-cart races, and tracks can be traded between cartridges. It’s a bit of a shame that the online features of the PC edition of the game didn’t make the cut, even in the form of track downloads, as the entire community aspect of the game has been pretty much eradicated from the handheld version as a result. It’s not too great a setback but sometimes you’ll wonder why you’re crafting tracks if you’re the only person who’s going to play them.
Any other niggling flaws? Save for the ones I mentioned before – handling flaws, the slightly wearisome nature of the track editor, the complete lack of online – I can only complain about the control layout.
Mapping the reset options (to the nearest checkpoint or back to the start) to X and Y was not the wisest option when your car controls are mapped to A and B; you’ll try and brake for a corner only to end up back at the start of the map. Considering the fact that the shoulder buttons are practically unused (well, R is used for the groovy selection of horns) you wonder why Firebrand didn’t think of mapping the reset options to the top of the console, out of reach from pudgy fingers.
Apart from the handful of forgivable flaws it’s a fantastic little game and – dare I say it – almost worth splurging out on a DS for. It’s a charming little thing – even down to the baby MIDI tunes the game cranks out – and the bitesize circuits mean its ideal for dipping in-and-out on the move.
It’s the most fun I’ve had playing a game on the DS since, well, ever. Actually, now that I think about it, it’s some of the most fun I’ve had playing any racing game, full stop. And there’s not an Italian plumber in sight.
Check out a trailer of Trackmania DS below and head to Flickr to see some screenshots.
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