Multiplayer rally racing game
TrackMania² Valley is the third installment in the TrackMania² series, following Canyon and Stadium. Halfway between an arcade game and simulation, Valley is a multi-player racing game in which you drive race cars through the countryside. Your goal: beat the clock on the circuits to win medals and beat your opponents.
Race against the clock or challenge your friends
TrackMania² Valley includes a single player mode with 65 circuits grouped by difficulty level. There are six levels represented by flags in different colors ranging from white to black, like the colors on ski slopes. For each circuit, you time-trial against the clock and go as fast as possible. Depending on your time, you get a gold, silver or bronze medal. The ultimate goal, of course, is to win gold medals for each level. Not all of the circuits are available from the start; you have to win a medal on the earlier circuits (bronze for the first few levels, gold for the most complex levels) to unlock the later ones.
TrackMania² Valley shines as an intense multi-player game that keeps you playing for hours on countless courses. Offline, multi-player mode can be played locally, in split-screen format (up to 4 players) or hot seat (several people play in turn on the same computer). Online, 6 game modes are available for playing against others: time-trial, rounds and team-based play. A ladder ranking shows your rank at the local, regional and worldwide level. Multi-player mode lets you access the courses created by other players and you can try to beat them at their own game. With TrackMania² Valley, create your team and your own tournaments and dominate the TrackMania world!
Finally, TrackMania² Valley would not be what it is without TrackMania editing tools. In TrackMania² Valley, you have access to full-featured editors for creating your own environments. Included are map, skin and replay editors. This significantly increases the life span of the game. Developers are limited only by their imagination and they can create just about anything they can dream up.
Precision steering
The controls in TrackMania² Valley could not be more simple. The keyboard arrows are used to control the vehicle, the space bar is used for braking and drifting, and you can even change the camera angle. Steering is another matter and requires some finessing to maneuver circuits with confidence. Driver error results in time lost that’s hard to make up. Vehicle control can feel a bit heavy and slow (no doubt due to the simulation). And it takes a bit of practice to learn to use the brakes correctly to avoid drifting. To add to the challenge, you have to master several types of roads since TrackMania² Valley takes you on freeways, country roads and even dirt roads. Each type of road has a different feel, which makes TrackMania² Valley even more challenging.
The best TrackMania to date
The rural setting of TrackMania² Valley is a radical change from Canyon and Stadium. Nadeo has outdone himself in this third installment of TrackMania² and it shows. This is hands down the best TrackMania yet. The sense of speed is great, the game environments are detailed and the lighting effects are well done.
We’re not so hot on the fluorescent colors of the screen in multi-player mode or the menu interface (borrowed from ManiaPlanet), which are sadly lacking in aesthetics.
Excellent multiplayer mode
TrackMania² Valley continues the momentum of previous versions and offers similar game modes and game play.Series regulars will feel right at home and will be able to test their skills online with other players. Multiplayer mode is by far the best and most fun part of the game. It’s fun to measure your skills worldwide and also closer to home! The editor will get your creative juices flowing and you can build the circuits of your dreams or challenge players around the world. Fans of online racing games, the road is calling!
