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TrackMania pc Game Reviews
TrackMania
Critic Score
Metascore: 74 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.7 out of 10
based on 29 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

A cutting edge blend of arcade, SIM and puzzle games, TrackMania is set to be the first in a new and unique genre of racing game that will truly bring the game back in to gameplay. Using the simple and intuitive editor, players can let their imaginations run wild and build their own crazy tracks, modifying them block-by-block, to create complex and spectacular tracks. Then, when the tracks are completed, players can test their creations in real-time, and experience all the fun and excitement of high-speed racing. [Nadeo]

PUBLISHER: Digital Jesters
DEVELOPER: Nadeo
GENRE(S): Racing, Driving
PLAYERS: 2
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: June 24, 2004

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

89
Game Chronicles
Whether you are looking for a quality arcade race experience, challenging puzzles, an in-depth racetrack design tool, or all of the above, TrackMania is one game you won’t want to miss out on.
Read Full Review
85
Warcry
The single player racing modes combine with a track editor for near infinite replayability, even with some of the core gameplay issues.
Read Full Review
84
3DAvenue
Your eyes won't hurt looking at TrackMania, but you're not going to drool either, it is just a simple graphical setup here.
Read Full Review
83
Worth Playing
Despite the game’s flaws – and it does have them – track building and racing is surprisingly fun and addictive. You might find yourself hooked. I was.
Read Full Review
82
Xequted
Despite the slightly lack-lustre graphics, TrackMania: Power Up! is a great game to play with friends or foes -and you won't find many titles that give you this much value for money.
Read Full Review
82
PC Gameworld
An innocent and undiluted slice of pure fun. It's like "Stunts" for 2004!
Read Full Review
81
PC Format
A real shot in the arm for what is becoming a dull genre.
Read Full Review
80
Gamer's Hell
My expectations may have been a little high, because I’m left wanting more. I wish the developers had implemented things like loops, and that they had added more cars, more levels, and just about more of everything.
Read Full Review
80
Adrenaline Vault
The only reason you’re compelled to come back to it time and again is because you had fun the last time you played with it. In that sense, it’s the perfect toy.
Read Full Review
80
GameSpot
Even without the promise of future content, TrackMania is a rock-solid out-of-the-box retail product, so if you have any sort of interest or affection toward this type of racer, it's completely worthwhile.
Read Full Review
80
EuroGamer
It almost feels awkward to play something this understated, but once you get over that you realise that all you need to have fun is a few squares of track snapped together creatively - and that you don't need in-game radio stations, real-time reflections or modern cityscapes to make your case.
Read Full Review
80
Computer Games Magazine
Feels like a breath of fresh air, an unpretentious and stupidly entertaining little game that has little grasp of reality but delivers serious fun. [Oct 2004, p.83]
80
Cheat Code Central
Overall the game performs admirably with a steady framerate. It's virtually bug-free. You may experience some lag online depending on the server but my experience was great. My only complaint about the game is that the cars tend to feel too light.
79
GameZone
From the great graphics, fun gameplay, and amazing concept, TrackMania provides a might punch in a small package.
Read Full Review
79
Computer and Video Games
TrackMania isn't a hugely polished game, but it's a breath of fresh air to play a game with a half-original concept. It feels (and, critics might add, looks) like the games of my youth (and so the rest of the team's middle-age), when originality sold as much as generic graphical kiss-kiss-bang-bang. [PC Zone]
Read Full Review
76
Gamer's Pulse
Takes a great concept and executes it cleanly. Building your own track is amusing and then subsequently racing on it with online opponents is even more enjoyable.
Read Full Review
75
GameSpy
If you want some quick fun and a chance to bring to life that wild race course you've dreamt of, TrackMania might be just the thing for you.
Read Full Review
72
PC Gamer
Refreshingly, cheating is often the best way to go. [Sept 2004, p.70]
70
Australian GamePro
On the bright side, multiplayer has been designed to not require the fastest connection for smooth play, even on overseas servers. The cars handle quite well, the graphics are nice, and the physics seem good.
Read Full Review
70
Gamezilla!
The in-game music and sounds are horrid and repetitive; I played with the sound off after a few minutes of bad sampling and nauseating theme music.
Read Full Review
70
Edge Magazine
Right now, the online exchange that Trackmania needs doesn't exist, but the community is growing by word of mouth. This is clever gaming, and in six months time it could be enormous. [Feb 2004, p.110]
70
Gamer.tv
Worth a look if you fancy some Rollercoaster Tycoon-style construction fun, with four-wheel time challenges thrown in for good measure.
Read Full Review
68
Next Level Gaming
My bottom line is, there needs to be more content and more challenge. Good ideas are in this game, but the actual racing totally stinks.
Read Full Review
68
Gamers' Temple
Trackmania is really about track design more than racing, so the multiplayer games won't be able to hold your interest for too long.
Read Full Review
62
GameBiz
The game’s presentation is quite average and what many would call the meat of the game, the racing, falls far below any of the realistic racing you’ll find out there today.
Read Full Review
62
RealGamer
The physical separation of human opponents makes every multiplayer contest a little less worthwhile, whilst the one-player game’s mission to collect track parts seems pointless if you then cannot share the resulting new tracks easily with close friends.
Read Full Review
60
Boomtown
At present, the online community is visible, but it's hardly expansive. Without it, Trackmania is good entertainment for a few afternoons, a short game not due to a lack content, but simply a lack of serious challenges.
Read Full Review
59
IGN
With a dated racing model and keyboard-driven track editor, it just can’t compete with the big boys, although young gamers might get a kick out of it.
Read Full Review
50
Computer Gaming World
What's worse than a mediocre piece of shareware? Answer: a $30 retail game that looks and plays like a mediocre piece of sharware. [Oct 2004, p.81]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 9.7 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jose F. gave it a10:
Cool game, very many ways to make a map, totally free.

