Trackmania is an interesting little game that is part puzzle and part arcade racer. You basically need to get your vehicle from the starting line to the finish line in as little time as possible, but how you get between the two is the question. You see, it is up to you to design and build the track.

Each level in Trackmania includes at least a starting and ending gate, with possibly one or more checkpoints as well. The area is divided into a grid and you must use the available track parts to connect the starting line to the finish line while hitting all the checkpoints in between. Things are further complicated by the fact that you have a limited amount of track so optimal layout is important. You can go off-road while racing in Trackmania, but you will pay for it with poor traction and slower speeds. Furthermore, the checkpoints are surrounded by high curbs that let you in but won’t let you out so you need to make sure that you have at least enough track to get you into and out of the checkpoints. Also, there are various obstacles and around the map such as tree groves or cliffs that will be literal roadblocks to your track design.

To build your track you select the type of track section that you’d like to place, move the cursor to the desired grid spot, rotate the section if needed, and then click a button to place the track. The game automatically connects adjacent sections of track and if you’re placing a stretch of the same track type you can just move the cursor along to paint the track section. You are also free to set the elevation of the track making it possible for you to add overpasses and jumps to get over obstacles or if you need to double back on your track.

The track layout interface is not the friendliest one that you’ll encounter in level designers. Track elevation, map rotation, view angle, and add and delete buttons all sit in a window on the left side of the screen. You select map locations and track types by clicking directly on the map or desired track type. This entails a lot of moving the mouse back and forth over the entire screen even when placing the simplest of track sections. In an attempt to make things easier the game provides a plethora of keyboard shortcuts, but there will be a steep learning curve until you figure out what all of the keys do. This type of designer has been used in many games before and these games more often than not are a lot more intuitive and easier to use than Trackmania, so Trackmania almost feels like a step backwards in this regard.

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