Wacky Wheels

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Wacky Wheels

Developer(s)	Beavis Soft
Publisher(s)	Apogee Software
Designer(s)	Andy Edwardson
Release date(s)	October 17, 1994
Genre(s)	Driving game
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	OFLC: G
Platform(s)	MS-DOS
Media	CD-ROM
Input	Keyboard, Joystick

Wacky Wheels is an MS-DOS arcade lawn mower racing videogame released by Apogee Software in 1994. It strongly puts the emphasis on fun instead of realism, both in looks and gameplay. You can choose between one of eight possible animals as a pilot to race with. While racing, players can collect hedgehogs, bombs and other objects that can be used to shoot or distract opponents. The game features both single and multiplayer play, with splitscreen, modem, or direct serial link. In multiplayer mode, 2 human players can either race against each-other, or battle in special arenas where the sole purpose is to hit the opponent a certain number of times with hedgehogs. This last gaming mode, called "Wacky shoot-out" is similar to the classic deathmatch mode from shooting games. Overall, the game is heavily based on the Super Nintendo game Super Mario Kart, both in terms of graphics and gameplay.

The game was and still is distributed as shareware, with only a few characters and courses active. Registration is required to unlock the remaining characters and courses. It is also one of the first games to have a Dopefish cameo appearance.

Wacky Wheels was not the first game to feature this type of gameplay, now known as go-kart or kart racing. The developer, Andy Edwardson, had been inspired by Super Mario Kart, and wished to create a similar experience on the personal computer. During development, he sent out a playable demo that included its source code to Copysoft to canvas interest in funding the project. They rejected and instead Apogee began funding development. However, just prior to the release of Wacky Wheels, Copysoft released a similar game titled Skunny Kart. Edwardson accused Copysoft of copyright infringement, noting the similarity in the games, however no legal action was ever taken.