TrackMania² Stadium
- February 26, 2013
- Nadeo
- 193h median play time
Get on Steam"TrackMania² Stadium" is a racing game focused on fast-paced competition and creative track design. It features stunning visuals, a powerful track editor, and both single-player and multiplayer modes. Compete in high-speed races with vehicles that handle with precision, and challenge yourself with user-created tracks that push the limits of possibility.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Fast-paced and addictive gameplay that keeps players engaged.
- Great community with a wealth of user-generated content and tracks.
- Improved graphics and physics compared to previous Trackmania titles.
- Complicated and confusing user interface that can frustrate new players.
- Mandatory online account and updates outside of Steam can hinder accessibility.
- Removal of split-screen multiplayer has disappointed many fans.
- graphics394 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics in Trackmania 2 Stadium have received widespread praise for their significant improvement over the original Trackmania Nations Forever, with many users highlighting the stunning visuals, smooth performance, and well-optimized engine that runs effectively on lower-end hardware. While some reviews note that the graphics may not compete with the highest-end racing games, they are still considered impressive and contribute to an enjoyable racing experience. Overall, the graphical enhancements, along with new tracks and features, make it a visually appealing upgrade for fans of the series.
“The visuals of this game are absolutely stunning, bringing the cars, tracks, and of course the stadium itself, truly to life.”
“Brilliant game, graphics are stunning.”
“Gorgeous graphics driven by a well-optimized engine that performs well on older hardware.”
“Not to recommend on low end laptops without graphics card.”
“The only part of the game that was improved is the graphics.”
“Even the graphics are barely a step up.”
- gameplay212 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is widely praised for its smooth and responsive driving mechanics, offering a blend of arcade-style fun and competitive racing that is easy to learn yet challenging to master. Players appreciate the extensive replayability, unique track designs, and the ability to create and share custom content, making it a favorite among racing enthusiasts. However, some critiques mention outdated menus and occasional gameplay inconsistencies, but overall, the experience remains engaging and addictive.
“Very well refined gameplay, extremely replayable tracks, easy to learn yet difficult to master. It fills its own niche on the market and can be an incredibly competitive experience.”
“The gameplay is fast-paced and requires full attention and precision to navigate the courses at high speeds.”
“Driving mechanics are wonderful, and the loops and crazy transitions in full speed make it a ridiculous arcade-style game with endless enjoyment.”
“It's a cybersport-oriented game, but with such a small variety in the gameplay mechanics, it should be free-to-play.”
“Poorly made, from the awkward gameplay down to the unintuitive menu and the hoops you have to jump through to even start playing.”
“I was disgusted with it to the point where I just stopped bothering with it after trying a couple of times to give it a chance, but I legitimately have no desire to play this game again, and feel incredibly misled by the 'gameplay' trailers on the game's store page.”
- music78 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the Trackmania series receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtracks as enjoyable and fitting for racing, while others find them simplistic and repetitive. Many appreciate the option for customizable playlists, enhancing the gaming experience, especially during solo play or when racing against time. Overall, while the music may not be groundbreaking, it serves its purpose well and contributes to the game's atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is a banger.”
“Fun to throw on some music and get lost in beating your best lap time.”
“It's the perfect game to sit back and relax with some drinks while listening to good music.”
“Music in the game is also uninteresting.”
“The new music is just so simplistic and basic I don't want to play this game at all.”
“The music system is boring.”
- story46 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game lacks a significant story, with many users noting that it focuses primarily on gameplay rather than narrative. While some mention the absence of a single-player campaign or lore, they generally feel that this is acceptable for the type of game it is, emphasizing fun driving over storytelling. Overall, players seeking a rich narrative experience will likely be disappointed.
“If you like discovering a world and a story while racing, try RPG tracks!”
“Multiplayer is a whole different story, however.”
“Story: none although it is unnecessary for this type of game, a minimum amount of lore could have been interesting.”
“There isn't even a single player campaign race storyline, as the single player version is just a solo time trial chain that doesn't ever really get you anywhere.”
“If you're looking for a single player story, then this is definitely not where you should look.”
- optimization38 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While many players appreciate the improved performance and graphics, especially on older hardware, some report issues like graphical stuttering, poor menu performance, and inconsistent frame rates. Despite these drawbacks, the game is generally considered well-optimized for casual play, particularly on low-end machines.
“Gorgeous graphics driven by a well-optimized engine that performs well on older hardware.”
“The graphics look great, the game's well optimized for the most part and the new tracks are fun.”
“Ps: the optimization of this game is awesome!”
