Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Wheelie Breakers

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What’s the Story?

YU-GI-OH! 5D's WHEELIE BREAKERS is a racing game set in the universe of Yu-Gi-Oh!, the popular trading card game and source of numerous animated TV series. This game is based on the animated series Yu-Gi-Oh! 5 D's and follows its format by having players particpate in "Turbo Duels," or battles while atop futuristic motorcyclyes called "Duel Runners." While riding, players cast spells with cards. They also receive points with which to buy more cards and purchase upgrades. Between races, players can arrange the cards in their decks to strategically foil opponents in subsequent contests.

The racing itself is similar to standard go-cart style racing games like Mario Kart, but instead of picking up items on the track, drivers grab cards with Spell, Trap and Monster values. In Story, Grand Prix, or Matchup (multplayer) mode, players can either use Classic or Nunchuk controls. In Story mode, you follow a user-created character whereas in Grand Prix mode you race computer opponents to earn trophies and cash.

Is It Any Good?

For a game that mashes together two completely different styles of play, Wheelie Breakers does a good job. Using a simplified form of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card games adds a strategic (albeit bizarre) element, and learning the values of these cards becomes essential to success in the game. At times, this can be daunting; there's no tutuorial, unfortunately, and you actually have to read scrolling information about the card while racing, a tricky bit of multitasking. But once you become accostomed to the cards (there are 150, total) and dealing them out during play, it's decent fun and most certainly a must for the Yu-Gi-Oh! fan.