Trackmania DS

Trackinsania DS

Rather than having a linear progression through events in the form of a career mode, Trackmania DS gives players just a set of different modes, unlocking basic tracks as you attempt other tracks. You only unlock a small amount of stuff here though – the rest will have to be bought in the shop using points you gain from getting Bronze, Silvers and Golds.

The modes on offer here are the standard Trackmania classics; all out racing, platform tracks and puzzle matches. Of the three it’s the latter two that stand out. While platform mode is all about reaching the finish line with as few ‘resets’ as possible, which can be done by not rolling the car and staying on the track, puzzle mode requires a bit more explanation.

In puzzle mode you don’t start off at the race, you start off at the track editor. The start and finishing points on the map are fixed, but the rest of the course is blank. Using only certain track pieces you have to design a route between the two, then complete it as fast as possible.

The solutions to races in puzzle mode are never very taxing, but it’s an inventive twist for the racing genre and trying to find the quickest route is something you can quickly come to obsessing over, like squirrel who’ll...never mind.


The editor that powers the puzzle mode is available as an option all of its own though too, allowing players to make their own tracks using unlocked building blocks. The editor is incredibly easy to use and is completely touchscreen driven, letting you quickly just sketch out a quick idea before leaping in and testing it. You can even share your tracks with other DS players, though this has to be done on a local basis.

On the multiplayer side the game is fully stocked too and supports both multi and single cart play, which means it’s great for any occasion when there’s more than one DS about.

Despite all the good news though Trackmania DS isn’t quite perfect. The graphics are an obvious place to start complaining, but on the DS’ hardware the 3D world and semi-decent physics are more than acceptable. That the framerate never drops below 60 even in multiplayer is frankly astounding.

More at issue though are the super-sensitive controls for some cars and the otherworldly handling that often sends cars rolling off the tracks like treetop squirrels hit by lightning bolts, spiralling ever downward and screaming...


Yes, an option to tweak the sensitivity would have been appreciated, but at least Trackmania DS has rumble pak support, so you’ll feel the death shudder when that squirrel hits the ground.

The Trackmania game design as a whole also suffers under scrutiny, as always. The game is very easy to pick up and accessible, but there’s a feeling that it perhaps blows its load too early. There are only three different cars and track environments after all is said and done, each one of them available from the start. There are new tracks and skins to unlock, true – but in the long run that isn’t reliably enticing.

The result of this then is a game that is perfect for a casual playthrough but which falters a bit if you’re looking for a game that will continually call you back. The levels are all short and snappy, perfect for satisfying your racing craving, but they aren’t deep or involved enough to really fill you in the long run.

With well-rounded multiplayer options and a comprehensive editor, Trackmania DS is an excellent game for groups to enjoy and the technical achievement of having all of it running so smoothly is awesome. It’s a shame it’s a little let down by a lack of hardcore appeal and touchy handling, especially since these are really rather minor issues.

Score Guide