Mad Riders

Mad Riders
Developer(s) Techland
Publisher(s) Ubisoft
Engine Chrome Engine 4[1]
Platform(s)

Release date(s) PlayStation Network
May 29, 2012
Xbox Live Arcade, Microsoft Windows
May 30, 2012
Genre(s) Off-road racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Mad Riders is a racing video game for the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Techland and published by Ubisoft.[2] Mad Riders was released on May 29, 2012 for PlayStation and May 30, 2012 for Xbox and Windows, with an ESRB rating of Everyone.[3][4][5] The game received mixed reviews upon its release, with critics praising the game's visuals but taking issue with its physics and controls.

Gameplay

Mad Riders is off-road racing video game. Players control an all terrain vehicle (ATV) and race other ATVs around a series of tracks. Players can collect coins placed along the tracks in order to activate a short boost in speed and blue tokens that allow players to temporarily access shortcuts. After launching off of ramps, players can perform tricks, which also give players the ability to activate a short boost in speed. Obstacles are placed both on the ground and in the air, and players have the ability to steer their ATV while airborne.[1][2][6]

The game features 45 tracks that can be played over five different race modes, including a time trial mode and a mode where players try to score as many points as possible by performing stunts. Races can be done either individually or as part of longer tournaments. Players are given experience points for both completing races and for performing stunts, which is used to unlock new vehicles and color schemes. The game also has a multiplayer option with races containing up to twelve players. Players can join multiplayer races that are about to begin directly from single player races that they are currently in.[1][7]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS3) 67.92%[8]
(360) 64.11%[9]
Metacritic(PS3) 71[3]
(360) 64[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM5.0/10[10]
Game Informer7.75/10[7]
GameSpot5.5/10[11]
OPM (UK)8/10[6]
OXM (UK)7/10[12]

Mad Riders drew mixed reviews upon its release, with score of 71/100 for the PlayStation 3 and 64/100 for the Xbox 360 from the review aggregator Metacritic.[3][4] Critics drew comparisons between Mad Riders and Techland's previous off-road racing game, Nail'd, with some reviews praising Mad Riders as an improvement over Nail'd. Official PlayStation Magazine (UK) commented that "On the surface, it’s reminiscent of 2010 game Nail’d, but far superior.",[6] while Official Xbox Magazine (UK) called the game "structured far more intelligently than its full-priced predecessor".[12]

Mad Riders's visuals were largely praised. Sean Evans, writing for GameSpot, praised the game's cel shading as working well with the game's terrain and bringing an "appealing look that adds some much-needed personality".[11] McKinley Noble of Electronic Gaming Monthly, however, points out that while the courses are "beautiful-looking", boosting "obscures your vision and makes it harder to point out landmarks".[10]

Critics were much less positive about the game's gameplay itself, taking issue with the physics engine and controls. Official Xbox Magazine (US) commented that the handling "feels more like socks on a waxed floor than wheels on dirt",[2] while Official Xbox Magazine (UK) and Electronic Gaming Monthly both called it "floaty".[10][12] Critics also took issue with the game's propensity to respawn players (move players back to an earlier point on the map) if they veered even slightly off of the course.[1][2][10] The critics also criticized the game for a lack of originality.[6][7][11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dumlao, Brian (12 July 2012). "XBLA Review - 'Mad Riders'". Worthplaying. Worthplaying. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lewis, Cameron. "Mad Riders review". Official Xbox Magazine (US). Future US, Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mad Riders Critic Reviews for PlayStation 3". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "Mad Rider Critic Reviews for Xbox 360". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  5. ↑ "Mad Riders for PC". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Gregory, Joel. "Mad Riders PSN review: cheap downloadable racer wins us over". Official PlayStation Magazine (UK). Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 Kato, Matthew. "Mad Riders". Game Informer. Game Informer Magazine. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  8. ↑ "Mad Riders for PlayStation 3". Game Rankings. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Mad Riders for Xbox 360". Game Rankings. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Noble, McKinley. "EGM Review: Mad Riders". Electronic Gaming Monthly. EGM Media LLC. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 Evans, Sean. "Mad Riders Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
  12. 1 2 3 Channell, Mike. "Mad Riders Review". Official Xbox Magazine (UK). Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
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