Elasto Mania

Infobox VG
title = Elasto Mania


caption = Elasto Mania example screenshot. To solve a level, the player must collect all the apples and then reach the finish (the flower). Touching the black spikey objects (killers) or hitting a wall with your head means losing the level.
developer = Balázs Rózsa
designer = Balázs Rózsa, Csaba Rózsa
publisher = Independent
released = January, 2000
genre = 2D motorbike simulation
modes = Single player, multiplayer
platforms = Microsoft Windows
input = Keyboard

"Elasto Mania" (also known as "Elma") is a 2D motorbike simulation game for Microsoft Windows, and was originally released in 2000. [ [http://paprika.moposite.com/info_games_elma.php Moposite - Information - Games - Elasto Mania] ] Elasto Mania claimed to be "based on a real physical model." It explores the notion of elastic motorcycles. The goal of each level is to collect every apple spread throughout that level, and then to touch the flower to finish and move on to the next level. Some people play the game to try to solve levels as fast as possible, while others enjoy its puzzle-like nature, figuring out how to solve a difficult level. However, in the end, the ultimate objective is to finish a level in the least amount of time possible.

Versions

"Elasto Mania" was created by Balázs Rózsa as a sequel to the game "Action SuperCross" (1997). The two main differences between the two games are the slight change in physics and the addition of twelve internal levels. There are four official versions of Elasto Mania — 1.0, 1.1, 1.11, and 1.11a, plus four unofficial versions 1.11h, 1.11hb, 1.2h beta and 1.2 (final). While the concept of the game is very simple, the game itself can be very difficult, especially for players new to the game. The free demo version has 18 official levels while the full version has 54, and thousands of fan-created levels can be found online. Some of those are gathered in so-called "Level Packs".

Gameplay

The motorcycle is controlled by keyboard keys that cause it to:
*Accelerate. If used uninterruptedly the motorcycle will slowly raise its front wheel, and as the balance shifts, overturn causing the driver to hit his head on the ground. This can be prevented by periodically briefly releasing the accelerator, to balance the torque of the back wheel with gravity.
*Brake. The brake applies to both wheels simultaneously. Because of the infinite friction between the wheels and the ground in the game, if the brake is not used carefully, the rider will abruptly be thrown over the front wheel.
*Rotate Left/Right. Known as volting, this is accomplished by the rider either pushing or pulling on the handlebars. This maneuver is used to climb obstacles and otherwise pass through broken ground, and also allows the motorcycle to land on the ground wheels down after a jump.
*Turn around. The driver and the motorcycle frame turns around as a paper silhouette, in a comical fashion, while the wheels stay put, causing the front wheel to become the back wheel and vice versa.

Touching a contractor (seen as a rotating spiky wheel) with the wheels or the helmet of the rider or hitting the drivers head into the ground, walls or ceiling will "kill" the driver, forcing the player to restart the level.

All the apples in a level must be collected before the player can touch the flower and proceed to the next level. A few levels contain apples that changes the direction of gravity, causing the motorcycle to drive on the walls or on the ceiling.

Only the head and wheels of the driver may interact with the level. His body may overlap walls without injury, allowing for bizarre-looking situations, such as hanging upside down with the wheels on top of a thin floating island, with the rest of the motorcycle and the driver's body overlapping the island and his head being at a safe distance below it.

NOS Patch

A "NOS Patch" for the game exists, which gives the player invincibility and super speed. It is considered to be an "official" cheat to the game, however, it adds 10 minutes to the time, thus preventing cheating. It is only available for the official 1.0 version of the game.

Community

The world records (fastest times) on the 54 levels included with the game are still being improved. The depth in "Elasto Mania" is not readily apparent; it takes many years for a new player to begin to appreciate the skills required to drive a world record.

The game has a worldwide community, primarily based around #across and #ballelma on IRCnet and the mopolauta and elastomaniac forums. Mopolauta stands for moped-board in Finnish.

References

ee also

* X-Moto, a clone of Elasto Mania for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X systems, released under the GNU General Public Licence
* Motorama, a commercial clone
* Bike or Die, a clone for Palm OS PDAs.

External links

* [http://www.elastomania.com Official site]