Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem Review

thesixthaxis.com:

Too many video games based on popular children’s properties boil down to nothing more than cynical cash-ins, seeking to rob kids of their enthusiasm for their favourite toys and parents of their hard-earned cash. Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem is not that type of kid’s game. Instead, this is an impeccably crafted release, one that will bring immense joy to the thousands of Hot Wheels Monster Truck’s mini fans out there.

Imagine Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater but with Monster Trucks, and you’ve pretty much envisaged Stunt Mayhem. Your truck – or let’s be honest, your 8-year-old’s truck – races around an enclosed arena performing over-the-top stunts in pursuit of points. Gathering high enough scores will see you accumulate a vast fan-base, which will in turn unlock new stages, new challenges and, perhaps most excitingly of all, new Hot Wheels Monster Trucks to smash and crash with. Unlike the Monster Jam video game series, there’s no races to be had here, instead it’s all about nailing outlandish stunts within a strict time-limit.

Environments are small but brightly coloured, endearingly cartoony, and cram-packed with detail and depth. Each is based on various landscapes you’ll find within the extended Hot Wheels toy universe. Trust me, you won’t have heard of any of them, but your kid will squeal with delight when they discover they can zoom around Camp Crush. Every arena is littered with things to leap off and obstacles to drive through, ensuring that the three-minutes spent in them is filled with chaotic destruction and engaging activity.

The handling for the Trucks themselves is straight-forward and incredibly accessible. They are also unbelievably manoeuvrable, capable of performing limitless spins, barrel-rolls and front-flips, providing that ramp they just leapt off gives them enough air. In short, regardless of video game experience, any kid will be able to give Stunt Mayhem a go and perform some visually spectacular and fist-pumpingly thrilling Monster Truck