Monster Truck Madness 2

"No NASCARs to run over, but it'll do!"

Background: My second attempt to submit a review for this game, I played MTM 2 again and came to a startling realization.

My first review sucked out loud.

So without further adu, let us continue with a more in depth review of Monster Truck Madness. Bear in mind that this is on maximum sound and graphics settings, which shouldn't be a problem. All it takes is a 200 MHz machine with a 3D card and sound card.

Gameplay 9/10
-The trucks are a pain to control at any speed higher than 15 mph. Whether or not this is a bad thing or a good thing is up to the driver, but anyone who has seen a Monster Truck Rally before knows this is true to life. Army Armstrong (real life monster truck commentator) boasts ''Just when you thought you were safe from the insanity...'', and insanity is right. Any of the tracks provided (with exception to one) provides plenty of opportunities to run over objects littering the side of the road (everything from caskets to porta potties, no joke). The levels are immense and filled with hills to jump, things to destroy, and iof your feeling bold, some have a moving train (chicken anyone?). There are 20 trucks to choose from, Bigfoot, Bear Foot, Monster Patrol, Grave Digger, etc. There are 4 WCW trucks featuring the Outsiders, Hogan, Sting, and Bret Hart. The game features a summit rumble mode where you get points for knocking other trucks into next week, or rather your ability to avoid getting knocked into next week. Weather conditions are adjustable, so you can play in everything from a hurricane to a blizzard. The only downside for the off road racing gamer is the lack of a season mode, or any real life inspired drag races.

Graphics 8/10
-Graphics are a beauty. In the highest mode, you can see reflections in the water of the trucks in beautiful detail. There's lens flare when the camera is facing the sun. The cockpit is photo realistic. The drops hitting the windshield when it's raining look good, as to the lights from the headlights. The scenery on levels like the Heights can be breath taking. They could have made the trucks look more realistic, but considering what the first Monster Truck Madness looked like, It's a leap forward like going from the Wright Brothers to Apollo 11.

Sounds 10/10
-Trucks sound realistic, there's a recognizable air horn when you go through check points. and depending on what you collide with, there is a noise for it, including a cooler than ice thumping noise for when a construction cone is caught under your tires. There's a wide variety of commentary for any notable situation, and the horns on the trucks play ''Dixie''. The game tracks are all right, but the ability to play other CD's during gameplay is the trump card here.

Story 0/10
No story, it would only demean the mindless destruction, so don't worry about it.

Replay 10/10
-As if anyone is going to get tired of mindless destruction, there's a hockey field hidden in the game that you can goof off on. And don't forget the Summit Rumbles. If this game ever gets boring, you can take heart in the fact that TRI made the game so you could easily add other tracks from online, or from Monster Truck Madness 1.

Overall 9/10
-A near perfect off-road racing game. Mega kudos go to TRI. To the rest of ya'll, keep on trucking.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/27/02, Updated 06/09/03