MiniDrivers Review

The nearest comparison for MiniDrivers is that of Mario Kart. It’s not as lighthearted or as quirky as that, but it’s got that kind of vibe going for it. Unfortunately that vibe never lasts very long. All too soon you might find yourself frustrated at finicky controls, and the brief moments of joy seem increasingly distant.

Starting out, a pre-season mode kicks in to guide you through the paces. You can always skip ahead to delve into the Tournament mode properly though. There’s a choice of two control methods. Defaulting to buttons, this is probably the better choice. You use your left hand to turn left or right, and your right hand to brake as and when is needed. Accelerating is conducted automatically.

The other option is to use accelerometer controls but these proved to be a little too awkward for comfort. Buttons are far superior, although you’ll still wish for more accuracy. As you take various corners, you’ll soon learn that MiniDrivers doesn’t offer tight controls. Instead, they’re quite cumbersome and that soon affects how much enjoyment you can gain from it.

One thing does help re-inject some fun into proceedings though - the power-ups. Just like Mario Kart, you can pick up various bonuses, usually of the projectile variety, before flinging them at your opponents. It can make all the difference to whether you win or lose, plus it’s fun. The satisfaction of flinging a boomerang your opponent's way is an easy one to enjoy.

It’s not quite enough to distract you from those awkward controls though, and that’s what’s probably going to stop you from being too heavily drawn into MiniDrivers. It’s got the right looks and offers plenty of tracks, but those controls need to be sharper.