Can this kart racer get a head start on the competition?
Hot Rod Mayhem is an adrenaline-fueled racing game where you compete against other drivers in high-speed races across wild tracks. With two exciting modes – Racing and Campaign – there’s no shortage of mayhem! In Campaign Mode, you’ll need to conquer 10 unique championships to claim the title of World Champion. Each championship is unlocked by completing challenging trials with varied objectives. Once unlocked, you can take on the races within each championship, battling for the top spot! Jump through hoops, dodge electricity orbs, hit insane speeds on booster pads, and complete daring feats in special trials that challenge both your racing skills and creativity. These aren’t just races, they’re experiences designed to keep you on the edge of the driver’s seat!
I have to feel a bit sorry for any kart racer right now. Mario Kart World is weeks away and Sonic Racing CrossWorlds releases later this year as well. It’s a tough market to break and the timing for a release is probably best now before everyone and their dog decides to get a Switch 2 and play the new Mario Kart.
Hot Rod Mayhem is an offline only kart racer, which isn’t the best start when you’ve got that sort of competition breathing down your neck. But let’s be fair, let’s put the competition to one side and judge the game on its own merits. It handles well, the tracks are nicely designed and while the AI isn’t the best, it does a good enough job to give you a hard time getting 1st place.
Power ups are a bit of a mixed bag, but decent overall. There is split-screen co-op which is nice, but it would have been better with online support, even if there weren’t any specific online trophies (which I loathe anyway). The framerate is solid, and the soundtrack is decent to boot. I didn’t come across any glitches during my playthrough.
The Verdict
Besides having fairly bad timing for a release, Hot Rod Mayhem’s lack of online multiplayer or having a “hook” to set it apart from its competitors hurts what is a decent kart racer from making road on and off the track.