Mike L. gave it a10:
Somewhat realistic even though I didn't expect that. Anyhow, it's extremely addictive! The best fun to be had unless you require a straight sim.

Rugantino gave it a 9:
Well the game is just ADDICTIVE. All over the web I've seen lots of reviews... but no one gave a great vote. It obviously hass some flaws and minor bugs but.. it's like the old-school games: PLAY PLAY PLAY... Nothing else. Highly recommendend and remember, this is NOT a car simulation. It's a GAME.

Frederic L. gave it a 10:
I've been playing to video games for 20 years, and never have I been so much addicted to one. Bought it last December in France, and I've never stopped playing it since. The concept is totally original, and as someone else said, this game is a class of its own. There is nothing really that can compare to Trackmania.

Master mike gave it a 9:
This game is pure fun. It's the modern day "Stunts". So far, it is unique and in a class all by itself. I think the review score of 74 is way unfair. That person needs a cat scan.

SlamDunk gave it a 10:
What is wrong with the reviewers these days? I mean, giving a maximum score of 8/10 to a game that is fun, original and has practically endless replay value (for example in one review, "lifespan = 8/10", now, that is just plain wrong). One thing I have noted in the reviews goes something like "TrackMania does not require so much driving skills and is not a racing game but mainly a track building/puzzle game"...erm, hello? Yeah, there's puzzles and track building but in the heart of TM there is a true racing game and it is all about driving skills. Also... TrackMania is a game where the graphics are not so important. Graphics suit the gameplay very well, no complaints. The gameplay, on the other hand, is what really matters and it is simply superb. To me, online play is the heart of TrackMania. It's all about having fun and enjoying the tracks that people make.

Joachim gave it a 10:
I've been playing games for nearly 20 years, and TrackMania since last christmas. It's one of the five best games I've ever played. Don't expect stunning visuals or sounds, TrackMania is all about the gameplay.

Read more user comments...

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