Games Database
PC
Racing: Car
| Also for: | PS2, Xbox | ||
| Viewed: | 3D Top-down, Multi-way scrolling | Genre: | Racing: Car |
| Media: | CD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Developer: | Supersonic Software | Soft. Co.: | Supersonic Software |
| Publishers: | Empire Interactive
(GB) |
Released: | 18 Jun 2004
(GB) |
| Ratings: | PEGI 12+ | ||
| Accessories: | Control Pad | ||
Summary
As your grandparents would say, "They don't make 'em like they used to". Certainly true in the world of video games, this is generally a good thing, but it also means that we are now seeing a lot less of a good number of old school-style, gameplay-driven games. The multiplayer-based, top-down racer, popularised by the likes of Micro Machines over 10 years ago, is one of them, and it seems that someone at Supersonic has decided that it needs a revival. The result of this nostalgic venture is Mashed, a top-down racer (albeit in 3D, of course) that pits up to four player against each other in a bout of simple, fun and extremely addictive arcade racing.
The game sports over 13 diverse, challenging environments in which you are charged with the task of using whatever means necessary to batter and bruise your opponents into submission and claim one of the purest of life's pleasures: victory over your mates (or CPU opponents, should you be a bit short in the old friends department). As well as your quick-fire driving skills, these means also include an assortment of hi-tech weapons that you can pick up throughout the game's courses, including machine guns, mortars, missiles, shotguns, oil slicks, flamethrowers, mines, barrel bombs and blinding flares.
The array of different courses on offer bring with them a number of different course types/conditions, including the likes of training ovals, sandy deserts, icy mountains, and twisting forests. Not to worry though, as in each case, a selection of cars suited to the particular environment is on offer, meaning there's more than the one driving style to master.
Adding to the game's rather prominent multiplayer aspect is an Air Strike system. Should you find yourself out of the action you don't have to just sit there and spectate for the remainder of the race, as you can call in deadly missile strikes and target the remaining drivers. And whether you choose to go for the leader or simply enjoy some satisfying revenge is entirely up to you...
Mashed is an extremely simple concept, but it's one that works and, as a consequence, proves very, very addictive. Obviously its four-way multiplayer mode is where the game shines the most - if you can get the opportunity to try this, you most certainly should.
The game sports over 13 diverse, challenging environments in which you are charged with the task of using whatever means necessary to batter and bruise your opponents into submission and claim one of the purest of life's pleasures: victory over your mates (or CPU opponents, should you be a bit short in the old friends department). As well as your quick-fire driving skills, these means also include an assortment of hi-tech weapons that you can pick up throughout the game's courses, including machine guns, mortars, missiles, shotguns, oil slicks, flamethrowers, mines, barrel bombs and blinding flares.
The array of different courses on offer bring with them a number of different course types/conditions, including the likes of training ovals, sandy deserts, icy mountains, and twisting forests. Not to worry though, as in each case, a selection of cars suited to the particular environment is on offer, meaning there's more than the one driving style to master.
Adding to the game's rather prominent multiplayer aspect is an Air Strike system. Should you find yourself out of the action you don't have to just sit there and spectate for the remainder of the race, as you can call in deadly missile strikes and target the remaining drivers. And whether you choose to go for the leader or simply enjoy some satisfying revenge is entirely up to you...
Mashed is an extremely simple concept, but it's one that works and, as a consequence, proves very, very addictive. Obviously its four-way multiplayer mode is where the game shines the most - if you can get the opportunity to try this, you most certainly should.
