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M&M's Kart Racing

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M&M's Kart Racing
Wii version box art, featuring all five playable M&M's characters (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Orange)
Wii version box art
Developer(s)Frontline Studios
Calaris Studios
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Wii, Nintendo DS
ReleaseWii
  • NA: December 5, 2007
Nintendo DS
  • NA: March 24, 2008
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

M&M's Kart Racing is a 2007 kart racing game developed by Frontline Studios in co-production with Calaris Studios and published by Destination Software. Based on the M&M's license, it was published for the Wii in 2007 and for the Nintendo DS in 2008. The sixth entry in the M&M's video game series, it followed M&M's Break' Em, a 2007 title for the DS, and was succeeded by M&M's Adventure, a 2008 video game for the Wii and DS.

M&M's Kart Racing's gameplay revolves around playing single-player and multiplayer game modes in which each player controls one of five M&M's playable characters, racing go-karts on race tracks varying in shape and theme. Both the Wii and DS versions of the game were widely panned by reviewers, who criticized its poor motion controls, lack of items, and poor implementation of the M&M's license. Retrospectively, it is regarded as one of the worst racing games of all time.

Gameplay

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M&M's Kart Racing is a kart racing game in which players control one of five playable characters who race in karts in different race tracks that vary in shape and theme.

Players can choose from seven different race vehicles which can be selected in the M&M's garage. Races take place in street, dirt, ice and sandy environments which affect vehicle handling in different ways. During races, players can collect cups of coffee to get a small speed boost. The player can also pick up chocolate coins scattered across the raceway. These coins will unlock new vehicles when specific amounts are collected. In the arcade mode, players must collect a specified amount of these coins to proceed to the next race track. To get a turbo boost at the start of a race, players must shake their Wii Remote. Like other racing games on the Wii, to turn their vehicle a player also must tilt their Wii Remote.

The Nintendo DS version of the game features only 12 race tracks instead of 15 and also features the addition of items.[a] The DS version uses D-pad controls to steer the karts, opposed to the Wii version which uses motion controls. Like many portable ports of console games of the era, this one features simplified graphics and audio.

Development and release

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Both studios responsible for this game's development were headquartered in Poland. The Wii version of M&M's Kart Racing was released in North America on December 5, 2007.[1] The DS version was released in North America on March 24, 2008.[2]

Reception

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M&M's Kart Racing was critically panned upon release. It has a GameRankings score of 23% and 22% for the Wii and DS versions, respectively,[3][4] earning it Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011's award for the lowest-rated kart game.[10]

IGN cited that "commercial mascots make terrible video games" and that the game "barely uses the license at all".[7][8] GameSpot opined that the game "could put you off M&M's for life".[5] It also awarded the game "Flat-out Worst Game" award in its "Best of 2008" awards.[11] GameZone also panned it,[6] as did Nintendojo.[9]

Gameplay footage of the game was featured as Joystiq's "Today's most hilariously atrocious video", stating that the gameplay footage "is a true testament to the wrong way to build a kart racer".[12]

The game was chosen as one of GameZone's "most abysmal racing games ever", due to the sluggish pace of the game and the dialogue.[13] GamesRadar ranked it 32nd on their "The 50 Worst Games of All Time." They criticized the Wii's motion controls making the karts difficult to handle and the absence of items to use in races, saying most Mario Kart rip-offs include the use of items.[14]

Notes

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  1. ^ The back of the Wii version's box incorrectly states that there are 10 race tracks rather than 15.

References

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  1. ^ "M&M's Kart Racing". GameSpy. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  2. ^ "M&M's Kart Racing". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on December 29, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. ^ a b "M&M's Kart Racing for Wii". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b "M&M's Kart Racing for DS". GameRankings. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b Calvert, Justin (4 November 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  6. ^ a b Bedigian, Louis (1 July 2008). "M&Ms Kart Racing – WII – Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 27 January 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b Devries, Jack (4 April 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  8. ^ a b Thomas, Lucas M. (3 March 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  9. ^ a b Campbell, Evan (12 June 2008). "M&M's Kart Racing". Nintendojo. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014.
  10. ^ Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2011. Guinness. 2011. p. 80. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Best of 2008: Dubious Honors – Flat-Out Worst Game". GameSpot. 23 December 2008. Archived from the original on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  12. ^ Siegel, Scott Jon. ""Today's most hilariously atrocious video": M&M's Kart Racing". Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
  13. ^ Haske, Steve (16 November 2010). "The Most Abysmal Racing Games Ever". GameZone. Archived from the original on 18 November 2010. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  14. ^ "The 50 worst games of all time". GameRradar. 2017-08-09. Archived from the original on 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2021-12-29.

Booklets

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