Xbox

Mad Dash Racing

Overall, Mad Dash Racing is a really cool game that I enjoyed a lot. Unfortunately, because of the horrid rubber band AI, I have to cut off a star from my rating. This really hurts the game in a way it shouldn't. I prefer my wins by skill and not dumb luck. Still, if you like this type of game and you can find it for around $30 or less, then go ahead and pick it up. Even if the AI bugs you, your bound to have fun exploring the games massive courses. Good job Eidos, but if you should happen to make a sequel then lose the rubber band AI next time. You may also want to make each character handle a little differently to make them feel a little more unique. If they do happen to make a few changes like that, then a sequel may give the game some real recognition and Eidos might just have a real hit on their hands.

Mad Dash is a fun and truly original jaunt which breaks the mold of combat racing titles. It seems perfectly suited that this off-the-beaten-path game made it's debut on the "new kid on the block" Xbox. With a whole different look, feel, and appeal - everyone should give this game a spin at least once.

This is a surprisingly solid title that is a lot of fun. I just wish there was not so much going on all the time because I really felt out of control through the majority of the races. It just seemed like this game was made in Hollywood, where more is better. That is not always the case in videogames. But aside from this, I still had a great time playing, and winning races was satisfying. This game is not going to get the hype of the bigger Xbox titles but it is definitely worth a weekend rental to decide if it is for you.

What console launch would be complete without a racing game or two? One of the first titles you'll see for the Xbox as it storms into homes everywhere is Mad Dash Racing, a curious blend of high-speed racing and platformer action from Crystal Dynamics and EIDOS Interactive. In the tradition of such games as Mario Kart and CTR, Mad Dash Racing is a blisteringly fast racer for one to four players with bizarre tracks, edgy characters, and exhilarating action.

Crystal Dynamic's sorta exploring, sorta running, sorta flying, all racing game is definitely a unique rethinking of a genre that's been driven into the grave by copycat syndrome. Technically it's a Cart racing game like Mario Kart or Crash Racing -- at least that's the closest comparison. The racing physics are incredibly light, the focus is on weapons and shortcuts, and the speed is kept crazy, and of the "on the edge of your seat" variety. Like most cart racers, your buttocks will never sit more than two inches into your seat in a race.

Même s'il dégage un certain fun et une ambiance rafraîchissante, Mad Dash ne s'imposera pas en tant que top-priorité sur les shopping-lists à cause de son mode multijoueur pas assez convaincant et sa durée de vie trop restreinte.

Mad Dash Racing fills the same niche that previous games like Sonic R for the Saturn or Running Wild for the PlayStation were after. The name of the game is foot racing, and Mad Dash is filled with cartoon-style characters that run, jump, and skid their way through large, shortcut-filled tracks. The resulting racer is a good-looking game with good split-screen multiplayer but a relatively dull single-player game.

For all you racing junkies and multiplayer moguls, you will want to give Mad Dash Racing a definite rent. Otherwise, this isn’t a game you need to be worried about putting your hard earned cash into. Use that money for upcoming games like Jet Set Radio Future and Morrowind, and be sure to keep a hold of Project Gotham for your quick racing fix.

I think the real problem of Mad Dash is that its basic premise is flawed. In simple terms, the things that are good about racing games games (high speeds and precision turning) and the things that are good about platforming games (exploration, climbing, and tricky jump sequences) are mutually exclusive, in that the racing tends to make the platforming frustrating and vice versa. Yes, the levels are very large and it looks reasonably good, but Mad Dash is not a reason to buy an Xbox.

Crystal Dynamics has proven their ability to adapt to development titles in several different genres, demonstrated by the quick talking Gex and even the old school Total Eclipse Turbo and Off-World Interceptor Extreme on the 3DO. For the launch of the Xbox, a team was assembled to break down the racing genre and make it something unique – and Mad Dash, one of the Xbox’s better 3rd party launch titles, has been the result of that effort. The team has nearly transformed what would normally be a run-of-the-mill racer into practically a platforming adventure.

Remember the PlayStation game Running Wild? No? There's a good reason. The "funny animals in footraces" genre tends to feel forced. In that tradition, Mad Dash Racing lacks emotional appeal; It's a character game without likeable characters.