Hot Rod Mayhem [Review]

Hot Rod Mayhem, a Mario Kart-style racing game with shades of Mod Nation Racers, allows players to personalize their drivers. The game features an overly enthusiastic announcer who can thankfully be silenced in the settings. Gameplay, however, is a poorly executed imitation of its inspirations. Collision damage with other racers is surprisingly more detrimental than hitting a wall or being hit by an item, often causing significant loss of momentum or even flipping the car. Driving can be a lot of fun and the stage design is great but everything is there to be an obstacle and takes away from the thrill of the kart race.

The game offers both a regular racing/versus mode and a campaign mode with 10 championships featuring objectives and missions. Items lack creativity; the equivalent of a Red/Blue Shell is a throwing dart, and a poorly designed bomb often blows up the user. One positive aspect is the drift mechanic, which charges a boost meter similar to Sonic Racing games, allowing for strategic boost usage. Overall, Hot Rod Mayhem is mediocre. Luckily there’s a decent amount to do in this game although It doesn't bring anything new or innovative to the genre, and its execution is lacking. With strong competitors like Mario Kart, Sonic Racing, and Crash Team Racing, there's little reason to recommend this game.