Hot Wheels Unleashed GOTY Edition

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Fast Facts

Wheelie Good Time

For this review, we are looking at the added features for the Game of the Year version of Hot Wheels Unleashed. You can read our review of the base game here: https://www.rapidreviewsuk.com/hot-wheels-unleashed-review/

First off, the Game of the Year edition of Hot Wheels Unleashed is hands down the best version available. As well as the already spectacular base game, you get a wonderfully random selection of treats. The 3 main expansions are bought together, along with a whole host of add-ons, including vehicles, tracks, and customisation parts for your own custom-built tracks.

Hot Wheels on Meals

The game’s main campaign is the City Rumble mode, and this is greatly expanded on with 3 new worlds, DC, Looney Tunes, and Monster Trucks. These tracks are deceptively tricky, having more of a challenge than the tracks found in the standard game. Numerous times I would be screaming around the Bat Cave before flying over a jump only to watch helplessly as Barbie’s hot pink camper van greatly overshoots the landing and crashes into the Bat Computer. Sometimes, faster isn’t always better.

Black is the New Orange

The iconic bright orange of the Hot Wheels track blends beautifully, weaving around the Looney Tunes and the Stop Motion Studios. This is switched out to a dark grey for the DC world. I was not a fan of how it sometimes vanishes completely, and you’re left driving around open areas. Trying to follow the tiny cones that pave the way is infuriating.

These off-track sections aren’t always totally clear in the direction you need to be heading. However, they do give you a chance to explore the new locations free from any confines. Here, you are able to drive around the world, admiring the tiny attention to detail each brings. So long as you are not too bothered about the actual race, that is.

Meh, What’s up Doc?

The gameplay remains much of the same, with the controls feeling responsive to the arcade style it was aiming for. The drifting handles well, and you can’t help but feel a sense of pride after taking a long sweeping corner without bouncing off the sides. My only gripe with the actual gameplay is regarding the vehicles. They all handle very similarly, with no massive difference between a Road Runner sports car and a toilet on wheels. Only the newly added Monster trucks feel like unique vehicles. Big and clunky, with the slightest bump sending them flying.

Tiny Cars, Big City

Speaking of the vehicles, each one looks remarkably beautiful. I played on the Xbox Series X, and each vehicle had a realistic metallic and plastic look straight out of your toy box. Even just going through the vehicle selection, I found myself rotating each of the vehicles and taking in all the tiny details. From the Street Fighter-inspired collection to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-themed rides, I couldn’t help but smile as I cycled through. Even though some of them look ridiculous (I’m looking at you, M. Bison), I still wanted to try them all.

In this edition of the game, you are also given a whole host of new customisation options for your basement. I immediately covered the walls with Batman and Joker’s faces. I did particularly like one of the new door options, a Will E Coyote-shaped hole akin to one of the classic Road Runner cartoons. Even if it did look out of place against my Batman wallpaper, it still gives me a chuckle whenever I see it. Other than decoration, though, I barely spent any time in the basement.

The new customisation options extend to the track creator, in which you are free to build the wildest jumps and loops you can imagine. And yes, you can build in the new areas, creating unique tracks around the ACME rocket, the Stop Motion Studio and, of course, the Bat cave.

Final Thoughts

Much of what needs to be said about Hot Wheels Unleashed has already been said before in our previous review of the base game. However, if you are undecided on which version to opt for, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Game of the Year version. Just trying to describe how each vehicle looks doesn’t really do them justice, and you really need to see each one for yourself.

The Game of the Year version brings all the fun and joy of the Hot Wheels base game, but with the inclusion of the three new worlds, the massive variety of new vehicles to play with and the added customisable options, this really is the greatest version available.

Rapid Reviews Rating

4.5 out of 5

4.5

You can purchase Hot Wheels Unleashed on the Microsoft store here: Buy HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED™ – Game Of The Year Edition | Xbox.