GENRE
	Racing
	DEVELOPER
	Neko Entertainment
	PUBLISHER
	Neko Entertainment
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-4
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

Heracles slays mythological creatures and displays superhuman strength. But what may not be as well-known is that the Greek beefcake also sports some riveting kart-racing skills. Heracles: Chariot Racing, from developer Neko Entertainment, stars the bronzed muscle man, along with other mythological gods and creatures, including Poseidon and Medusa. The WiiWare title follows the kart-racing formula rather closely, and as such, offers a fun time with an ancient, fantasy coating.

The setting is predictably Greek, and it works well, offering a variety of tracks. Boxy, yet sufficient graphics comprise these well-known locales, which (while cliché) also exhibit grandiose set pieces that help each level stand apart. Hades, for example, contains a gigantic Cerberus, the three-headed dog, unleashing fireballs down the middle of the track, while Zeus looms magnificently overhead during another level.

To zip around as the awe-inspiring Greek god, controls are handled with a Wii Remote and Nunchuk. This setup reveals one twist on the kart-racing formula for Heracles: Chariot Racing; the Nunchuk’s tilt function serves as the drift, requiring the left hand to rotate in the corresponding direction of the control stick. The method performs well, but definitely adds a learning curve. The remedy to this conundrum should be available through other control options, but there are none; neither Wii Remote tilt controls nor a horizontal Wii Remote configuration/Wii Wheel support are available.

Another unique factor to this title relates to power-ups. In addition to the normal slate of upgrades -- homing attacks and road hazards -- there is also a shield pickup that enhances karts on the fly with better speed and protection. It’s not a game-changing feature, but adds a little bit of extra depth.

The main depth, though, comes from the championship mode. Three cups -- Bronze, Silver and Gold -- are available and contain variations on five tracks. Computer racers persistently offer up a challenge, but friends also can jump right in to race through the mode. Arena battles also make an appearance, allowing two to four players to duke it out on, again, five other battle courses. Multiplayer increases the entertainment factor, and thankfully performs well visually, without any noticeable hiccups.

Sadly, there is no online multiplayer, but that’s not too upsetting considering the 800 Wii Point price tag. On the other hand, omitting online leaderboards seems to be an oversight, as the ability to challenge friends’ track times could have greatly enhanced the overall package.

Another sour note relates to the humdrum musical score. A triumphant, trumpet-heavy score blares over the title screen, but the rest of the game falls flat. Even worse, various sound quirks hinder the aural presentation. The biggest offender relates to either a glitch or weird design choice that stops the music after starting lap three. It seems strange to fill the most significant and tense moment of a race with nothing but absolute silence.

Luckily, the poor sound fails to hush an otherwise decent take on the kart-racing genre. There are definitely other small missteps, such as the lack of control options, but Heracles: Chariot Racing shines because of its mythological setting, with stellar course pieces and style.

6.0/10