“Optimization kinda sucks, but it's an old game so it shouldn't be a problem for most players.”
“Unfixable graphical stuttering, loading problems, and more.”
“Until the performance issues are fixed or we get an option to revert to the old engine, I would advise staying away from this.”
- humor32 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny and entertaining, particularly in the chaotic moments of gameplay, such as absurd crashes and unexpected outcomes. However, some users criticize the game's interface and map design as unfunny, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game is often described as a humorous and enjoyable racing experience, especially for those who appreciate its quirky elements.
“Brilliant and hilarious and challenging and addictive at the same time a car game.”
“There's something very humorous about spinning through the air at 450 mph after missing a jump, only to land back on the track, unscathed, and continue as if nothing had happened.”
“If anyone wants to play a funny racing game, (that changes the HUD constantly) then that game is for you.”
“The online servers are filled with try-hards, and the maps are the most unfunny thing you will experience as a new player.”
“The humor in this game falls flat, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and unoriginal.”
- replayability32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with many users highlighting its infinite potential through competitive time trials, a variety of track types, and a robust level editor that allows for endless user-generated content. While the campaign may be short, the multiplayer experience and the ability to continually refine skills keep players engaged for hours. Overall, it is praised for its refined gameplay and significant replay value, despite some criticisms regarding the campaign length.
“Trying to find new and inventive ways to shave seconds off your time gives it hours of replay value.”
“Very well refined gameplay, extremely replayable tracks, easy to learn yet difficult to master. It fills its own niche on the market and can be an incredibly competitive experience.”
“And then there's the level editor, which basically gives it infinite replay value.”
“I was really hoping for a unique fun racing experience and instead I get a game with no replay value at all.”
“The graphics have been slightly improved although not at the level of AAA racing games; the gameplay and replayability makes up for the lack of polish and eye-candy found in other games.”
“There is near infinite replay value here.”
- stability20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes and bugs, particularly when restarting tracks or using certain maps. While some users appreciate its fun gameplay and decent performance on various systems, the persistent issues detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among players. Overall, the game's stability is a significant concern that impacts its enjoyment.
“The game is very fun and runs great on any computer.”
“Easy controls and bug-free performance make it a good game.”
“Fun game but it crashes so often - I've encountered a few (Nadeo made) maps which I can only run once when I start the game; if I exit the map and then try again, it freezes and then crashes.”
“Now it freezes and locks up after restarting a track a handful of times online.”
“A game that loses many players because it is very buggy, but the main concept is the best racing arcade game!”
- grinding18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 56 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, often requiring multiple attempts to succeed due to the lack of a retry button, which can lead to frustration. However, the variety of tracks, both official and user-created, helps mitigate this grind by providing new challenges to engage with. Overall, while some players may find the grinding aspect agitating, others appreciate the opportunities for mastery it presents.
“It's a bit grindy at times, but it adds to the overall experience.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding, but it's worth it for the rewards.”
“The grinding can be intense, but it really enhances the gameplay.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“There's no retry button, just a 'revert to checkpoint', so you have to give up a race and then restart it after it does that before you can try again, which is extremely tedious since every track is maybe 25 to 40 seconds.”
“This makes playing the game agitating, tedious, and stressful.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its appealing visuals and a blend of friendly competition, making it enjoyable for both casual and competitive players. Users appreciate the relaxed community vibe on ranked servers, which enhances the overall experience, even when facing challenges. The varied tracks contribute to a fun environment where players can focus on personal improvement regardless of the outcome.
“The game and atmosphere look and feel great!”
“Although called 'competitive', the community is very nice and you can play on ranked servers in a relaxed atmosphere.”
“The tracks were interesting and varied, the atmosphere was one of friendly competition, and even if you lost you still had fun trying to beat your own time.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players express frustration over the monetization of the game, noting that it has shifted from a free model to one heavily laden with microtransactions, despite initial expectations of no paywalls or ads. This change has led to dissatisfaction, as users feel that the focus on monetization detracts from addressing existing game issues.
“Anything else is void, no paywalls or microtransactions, no nitros or bonuses.”
“What was a free game has become a game rife with microtransactions.”
“But you'd think that, before advertising their product and making Maniaplanet thrive again like its predecessor used to, they would fix the ongoing issues with their game.”
“I've played Trackmania Nations forever and thought that the HUD was bad/filled with ads because the game was free.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to resonate deeply with them. However, there is a notable disappointment regarding the absence of the exciting and emotional music from the original games, which some feel diminishes the overall emotional impact.
“I have to say, I'm biased; this game strikes an emotional chord with me.”
