Hot Wheels: Velocity X (subtitled Maximum Justice on the PlayStation 2) is a vehicular combat game published by THQ and developed by Beyond Games for the PC, GameCube, and PlayStation 2. A portable version was additionally developed for the Game Boy Advance by Saffire.
Both versions of the game follow the exploits of Team Hot Wheels (not to be confused with the later Team Hot Wheels from the 2010s) as they fight and race to protect their cars from a band of criminal racing gangs; the plot differs depending on which of the two versions is played.
Synopsis (Console)[]
Max Justice is a high schooler and racing prodigy living in Monument City, the son of genius engineer and Hot Wheels creator Dr. Peter Justice. When an emergency call about an intruder forces him to abandon a street race, he returns to his home to find it ransacked and the family's robot mechanic Gearhead incapacitated. Freeing Gearhead, he immediately heads out again to stop intruders at his family's engineering plant; only to watch it be destroyed in an explosion. Another bomb is then planted elsewhere; Max manages to divert this one to a different target.
Gearhead discovers that the gang responsible used the bombs as a distraction: The local gang boss, Nitro, had his posse steal all of the Hot Wheels out of the engineering plant, as well as their primary target: A Prototype car and related computer discs for a project entitled "Velocity X". Max is then approached by one of the gang's bosses, Nitro, and is challenged to a race with the discs as the wager; After Max wins the race, Nitro reveals that he had already delivered them to somebody else. Heading out to Turbine Sands on the trail of the gang, Max learns from Dr. Justice that the contents of the Velocity X discs include the formula for a "Super Fuel" which greatly improves the performance of any car, and that the stolen Prototype is nuclear powered and capable of invisibility; likewise, along with planning to hijack a train and escape with some of the stolen cars, the gang is attempting to retrieve some uranium for the Prototype.
Gang boss Belcher challenges Max to a bet over the uranium, annoyed that his operation is being messed with; but Max angers Belcher, causing him to put the deal off. Max defeats him in a fight and presses for information, but stops when Belcher implies that his friend Sparky has been spying on the gang in Crankshaft Bay and is at risk of retaliation. In the process of rescuing her from trouble, he retrieves a map Sparky had found which lists the names of both Dr. Justice and an unknown "Otto von Diesel". Dr. Justice is reluctant to talk about Otto when asked; instead sending Max to retrieve a car he notes as valuable. Max does so, but has to fight off the gang in the process; as it suddenly develops that they had been using their own assistant robot, Metacog, to spy on the team.
Retrieving the car, Dr. Justice explains that it contains an encrypted backup of the Velocity X data in it's trunk; it will be slow to decode. Gang boss Fast Lane then takes her shot at challenging Max for the uranium, on Otto's behest; even with her gang trying to stop him prior, Max wins the ensuing race. Gearhead pieces the map together, discovering that it depicts Burnout Glacier, and exposits Otto's history with Dr. Justice to Max: The two had worked together designing vehicles for Dr. Justice's Hot Wheels engineering team, but Otto was later dismissed for, ostensibly, bypassing safety procedures. Gearhead then spies on Otto's communications just in time to hear Metacog lay out a plan to activate Burnout Glacier's dormant volcano, which Max thwarts.
The gang's intentions with this were to collect volcanic gases, an ingredient in the super fuel. Likewise, Dr. Justice sends Max to go retrieve a collection canister of his from the volcano afterwards, so that they cannot steal it as a backup; something which another gang boss, Slick, uses to challenge Max, again, to a wager; by betting information on Otto's hideout against the gas collector. Slick flees after his defeat, leaving a map leading to Otto's hideout behind. Gearhead finally decrypts the data cube by this point, and unveils the true intentions of the Velocity X project: To construct a time machine, with the combined powers of the invisibility and the super fuel.
