Wacky Wheels HD
- October 26, 2016
- Cascadia Games
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Get on itch.io Store"Wacky Wheels HD" is a racing game where players compete against wild animals in go-karts across dangerous tracks. This reboot of the classic game features wicked power-ups, unique tracks, and characters such as Uno, Sultan, and Hari the grizzly bear. Due to technical and IP restrictions, this is a dated version and can no longer be updated.
Reviews
- Graphically better than the original, with beautiful race tracks that capture the spirit of the first game.
- Offers a fun multiplayer experience with 4-player split-screen mode, which is rare for PC games.
- Has potential for improvement and could be enjoyable if the developers address the current issues.
- The game is riddled with bugs, including issues with launching, black screens, and poor controls that feel floaty and unresponsive.
- It fails to replicate the charm and gameplay mechanics of the original, making it feel like a disappointing remake.
- Many players report that it does not work on modern systems without extensive troubleshooting, leading to frustration and refunds.
- graphics9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics have seen some improvement over the original, but many users feel they still fall short, with some even preferring the older game's visuals. While the retro art style appeals to some, others criticize it as boring and not child-friendly, leading to mixed feelings about the overall design. Overall, the visuals maintain a nostalgic connection to the original but do not significantly elevate the gaming experience.
“The retro yet polished visuals and classic kart mechanics/weapons make this a must-have for kart racing fans.”
“The visuals are in the spirit of the original, which has always been an old favorite.”
“I like this... better graphics, same old wacky wheels.”
“The graphics are only a marginal improvement over the original DOS game.”
“Boring and ill-fitting graphics design.”
“I'm not too fond of the graphics, either.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of nostalgia and frustration, with some players appreciating the retro visuals and classic kart mechanics, while others find the tracks too flat and chaotic due to weapon mechanics. Concerns about bugs and a lack of charm in the aesthetic detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about whether it captures the essence of the original game.
“The retro yet polished visuals and classic kart mechanics/weapons make this a must-have for kart racing fans.”
“Again, my major complaint is not gameplay-wise, even though there were some things removed like the hard turn and power-ups being changed; I don't mind them as long as it helps to make for a good balanced experience.”
“The tracks feel too flat (hard to see sometimes), weapons make it chaotic, and boost/turn mechanics feel odd.”
“Somewhat buggy gameplay.”
“The gameplay did not feel like the old game, or the classic version I got on Steam.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being thin and lacking impact, with a reverberant quality that feels out of place. Reviewers noted that the pitchiness and overall sound design detract from the overall experience, as the music fails to complement the game's atmosphere effectively.
“The music needs some more punch to it.”
“Thin, reverby music.”
“The music is pitchy and reverby, and doesn't really 'fit', which reverby and pitchy music seldom does.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been criticized for being somewhat buggy, indicating that players may experience occasional glitches or performance issues during gameplay.
“Somewhat buggy gameplay.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the jumping mechanics frustrating, as the AI appears to lag and the character feels excessively fast during jumps, leading to a jarring landing that diminishes the enjoyment of the experience.
“The AIs seem to lag through the air when jumping, and for some reason, it's like you're sped up to 5x speed when jumping, which makes it feel like you come to a grinding halt when you land. The jumps don't even feel awesome to do.”
“Grinding in this game feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the emotional impact of gameplay mechanics, highlighting moments where they feel trapped or hindered despite the apparent freedom of movement, which detracts from their overall experience.
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game offers a rare and exciting four-player split-screen mode, users note that it still requires some optimization to enhance performance. Overall, the game shows promise despite these issues.
“It's so rare to see a PC game featuring a 4-player split-screen mode, and even if it still needs some optimization, the game feels pretty promising!”
“The game has potential, but the optimization is lacking, making it difficult to enjoy the experience fully.”
“Performance issues are rampant, and the game often struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
“Despite its interesting mechanics, the optimization problems severely hinder gameplay and immersion.”
