Wacky Wheels

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Wacky Wheels
Developer(s)	Beavis Soft
Publisher(s)	Apogee Software
Designer(s)	Andy Edwardson
Platform(s)	MS-DOS
Release date	October 17, 1994
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	OFLC: G
Media	CD-ROM
Input methods	Keyboard, Joystick

Wacky Wheels is an MS-DOS arcade kart racing video game released by Apogee Software in 1994, with the emphasis on fun over realism both in looks and gameplay. The game strongly resembles Super Mario Kart from the Super Nintendo, but the karts are described as lawn mowers and the eight playable characters are animals from a zoo.

[edit] Gameplay

While racing, players can collect hedgehogs, bombs and other objects that can be used to shoot or distract opponents. The game features both single and multiplayer play, with split-screen, modem, or direct serial link. In multiplayer mode, two human players can either race against each other or battle in special arenas where the sole purpose is to hit the opponent a certain number of times with hedgehogs. This last gaming mode, called Wacky shoot-out, is similar to the classic deathmatch mode from first-person shooter games or the Battle Mode of Super Mario Kart.

The game was and still is distributed as shareware, with only a few characters and courses active. Registration is required to unlock the remaining characters and courses. It is also one of the first games to have a Dopefish cameo appearance.

[edit] History

Wacky Wheels was not the first game to feature this type of gameplay, now known as go-kart or kart racing. The developer, Andy Edwardson, had been inspired by Super Mario Kart, and wished to create a similar experience on the personal computer. During development, he sent out a playable demo that included its source code to Copysoft to canvas interest in funding the project. They rejected it and instead Apogee began funding development. However, just prior to the release of Wacky Wheels, Copysoft released a similar game titled Skunny Kart. Edwardson accused Copysoft of copyright infringement, noting the similarity in the games: however, no legal action was ever taken.[1]