PixlBit

MotoHeroz is a game that anyone can easily get excited for. Developed by RedLynx (the team behind Trials HD), MotoHeroz swaps the darker tones for a brightly colored and lighthearted style that's brimming with personality. Releasing on the nearly defunct WiiWare service, it has very little competition, which makes it all the more notable. Though notable, MotoHeroz only manages to hit a single note, which grows tiresome very quickly if you're not enamored by its brand of physics.

Though a racing game at heart, its setting on a 2D plane makes it much more akin to Sonic the Hedgehog than your traditional racer. Players will need to learn and master the physics of both the world and of their racing buggy in order to perform a variety of tasks in the 100+ featured levels. While there are plenty of side tasks in each level, in order to properly complete it, there's a singular objective. No matter the goal, it typically boils down to reaching the finish line in a specific amount of time.

Most often you'll be racing against a ghost, which follows a set path each and every time you take on a given level. Other times you'll go head-to-head with a computer player, which requires a small deviation in approach because you need to physically overtake the opponent rather than just reach the finish line within a set time. Other variations include chasing down a fleeing finish line and racing away from a pursuing buggy. Though different, both variations are almost identical to the ghost races as they merely require reaching a set point in the level within a specific time limit.

Because so much of the game is built around the same concept, it's all about mastering the physics to the point where you can apply your skills in any level design. Mastering the skills and the levels is likely much harder than you'd expect for a game with such an inviting aesthetic. MotoHeroz is frequently frustratingly difficult. Because it requires such a great deal of precision and finesse, mastering the physics of the buggy is incredibly challenging.

At times, I really appreciated this skillful approach. With the right level design, it felt fantastic to make my way through an entire level with such grace and skill that I was able to do so without slowing down a bit; however, most of the time the game doesn't allow you to zip along carefree. It's slow and plodding, requiring a stop and go approach to properly hit each and every hill at the exact speed and tilt. Considering you can only control these variables, you'll often be grounded by the less-floaty physics and forced to cautiously progress.

With a variety of power-ups available in certain levels, you'll often get a taste of what MotoHeroz could've been. Things like the spring power-up, which allows you to jump, and the nitro boost for speed make the game feel so much better. If you could engage any of these power-ups at will, it would make the entire experience flow more smoothly, allowing racers to keep constant forward momentum.

The developers did shake things up a bit with underwater levels where your buggy becomes more like a submarine. While a unique approach, these were easily the most detestable of all of the levels in the game. The buggy proved more awkward to control and required even more precise maneuvering than the land-based levels.

From my experience, the best part of MotoHeroz was heading back into completed levels to scoop up the two hidden spirits, which were consistently challenging to reach and find. After beating any given level the first time, the once stifling time limit imposed by the racing is lifted, allowing free exploration of the terrain.

For those that enjoy perfecting their runs, achieving gold medals and competing on the online leaderboards are the most obvious forms of replay value, next to the local multiplayer mode and a special challenge mode wherein RedLynx will regularly add new content via the internet.

MotoHeroz is absolutely packed with content, but unless you enjoy the underlying racing concept, the stop-and-go movement, and the precision physics, chances are you'll be frustrated and underwhelmed by MotoHeroz. Despite its cheerful exterior, this is a tough as nails racer that only the most hardcore will not only appreciate, but enjoy.