Wacky Races: Starring Dastardly and Muttley

Wacky Races: Starring Dastardly and Muttley
And now, here they are! The most daredevil group of daffy drivers to ever whirl their wheels in the Wacky Races! Competing the title of world's wackiest races! - Narrator
Protagonist(s): The Wacky Racers Genre(s): Racing Platform(s): Dreamcast PlayStation 2 (PAL) Release Date: Dreamcast: June 27, 2000 (US) June 30, 2000 (PAL) PlayStation 2: June 29, 2001 (PAL) Developer(s): Infogrames Sheffield House Publisher(s): Infogrames Country: United States Series: Wacky Races Predecessor: Wacky Races (2000) Successor: Wacky Races: Mad Motors

Wacky Races: Starring Dastardly and Muttley is the 3rd Wacky Races installment and it is a 2000 racing video game developed by Infogrames Sheffield House and published by Infogrames for Dreamcast in the United States, then later for PlayStation in the PAL versions.

Why This Game is Wacky (In a Good Way)

1. Unlike Crash Team Racing, this one has a different take on a racing game, which explains all the details below.
2. Players can play as the Mean Machine in the base game, unlike the PlayStation version of Wacky Races.
3. The intro features an introduction to the Wacky Racers, which is a nice touch.
4. Players can use different types of abilities for each Wacky Racers, by using the pink tokens.
5. Gadgets are useful in races, which can be used anytime when players consume pink tokens by collecting them.
   • They can choose any gadget before starting the race.
6. The game features Adventure mode, which can freely roam around the HUB after players choose any racer.
7. Speaking of Adventure mode, it features not only gold stars but also Wacky Trial Clocks by unlocking tracks and abilities for each racer.
8. The game features Wacky Trial Clocks, which are similar to time trial mode, and unlike Crash Team Racing's Relic Time, they can unlock boss challenges, alongside collecting 10 gold stars after racing each course.
9. Red Max with the Crimson Haybailer, Professor Pat Pending with the Convert-a-Car, and Dick Dastardly and Muttley with the Mean Machine serving as bosses are good, since all three act like the elite racers.
   • When players enter any of the three elite racers, they can earn rewards after winning the race.
10. The Wacky Cup Challenge acts like the trophy race in Diddy Kong Racing, as well as Crash Bandicoot racing games.
    • It even features a separate Wacky Cup in the game mode where players can race in different courses, not just set courses based on the four worlds.
11. Similar to Crash Team Racing (along with its 2019 remake), Crash Nitro Kart, and Diddy Kong Racing, after clearing both Tracks and Wacky Cup Challenges, it features the Golden Muttley Challenge, which can collect 10 Golden Muttleys scattered on each track to get a gold star, Wacky Trial Clock, or vice versa.
12. There is a mirror scattering in each track, when destroying all mirrors, it will unlock Mirror Mode. Also, winning the race will not be affected after breaking the mirror.
13. Battle tracks appear for the first time in Wacky Races games, which can be found in the Battle Arena Challenge.
14. The game has cheat codes, which can be accessed in the Code Collection screen, such as making the game super difficult, unlocking all cars and tracks, and even turning all racers into kids.
15. The grand prix focuses on three specific tracks: Snowfall Peaks, Wild Frontier, and Redwood Valley.
    • In addition, the PAL version adds a new world called The Big Apricot, a city-themed track that can explore the rooftops and outside of the city itself.
16. The PAL version is a huge improvement over the original version, now including new music for the hub world and The Big Apricot as the fourth and final world.
17. There is an easter egg when the Mean Machine wins the race, the narrator becomes disgusted because Dick Dastardly and Muttley are happy that they win the race.
18. The voice acting is decent.
19. Good graphics and colorful environments.

Bad Qualities

1. Getting a gold star and a Wacky Trial Clock in Golden Muttley can be infuriating at times.
2. There are three bosses in the game and it would have made sense if there was a rival race, which is a missed opportunity.
3. The Dreamcast version does not feature more content than the PlayStation 2 PAL version of it.
   • The PlayStation 2 version is exclusive to PAL versions and not worldwide.

Trivia

• The intro is inspired by the Wacky Races cartoon itself.

Reception

The Dreamcast version received positive reviews, while the PlayStation 2 received the same, but above-average; with GameRankings received 84% for the Dreamcast version and 70% for the PlayStation 2.

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