I first encountered Elasto Mania on a university computer in the early years of this century, and probably took the shareware version home on floppy disk. I think at some point I got the full version, I suspect without paying for it. And now, a chance to rectify that wrong: Elasto Mania, best and most absurd game of all time*, is releasing on Switch (and other platforms) in a few days.
Elasto Mania, originally released in 2000, is a 2D puzzle platformer in which you control a motorbike rider. Or it’s a physics based motor cross simulator. Doesn’t matter. Your rider is trapped in a hellscape of unlikely platforms, and must collect any apples in the area before finding and touching a flower. Only three elements of the character and their bike can interact with the environment: the front and back wheels, and the rider’s head. The wheels are used to move around, and if the rider’s head makes contact with anything other than an apple or flower you must restart the level. The bodies of the rider and the bike do not interact with the level geometry, meaning that if a platform is thin enough you can ride along it with one or both wheels on top, the rider’s head underneath, and the bike itself sharing space with the platform. The bike’s suspension is very impressive, able to expand and contract as impacts require.
Controls are conceptually simple: you can accelerate, brake, turn around, and make the rider pull back or push forwards. Once you start moving, it quickly becomes clear that trick riding is essential to get anywhere. Accelerate, and the bike will start to tilt backwards. If you don’t slow down or lean forwards, the bike will tip over backwards and you’ll be starting the level again. The physics are pretty floaty, and this is key to the game - you need to be able to use your bike to climb and jump off the scenery to get where you’re going. After a little practice you’ll be flying through the air, spinning wildly, and all going well landing perfectly where you need to.
This remastered version includes the original game, some extra levels, updated graphics (hopefully optional), split screen multiplayer, online leaderboards, and probably some other stuff, I dunno it isn’t out yet. I haven’t actually played this game in probably fifteen years or more, I’m not sure if it actually holds up, but I know I loved it back then. Anyone else remember it?
*maybe
Elasto Mania, originally released in 2000, is a 2D puzzle platformer in which you control a motorbike rider. Or it’s a physics based motor cross simulator. Doesn’t matter. Your rider is trapped in a hellscape of unlikely platforms, and must collect any apples in the area before finding and touching a flower. Only three elements of the character and their bike can interact with the environment: the front and back wheels, and the rider’s head. The wheels are used to move around, and if the rider’s head makes contact with anything other than an apple or flower you must restart the level. The bodies of the rider and the bike do not interact with the level geometry, meaning that if a platform is thin enough you can ride along it with one or both wheels on top, the rider’s head underneath, and the bike itself sharing space with the platform. The bike’s suspension is very impressive, able to expand and contract as impacts require.
Controls are conceptually simple: you can accelerate, brake, turn around, and make the rider pull back or push forwards. Once you start moving, it quickly becomes clear that trick riding is essential to get anywhere. Accelerate, and the bike will start to tilt backwards. If you don’t slow down or lean forwards, the bike will tip over backwards and you’ll be starting the level again. The physics are pretty floaty, and this is key to the game - you need to be able to use your bike to climb and jump off the scenery to get where you’re going. After a little practice you’ll be flying through the air, spinning wildly, and all going well landing perfectly where you need to.
This remastered version includes the original game, some extra levels, updated graphics (hopefully optional), split screen multiplayer, online leaderboards, and probably some other stuff, I dunno it isn’t out yet. I haven’t actually played this game in probably fifteen years or more, I’m not sure if it actually holds up, but I know I loved it back then. Anyone else remember it?
*maybe