M&M's Kart Racing

M&M's Kart Racing is a racing video game for the Nintendo DS and Wii, based on the M&M's license and developed by Frontline Studios in co-production with Calaris Studios. Both studios responsible for this game’s development were headquartered in Poland. It is the 5th of the 7 M&M's video games. The game allows players to play as one of the M&M's Spokescandies on 15 race tracks (Though is incorrectly stated as 10 on the back of the game's box).

M&M's Kart Racing
Developer(s)Frontline Studios
Calaris Studios (Wii)[1]
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Wii, Nintendo DS
ReleaseWii
  • NA: October 25, 2007
  • AU: November 29, 2007
  • EU: April 25, 2008
Nintendo DS
  • NA: March 24, 2008
  • PAL: April 25, 2008
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The game was widely panned upon release and has been cited as one of the worst video games of all time.

Gameplay

M&M's Kart Racing is a kart racing game in which players control one of six selectable characters who race in karts in different race tracks that vary in shape and theme.

Players can choose from seven different race vehicles which can be customized in the M&M's garage. Races take place in street, dirt, ice and sandy environments which affect vehicle handling in different ways. There are cups of coffee placed on the ground around the tracks to give players a speed boost, resulting in the utterance of the infamous phrase: "Approaching sound barrier". The player can also pick up chocolate coins scattered across the raceway. These coins will unlock new vehicles when specific amounts are collected. In the arcade mode, players must collect a specified amount to proceed to the next race track. To get a turbo boost at the start of a race, players must shake their Wii Remote. Unlike other racers, to turn their vehicle a player also must tilt the Wii Remote.

Reception

M&M's Kart Racing was critically panned upon release. It has a GameRankings score of 23% and 22% for the Wii and DS versions, respectively,[3][2] earning it Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011's award for the lowest-rated kart game.[9]

IGN cited that "commercial mascots make terrible video games" and that the game "barely uses the license at all".[6][7] GameSpot opined that the game "could put you off M&M's for life".[4] It also awarded the game "Flat-out Worst Game" award in its "Best of 2008" awards.[10] GameZone also panned it,[5] as did Nintendojo.[8]

Gameplay footage of the game was featured as Joystiq's "Today's most hilariously atrocious video", stating that the gameplay footage "is a true testament to the wrong way to build a kart racer".[11]

The game was chosen as one of GameZone's "most abysmal racing games ever", due to the sluggish pace of the game and the dialogue.[12] GamesRadar ranked it 32nd on their "The 50 Worst Games of All Time." They criticized the Wii's motion controls making the karts impossible to handle and the absence of items to use in races, saying most Mario Kart rip-offs include the use of items.[13]

References
  1. "M&M's Kart Racing for Wii (2007)". Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
  2. "M&M's Kart Racing for DS". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. "M&M's Kart Racing for Wii". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. Calvert, Justin (4 November 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  5. Bedigian, Louis (1 July 2008). "M&Ms Kart Racing – WII – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  6. Devries, Jack (4 April 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  7. Thomas, Lucas M. (3 March 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  8. Campbell, Evan (12 June 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing". Nintendojo. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014.
  9. Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011. Guinness. 2011. p. 80. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  10. "Best of 2008: Dubious Honors – Flat-Out Worst Game". GameSpot. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. Siegel, Scott Jon. ""Today's most hilariously atrocious video": M&M's Kart Racing". Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  12. Haske, Steve (16 November 2010). "The Most Abysmal Racing Games Ever". GameZone. Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  13. "The 50 worst games of all time". GameRradar. 2017-08-09. Archived from the original on 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
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