At least it's FUN!
posted by Arcanix (SAINT PAUL, MN) Jun 1, 2007
Member since Jul 2004
1
out of
2
gamers (50%) found this review helpful
For racing purists, Excite Truck might seem like an easy game to dismiss. For Mario Kart fans, Excite Truck may disappoint a bit. All comparisons aside, however, the game simply fun!
Gameplay was mostly intuitive. A few tutorials got me, my non-gamer wife, and my best friend on the road in no time. Aside from the awkward Air Spins, almost every driving maneuver was easily learned and eventually mastered with practice. One big factor is the sheer SPEED of play. It is actually exhilarating at times and increases gradually as a player earns new trucks.
Graphics look great and sound is good but a bit repetitive. The squeal of certain trucks' engines might make you want to adjust your volume settings to avoid a fingernails-on-the-chalkb- oard type of reaction. We also tend to mute the menu screen between races.
Versus is fun and exciting, but it did make me wish I had a larger television (mine is 38") so that we could race with as much precision as we used in the single-player mode.
Keep in mind, this is not intended to be Project Gotham Racing or Gran Turismo. Wrecking trucks causes you very little lasting consequences, plowing through trees with power-up items is a commonplace strategy and points win races even if you don't finish with the best time. Realism is fine in games, but it is still a game, no? After all, how much fun would SSX games be if they were realistic recreations of the actual skiing and/or snowboarding experience?
Minor drawbacks aside, my wife and I love this game and have spent many evenings racing trucks instead of watching our usual lineup of late-night television shows because it's just plain fun.
Recommended improvements:
MORE RACES!
Track designer (remember 8-bit Excite Bike?)
Easier control of Air Spin
More diverse soundtrack
Two-player mode with CPU racers
Four-player mode, perhaps (I'll get the bigger TV for this!)
Give this game a try and maybe buy it if you have a big TV and people for multiplayer.
Was this review helpful?
Report
Abuse
