Yaris (video game)
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| Yaris | |
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| Developer(s) | Castaway Entertainment Backbone Emeryville |
| Publisher(s) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Platform(s) | Xbox 360 (XBLA) |
| Release date | October 10, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Tube Shooter/Racing game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone 10 and older (E10+) |
| Media | Download |
| Input methods | Gamepad |
Yaris is a free Toyota licensed racing advergame developed for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live Arcade based on the automotive company's line of Yaris subcompact cars.[1] The game was released on October 10, 2007.
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[edit] Gameplay
The game is a simplified futuristic combat racing game featuring three Yaris models, each with prehensile robotic gun called a "mechanosymbiont" emanating from the hood. The default color of the car is red. The available models include:
- 3-Door Liftback
- 4-Door Sedan
- 4-Door S Sedan
Gameplay consists of racing through U-shaped tube racing tracks while picking up coins, similar to the 3D minigame of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The tracks are populated by abstract enemies such as MP3 players, flaming wheels with deadly trails of fire, and odd motorcycle racers. The enemies can be attacked with the car's "mechanosymbiont" laser gun; some destroyed enemies release coins as well.
The cars can be upgraded with collected coins, from improving the chassis or wheels, changing the color, increasing the weapon storage, or increasing the shield strength.
The weapons that can be obtained include:
- sawblade
- gatling laser
- rocket launcher
- shotgun laser
- gauss cannon
[edit] Multiplayer
The game features two player multiplayer, both on the same machine and on Xbox Live. The players can simultaneously help and hinder each other with various "auras" that occur when the cars are close to one another. Pressing each of the four controller buttons as a different effect:
- A: Regenerates both cars' shields
- X: Extra coins from enemies
- B: Drains the opponent's shields
- Y: Causes coins to emanate from the opponent
[edit] Reception
In the official Joystiq review Dan Dormer gave Yaris a scathing review, writing that "Yaris does nothing right, and everything wrong. Every element, from the graphics to the controls to the online play, is just busted. Even at the price of free, this lemon isn't fun or worth the sticker price".[2]
The Videogametalk.com reviewer Mike Flacy wrote of Yaris "As the title is completely free, you should ask yourself different questions related to value. For instance, “Is the title worth the 17.5 seconds it will take to download it?” That’s a tough one. You could take out the trash in that amount of time, a much more rewarding task than playing Yaris."[3] This sentiment of "not being worth the free price" was widely echoed across major video game review sites.
Just one positive review came about from the game: Ars Technica, in their review titled "Yaris: the Xbox Live Arcade sleeper hit of the year" by Frank Caron wrote "It's simple, it's small, and it's fun. Go download it; I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised."[4] However, there is some doubt as to whether or not the article was legitimately praising the game or simply a satirical response to a free advergame, and the article itself included a subscript qualifying that other staff members of the site disagreed with Frank's assessment.
