Trackmania² Lagoon Demo

Few racing games have such a long tradition as Trackmania does, and a pretty successful one for that matter. The franchise gambled on the fun factor instead of realism or car tuning, and it didn’t really have a competition in this particular sub-genre, especially in terms of level design and multiplayer. However, it still needs to come up with new ideas in order to keep its fanbase and avoid becoming repetitive.

Trackmania² Lagoon is the latest entry in the series, and it doesn’t stray too far from the classic formula in terms of gameplay, controls or graphics. Hence, it’s more of the same, except that you get new tracks to master and a few changes in the multiplayer department. Naturally, the graphics have been upgraded a bit as well, and there are new cars in the mix too.   Six game modes are available in this release, each one of which poses a unique challenge. Whether you want to compete in a chase with other players, go for the record in the time attack mode or just go around the circuit for a number of laps, there are quite a few ways to enjoy the game. The tracks are just as wild as ever, sporting crazy jumps, neat environments and all sorts of traps that can ruin a perfect run in a matter of seconds.

As far as the multiplayer is concerned, Trackmania² Lagoon features a dedicated channel where you can find your friends or participate in matchmaking races. This also allows you to compete for rank and earn your place on a worldwide leaderboard, which is obviously a great incentive to get better and come back for more day after day. It’s also possible to play on local servers or even share the same screen with a buddy, so the offline aspect is pretty refined as well.   Although the Trackmania series was never a benchmark in terms of graphics, it always looked pretty clean and enjoyable, especially in terms of level design and post-processing effects. The same is true for Lagoon as well, given the fact that the action takes place on a tropical island full of dreamy landscapes. Even the music is great, although you rarely get the chance to pay too much attention to it.

Trackmania² Lagoon does not try to reinvent the franchise, which is a good thing. Hence, this is more of the same, except that you get new content and new tracks to master, not to mention the graphics upgrade and the new multiplayer matchmaking. Thus, it’s a must-have for every fan of the series, as well as a great starting point for newcomers.