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TrackMania builds on its reputation and gameplay style with many new additions and a heavy push for community involvement.

The newest installment in the TrackMania series, TrackMania United, promises to be the best yet, as it takes all of the things previous entries into the series have done right and expands on them. The game defies the usual intricate, update-laden racing sim that PC gamers are usually attracted to. It pushes community involvement, user creation, and fast paced gameplay. The game includes 200 new tracks and seven areas to drive around in. Cars are simply controlled with the arrow keys. This makes the learning curve less than 5 minutes, which makes it easy to pick up and play. The real attraction of TMU is the online integration throughout the game.

Through a large Race mode, incredible cusomization options, and community involvement, this game never discourages you from getting involved, and gives you many ways to succeed and compete with the best of 'em. Let's take a look at how this game delivers on three major aspects. Gameplay, online, and customization.

Gameplay

The single player portion of the game, Race Mode, includes 200 brand new maps right out of the box. These maps are presented through an array of seven themed settings; Stadium, Island, Desert, Rally, Bay, Coast and Snow. These areas each have their own specifically designed cars to go with them. These cars range from speedy Indy cars to vulnerable 4-wheeler Jeep type vehicles. Each has their own control aspects and all are visually customizable. On each track, your goal is to beat either the Bronze, Silver, or Gold time. Each medal has its own 'Ghost' car so that you can see what route the leading car takes to get the fastest time.

As you accomplish each time, you'll unlock more tracks and areas. If you feel like you've mastered a track, you can then take an 'Official Race'. This race's time will be recorded onto the World leaderboard so that you can see how you stack up to everyone else. You can also see a ghost car for the world leader, or anyone else for that matter. This is especially helpful, since the question of, "How in the WORLD did he or she get that time?" often arises in the vocabulary of a racing gamer. Well, now that question is answered. You will also always know that the leader really wasn't cheating. If you're an online racer, you know what I mean when I say that is a big plus.