Yaris (video game)
Encyclopedia
Yaris is a Toyota-licensed racing
advergame
based on the line of Yaris subcompact cars
. It was developed for the Xbox 360
and distributed for free on Xbox Live Arcade
. The game was released on October 10, 2007, but was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace
in November 2008. Anyone who downloaded Yaris when it was still available can keep the game on his or her console's hard drive, earn achievements, and continue to play online multiplayer.
Gameplay consists of racing through U-shaped tube racing tracks while picking up coins, similar to the 3D minigame called "Special Stages" in Sonic the Hedgehog 2
. 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:
. 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 has a different effect:
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".
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." 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 its 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." However, the article included a subscript qualifying that other staff members of the site disagreed with Frank's assessment.
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
advergame
Advergaming
Advergaming is the practice of using video games to advertise a product, organization or viewpoint. The term "advergames" was coined in January 2000 by Anthony Giallourakis, and later mentioned by Wireds "Jargon Watch" column in 2001...
based on the line of Yaris subcompact cars
Toyota Belta
The Toyota Belta, referred to in North American and Australian markets as the Toyota Yaris and in South Asian markets as the Toyota Vios, is a subcompact sedan manufactured by Toyota...
. It was developed for the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and distributed for free on Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade
Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...
. The game was released on October 10, 2007, but was later delisted from the Xbox Live Marketplace
Xbox Live Marketplace
The Xbox Live Marketplace is a virtual market designed for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console that allows Xbox Live members to download purchased or promotional content...
in November 2008. Anyone who downloaded Yaris when it was still available can keep the game on his or her console's hard drive, earn achievements, and continue to play online multiplayer.
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 called "Special Stages" in Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (16-bit)
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a 16-bit 1992 platform video game that was developed by Sonic Team members working at the Sega Technical Institute, and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis console. It was released in Japan on November 21, 1992 and in North America and Europe on November 24, 1992...
. 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
Multiplayer
The game features two player multiplayer, both on the same machine and on Xbox LiveXbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
. 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 has 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
Reception
In the JoystiqJoystiq
Joystiq is a video gaming blog founded in June 2004 that has since become one of the most successful sites within the Weblogs, Inc. family of weblogs. It is the centerpiece of WIN's own network of video gaming blogs, which also includes a blog dealing specifically with the popular MMORPG World of...
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".
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." 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
Ars Technica
Ars Technica is a technology news and information website created by Ken Fisher and Jon Stokes in 1998. It publishes news, reviews and guides on issues such as computer hardware and software, science, technology policy, and video games. Ars Technica is known for its features, long articles that go...
, in its 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." However, the article included a subscript qualifying that other staff members of the site disagreed with Frank's assessment.