Prove yourself as the ultimate little racer by putting your speed and swerving skills to the test in wild races and one-of-a-kind trials. Use perilous pick-ups, like the tricky Marble or the Homing Dart, to leave your opponents in the dust. Jump through hoops, dodge electricity orbs, hit insane speeds on booster pads, and complete daring feats in special trials that challenge both your racing skills and creativity. Feel the chill on Snow Summit, charge through Cyber City, or celebrate on the Mariachi Mile. Each track offers forward, mirrored, reversed, and twisted modes for added chaos. Compete in ten cups, each starting with a unique trial to test your skills...

It's fun, it's fast and it's total mayhem.

Hot Rod Mayhem is a stripped-back, fun cute arcade racer that is easy to pick up and play. I say "stripped-back" because the weapons available are minimal when compared to similar games. In addition the number of tracks available is small, focusing on repurposing each track in order to make it feel like there are more courses available (each location has mirrored, reversed, and twisted variants).

When racing, I did like the fact that a very young gamer and older player could easily be well matched, as the game throws up plenty of hurdles around the courses to throw you off. There are objects that pop up on the track to slow you down, in addition to the various weapons other racers can use against you. And, I found myself going from last to first place, and back again, constantly. Some may find it frustrating, but I found that it added a level of suspense that really made the races more exciting.

You can customise your racer a little. Pick your helmet, face, outfit, and colour to create your own character. You can also choose from 15 fun, wacky cars to drive. Why not take a rip-roaring ride in the Blazing Bullet or cruise in style in the Crimson Cruiser.

Hot Rod Mayhem is easy to pick up and play

There are two modes - Racing and Campaign. In Campaign Mode, you’ll need to conquer 10 unique championships to claim the title of World Champion. Each championship is unlocked by completing challenging trials with varied objectives. Once unlocked, you can take on the races within each championship, battling for the top spot.

In Racing Mode, compete against other players online over four races. The next race course is chosen by the winner of the previous race.

It's fun, it's fast and it's total mayhem. It's the perfect racer for younger gamers. But older players may find its limitations, in lack of real challenges and options, to be a little under whelming.

7

Nick Smithson