Dr. Justice had recognized the danger inherent in the concept, and ended the project; but Otto couldn't get over the possibilities, leaving Dr. Justice no choice but to fire him. Dr. Justice guesses that Otto is motivated by revenge; and that he wants to take it by using the power of Velocity X to stop the production of Hot Wheels. However, he's still missing something: A "Temporal Transmission", required to control where the Prototype will go in time. At this point, Otto's second-in-command (and Metacog's creator) Rupert appears; he has the Velocity X discs, and offers the team a shot to get them back; on the condition that they retrieve and bet the temporal transmission in a race. Max wins, but unlike with the gang bosses Rupert does not uphold the wager: While he does gives the team the discs back, the gang bosses have escaped with the transmission. Gearhead tracks where they're headed, the location of Otto's hideout: "Underworld", a network of sewer pipes and other tunnels beneath Monument City. Chasing them down, Max faces off with and defeats the four in one-on-two fights, retrieving the transmission.
Otto finally reveals himself afterwards, along with the details of his plan: To go back in time and prevent Dr. Justice from existing, thus wiping out all Hot Wheels (and Max). While the team had been on the trail of the discs, he had backed up the Velocity X files onto his computer and used the time his gang bought him to assemble the required components. Even with Rupert attempting to stop him, Max manages to break into the hideout and destroy Otto's computer and the copied Velocity X data inside; then, he pursues Otto and defeats him in a final battle against the Prototype, leading to his arrest.
Otto escapes custody not long afterwards; but with his plans foiled, the team is safe. Dr. Justice is able to return to work, and Max, takes the Prototype—and, bringing Sparky along with, finally gets to have the race he had to bail from.
Synopsis (Portable)[]
As team Hot Wheels: Dr. Justice (here known as "The Professor"), Max, Sparky, and Muscles (created by Saffire), develop a new prototype car, Metacog suddenly incapacitates them with a "hypnotic headlight", allowing all of the cars to be stolen right out of their headquarters by the gang bosses and Otto von Diesel. Gearhead, being a robot, is unaffected; allowing him to wake the team and tell them what happened. Dr. Justice promptly upgrades Gearhead to be able to drive, and sends him out to retrieve the cars from the gang bosses; along with parts of the prototype car, which were also stolen and are being misused by Otto in a vengeful effort to destroy all Hot Wheels cars.
By challenging the differing gangs across five areas—first downtown Monument City, then unnamed Desert, Beach, Snow, and Woods areas, Gearhead tracks down and defeats five gang bosses; first Slick, then Nitro, Fast Lane, Rupert, and finally Belcher. The bosses constantly try to thwart Gearhead before he can race and battle them for parts; whether it be by sending their drivers after him, putting obstacles in his path, sapping his battery charge with a prototype part, or simply refusing to challenge him unless he can prove his worth in some challenge.
After Gearhead retrieves all of the prototype parts from the bosses, Otto swoops in; stealing them and assembling the prototype car. After battling the five gang bosses, Gearhead confronts Metacog and Otto in a fight; despite Otto doing everything he can to stop Gearhead, using the prototype's nigh-invulnerable shielding and even a gadget which shrinks Gearhead's car, the two are defeated and the day saved.
Gameplay[]
The game is a fairly standard racing and vehicle combat game. Every mission is timed (excluding Joyrides, and Battles if specified) and gameplay is split across five worlds - Monument City, Turbine Sands, Crankshaft Bay, Burnout Glacier, and Underworld.
The player's car is capable of stunts and turbo boosts, as well as the ability to collect and fire gadgets. Ammunition and turbo boost charge is usually acquired through stunt points and bonus point pickups.
Gameplay of Velocity X on the console version.
In the main Adventure mode, the player has to beat all 14 missions, while completing tasks in each one. These tasks vary from destroying a few vehicles, collecting items, racing/battling a boss, and more. The game's missions take place across 5 different locations, with three missions in each world; except for the final world, which only has 2 missions.
