The video game industry has come a long way since its inception. As technology has advanced and the audience has grown wider, certain video game genres have either faded into distant memory or have become staples of the industry. The racing genre certainly belongs to the latter category, withracing sims, arcade racers, cart racers, and more all remaining just as popular today. Though it may not be the most well-known racing series,Trackmaniahas been around for the best part of two decades, and it’s about to make its return to consoles.
Debuting in 2003,theTrackmaniaserieshas had over 15 entries over the last 19 years, each with its own unique game modes. However, the key element that setsTrackmaniaapart from other racers out there is that the player is often tasked with constructing their own racetracks. With theTrackmaniareboot set to release on consoles early next year, it’s the perfect time to look back at the series' history.
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The History Of Trackmania
Developed by French studio Nadeo, thefirstTrackmaniagame released in 2003, strictly for PC. The key selling point at the time was the ability for players to create their own tracks. By participating in the game’s races, players earned “Coppers,” which could then be used to buy new track elements, ranging from pieces of road and checkpoints to bends and trick sections.Trackmaniaearned some great reviews at the time, with critics praising the game’s high level of creative freedom, but expressing their disappointment with the actual driving controls.
In 2005, a sequel,Trackmania Sunrisereleased. Built on an improved engine,Trackmania Sunriseboasts better visuals and controls than its predecessor. This sequel also adds two new game modes, “Platform,” which sees players attempt to finish a trick-heavy race without restarting, and “Crazy,” where players compete against ghosts.
Meanwhile, also in 2008, Firebrand Games releasedTrackmania DSforthe Nintendo DS. Despite having less than half of the PC version’s environments,Trackmania DSwas a surprisingly faithful recreation of its big brother, with the track editor suiting the DS’s touchscreen well. A sequel,Trackmania Turbo, released on DS in 2010, bringing 50 new tracks to the game, along with a new environment.
In 2011,Trackmania: Build To Racereleased onNintendo Wii. This title was essentially just a port ofTrackmania United, albeit with less content, with one removed environment. Between 2011 and 2017,Trackmania 2was released in an episodic format. Boasting new and improved graphics,Trackmania 2debuted withTrackmania 2: Canyonin 2011, followed byTrackmania 2: Stadiumin 2013, theTrackmania 2: Valleya few months later, andTrackmania 2: Lagoonin 2017, each adding one environment.
2016 saw the release ofTrackmania Turbo, likely the most popular game in the entire franchise, reaching the widest audience by dropping onPS4, Xbox One, and PC. Featuring 200 designed tracks, four locations, and the fastest gameplay in the series,Trackmania Turbois a stellar arcade racer.
In 2020, a remake ofTrackmania Nationsreleased for PC, simply namedTrackmania. Though the base game is free-to-play, players can buy a subscription to access the game’s track builder, online events, and car customization mechanics. While the gameplay itself was praised by critics, its subscription model was heavily criticized. In the recentUbisoft Forward Showcase, it was announced thatTrackmaniais heading to consoles in 2023.
TrackManiais available now on PC and will head to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2023.
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