TrackMania² Valley

About

"TrackMania² Valley is a racing game that combines arcade and simulation styles, set in a beautiful Valley environment. Its precise handling and realistic cars, along with easy-to-learn gameplay, make it accessible for players of all levels. The game also offers a solo campaign, multiplayer experience, and user-generated content tools through the ManiaPlanet system."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 298 reviews

graphics21 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful environment, making it a joy to play.
The handling of the cars is enjoyable, providing a fun and challenging experience, especially on dirt tracks.
There is a vast amount of content available, including official campaigns, user-created tracks, and a robust level editor.

The game suffers from a confusing and frustrating launcher system (ManiaPlanet), which can hinder the overall experience.
Many players have reported issues with the online multiplayer being nearly dead, limiting the social aspect of the game.
The car handling can feel overly sensitive and frustrating, particularly on certain tracks, leading to a trial-and-error gameplay experience.

graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
33%
8%
The graphics in "Trackmania 2: Valley" are widely praised for their beauty and polish, with many reviewers noting that they have aged remarkably well since the game's release. The visuals are complemented by a vibrant atmosphere and smooth performance, making it one of the most visually appealing entries in the series. Overall, players appreciate the stunning environments and the game's ability to balance aesthetics with gameplay.
- “The graphics are amazing, and it is well optimized for those slower computers too.”
- “Valley features a huge amount of different content, race classes, both arcade and simulation modes, back on release gorgeous graphics which aged remarkably well and probably one of the coolest racing soundtracks I've personally experienced.”
- “Great graphics, fun physics, and even better track editor!”
- “Valley looks a lot like a graphically improved rally from the original Trackmania.”
- “Note this is the most graphically taxing of the TM2 franchise to date.”
- “The only positive this has over United is that the graphics are better.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
Overall, the gameplay is characterized by a fun and engaging time attack loop, with players encouraged to repeatedly retry tracks to perfect their performance. While many enjoy the mechanics and visuals, some criticize the long tracks and the drift mechanic as less effective, which can detract from the experience. Players recommend using a controller for better control and adjustment to the game's mechanics.
- “I would recommend playing with a controller, as I had an easier time adjusting to the mechanics with a controller than with a keyboard.”
- “The key gameplay mechanic in these games is to retry the tracks repeatedly to find the perfect line through the course and beat set times.”
- “If you're looking for something totally different and refreshing in gameplay, you've found it.”
- “On the negative side, the worst con it has, personally, are the very long tracks that squeeze gameplay time by forcing the player to loop the same track over and over.”
- “The drift mechanic is back but it is mostly useless and slows you down instantly.”
- “The gameplay and handling are nowhere near as tight.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
32%
16%
The music in Trackmania games, particularly in Trackmania 2 Valley, is widely praised for its upbeat and groovy electronic soundtrack that enhances the racing experience. Players appreciate the calming and fitting nature of the music, which complements the stunning visuals and smooth gameplay. Additionally, the option to add personal music allows for further customization, making the overall audio experience enjoyable and engaging.
- “The soundtrack is insanely good, visuals are stunning and physics feels so good.”
- “Valley features a huge amount of different content, race classes, both arcade and simulation modes, back on release gorgeous graphics which aged remarkably well and probably one of the coolest racing soundtracks I've personally experienced.”
- “Some tracks are more difficult than others, the music is very upbeat and keeps you in a cool, driving mood.”
- “But thankfully, you are able to add your own music to the game if you grow tired of the limited soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is calming and fitting to the climate.”
- “It's rather groovy, consisting of electronic music that's easy on the ears.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game is praised for its impressive graphics and smooth performance, with no significant bugs reported. However, players with lower-spec PCs may experience performance issues, which could detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “It runs smoothly, it looks great and has no major bugs or crashes as far as I am concerned.”
- “Complimenting the challenge is the great aesthetics and performance.”
- “The graphics are amazing, and it is well optimized for those slower computers too.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a narrative component, with users noting that there is essentially no story present.
- “The game lacks any meaningful story, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
- “There is virtually no narrative to engage with, making the experience feel hollow.”
- “The storyline is poorly developed and fails to capture any interest.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by quirky elements, such as unexpected street lights on loops and hidden "troll rocks" in dirt blocks, which some players find amusing despite their frustrations. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “There are some funny quirks in this environment, like the loops having street lights on them and some of the dirt blocks hiding really troll rocks.”
- “But it is funny at times.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time and effort, suggesting that it may feel like a second job to achieve desired progress.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy is criticized for relying on cheap servers and an overloaded user interface, which is further exacerbated by the presence of numerous advertisements, detracting from the overall multiplayer experience.
- “The multiplayer experience is marred by cheap servers, an overloaded user interface, and an abundance of advertisements.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that could have been enjoyable without constant prompts to spend.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players find replayability in the game primarily through the option to replay levels in pursuit of author medals, encouraging them to refine their skills and improve their performance.
- “Of course you can replay all the levels trying to achieve author medals, and that's how you can get replayability out of this game.”
- “Of course you can replay all the levels trying to achieve author medals, and that's kind of how you could get replayability out of this game.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's stunning graphics, which contribute significantly to its immersive atmosphere, creating an engaging and visually captivating experience.
- “The graphics are amazing, creating a truly immersive atmosphere.”
- “The game's atmosphere draws you in and makes you feel part of the world.”
- “Every detail contributes to an incredible atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report frequent freezing issues, indicating that the game's stability is a significant concern.
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experience constant lag and freezing, which ruins the experience.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating; I can't progress without interruptions.”