In the GBA version, the story mode is simply races mixed with tasks given by the Professor such as destroying other vehicles and collecting items. At the end of each, a boss is raced.
In the Challenge mode, the player has to complete all 18 challenges. Each challenge comes with various tasks, such as achieving "x" Stunt points, collecting "x" gears, or reaching the finish before the clock hits 00:00. Along the way, new vehicles, as well as new race/battle maps and weapons, are unlocked. In the GBA version the Challenges are Battle, where the player destroys opponents; and Tag, where the player rams opponents.
The game also has a Drag Race mode, a Battle mode, and a Joyride mode. The Drag Race and Battle modes are both single-player and multiplayer (except in the PC version of the game). The Joyride, in essence, is free roam. The player can also unlock cars in Joyride by collecting all ten gears or finding the hidden key in each map. These modes are absent in the GBA version.
The player begins with six vehicles, and three in the GBA version. The game has 27 additional vehicles that can be unlocked by successfully completing various challenges and missions. Each car is rated on its speed, grip, stunt, and armor.
Vehicles[]
Velocity X features a large roster of Hot Wheels cars, all from between 1998 and 2002. Most of them are playable, while some appear as background props or on signs. There is nearly 50 cars across all versions.
Each vehicle was measured with a specific statistic, with one possessing a mastery of each stat.
- Speed: how fast the vehicle can go.
- Armor: how resistant the vehicle is to damage.
- Grip: How capable the vehicle is of making sharp turns.
- Stunt: the car's stunting capability.
Starters[]
| Model Name | Screenshot: Console Version |
Screenshot: GBA Version |
Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Photo: Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS-T Suzuka |  |
 |
2001 First Editions |  |
| Sooo Fast |  |
 |
2001 First Editions |  |
| Super Tuned |  |
 |
2001 First Editions |  |
| Overbored 454* |  |
2002 First Editions |  | |
| At-a-Tude* |  |
2000 Speed Blaster |  | |
| Twin Mill II* |  |
 |
2001 Extreme Sports |  |
*If playing on the GameCube, must be unlocked by pairing the Game Boy Advance version.
Unlocked by Adventure[]
| Model Name | Screenshot: Console Version |
Screenshot: GBA Version |
Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Photo: Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle Tone |  |
2001 Mainline |  | |
| Hammered Coupe |  |
 |
Console: 2000 First Editions GBA: 2001 Treasure Hunt |
  |
| Jaded |  |
2002 First Editions |  | |
| Hyper Mite |  |
2002 Mainline |  | |
| Power Pistons |  |
2001 Mainline |  | |
| Evil Twin |  |
 |
2001 First Editions |  |
| Hyperliner |  |
2002 First Editions |  | |
| Maelstrom |  |
 |
2001 First Editions |  |
| Splittin' Image 2 |  |
 |
2001 Fireball 5-Pack |  |
| Greased Lightnin' |  |
 |
Console: 2001 Rod Squadron GBA: 2000 First Editions |
  |
| Vulture |  |
 |
Console: 2000 First Editions GBA: 2001 Treasure Hunt |
  |
| Arachnorod |  |
 |
Console: 2001 Mainline GBA: 2000 First Editions |
  |
| Sol-Aire CX4 |  |
2000 Tony Hawk Skate |  | |
| HW Prototype 12 |  |
2002 First Editions |  |
Unlocked by Challenge[]
| Model Name | Screenshot: Console Version |
Screenshot: GBA Version |
Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Photo: Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sho-Stopper |  |
2000 First Editions |  | |
| Surf Crate |  |
 |
Console: 2001 Skateboarders 5-Pack GBA: 2000 First Editions |
  |
| Krazy 8s |  |
 |
2001 First Editions |  |
Unlocked by Gears in Joyride[]
| Model Name | Screenshot: Console Version |
Screenshot: GBA Version |
Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Photo: Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flashfire |  |
 |
2001 Mainline |  |
| Deora II |  |
2001 Skateboarders 5-Pack |  | |
| Rigor Motor |  |
 |
2001 Skull & Crossbones |  |
| Shadow Jet |  |
 |
2001 Mainline |  |
| Jet Threat 3.0 |  |
2001 First Editions |  |
Unlocked by Hidden Key[]
| Model Name | Screenshot: Console Version |
Screenshot: GBA Version |
Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Photo: Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega-Duty |  |
2001 First Editions |  | |
| Way 2 Fast |  |
2000 Mainline |  | |
| Lakester |  |
 |
2001 Rod Squadron |  |
| Surfin' School Bus |  |
2001 First Editions |  | |
| Power Rocket |  |
2001 Mainline |  |
Prop Vehicles[]
- Cabbin' Fever (Seen around the Game World)
- Semi-Fast (Seen around the Game World)
- Letter Getter/S.W.A.T. Van (Seen around the Game World)
- Speed Blaster (Seen on a billboard for 'Bert's Tuning and Performance')
Beta Vehicles[]
| Model Name | Screenshot: Console Version |
Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Photo: Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fandango |  |
2001 First Editions |  |
From PS2 Beta Build |
| Jester | |
2002 First Editions |  |
From PS2 Beta Build |
| Sweet 16 II | |
2001 Spider Slam 5-Pack |  |
From PS2 Beta Build |
| Sling Shot |  |
N/A | |
Exclusive to Game Boy Advance[]
| Model Name | Screenshot: GBA Version |
Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
Photo: Real World Counterpart (or closest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hooligan |  |
2002 Hot Rod Magazine |  |
| MX48 Turbo |  |
2000 First Editions |  |
| Phaeton |  |
2000 Hot Rod Magazine |  |
| Phantastique |  |
2001 Logo-Motive |  |
| Purple Passion |  |
2001 Monsters |  |
| Roll Cage |  |
2001 Mainline |  |
| Screamin' Hauler |  |
2001 Skull & Crossbones |  |
| Shredster |  |
2001 First Editions |  |
| Demon |  |
2001 Mainline |  |
| Vulture Roadster | 2001 First Editions |  | |
| XS-IVE (used as fire trucks in later missions) |
|||
| XT-3 |  |
2000 Mainline |  |
Gadgets[]
- Ripper Wheels: Deploys spikes from the player's wheels and damages nearby opponents; tends to misbehave around ramps and props.
- Armor Repair: Resets the vehicle's health to 100 and removes all visible damage; enemies who use it are healed less.
- Oil Drum: Throws a barrel of crude oil at opponents, spinning them out.
- Laser Cannon: A powerful, accurate, blue sniper shot. Requires careful aiming.
- Sonic Boom: Produces a shockwave that does weak damage and causes enemies to spin out.
- Atom Blaster: Twin machine guns that fire yellow particles.
- Freon Bomb: Launches a bouncing and sliding icy bomb from a catapult.
- Energy Shield: Momentarily renders the user immune to damage.
- Jet Boosters: Gives the player an uncontrollable boost in speed; also damages nearby cars.
- Super Zapper: Fires a lightning bolt that electrocutes its target and does slow damage-over-time.
- Magnet Mine: Fires a magnetic bomb that gravitates towards the nearest enemy.
- Doom Disks: Fires three homing disks that deal high damage if properly spaced.
- Quantum Annihilator: The strongest gadget; a red-and-gold "fully charged" Laser Cannon; it can only be used in one mission or with an unlockable cheat.
Trivia[]
- The game came bundled with a special edition version of the First Editions 40 Somethin', bearing THQ and Velocity X tampos and RL5SP tires.
- There Is Also A Billboard Advertising Monster Jam Trucks, Showing Grave Digger And Sting.
- There is a list of cheats in the PlayStation 2 version that are unlocked by completing certain tasks in some challenges, e.g. unlocking all cars, all gadgets, etc.