"Not much to it, but what there is ROCKS!"

Following the massive success of Crazy Taxi on both Dreamcast and PS2, Sega chose to convert their 18 Wheeler coin-op to the home market. As it's name would suggest, players must drive an enormous 18 Wheeler truck from one location to another across the American highways, making sure to safely deliver the cargo. Despite sounding like Crazy Taxi in a lorry, 18 Wheeler has more in common with arcade classic Outrun than anything else, yet despite it being 10 years younger isn't even half the size of it.

And it's size that really lets down what could have been a classic game - there are only 4 proper ''tracks'' in the game, which aren't particularly long, despite them claiming to be thousands of miles long (New York to Florida in 1min 30 seconds?! Eh!!!??). Ok, there is the Parking mode (in which players must park their trailer in increasingly narrow places) and Score Attack which presents a bit of Circuit racing, but these too are far too short for comfort - basically you'll see the entire game in an hour or so.

Which is a shame really cos otherwise 18 Wheeler is a damn good game. The tracks are great, with an incredible amount of trackside detail lavished upon them and the trucks look brilliant (particularly with the internal view in which cowboy hats slide across the dashboard as you race!). Ok, there's a fair bit of pop-up, but any gripes will be forgotten when you see the incredible tornado ripping through the countryside on the second level, sucking up passing vehicles and buildings... oh yes....! The sound too is suitably fitting with instrumental bluesy rock playing throughout and some suitably meaty sound effects. In addition the two player game (based around the Score Attack circuit racing is great fun).

18 Wheeler is an extremely playable and accessible game, but ultimately it offers very little in terms of size. You really can see all of it in an hour or so. Basically if you can get it cheap (I got it for a fiver!!!) then definitely buy it, because it is an amazingly enjoyable title, but if you can only find it at full price then be wary as a pound a minute for a game isn't fun at all...

GRAPHICS - 8/10

Admittedly there's a fair bit of fogging and pop-up, but this can be forgiven by the sheer attention to detail throughout.

SOUND - 8/10

Some fantastic classic rock (particularly the Hendrixesque song on the Vegas to San Francisco track) and the sound effects are very believable.

GAMEPLAY - 9/10

Driving big trucks is fun!!! Crashing them, even more so... this game really offers pure enjoyment over any sort of depth and should be commended for this.

LASTABILITY - 5/10

The one area which lets it down - there simply is bugger all to it. Ok, you'll be replaying the arcade mode for ages, but the Parking and Score Attack don't exactly drag you back. Such a shame... :(

OVERALL - 8/10

Despite being tiny, if you can get it cheap then you simply have to get this, AS IT'S SO DAMN FUN!!! Not quite a classic, but if they make a sequel and pack loads more into it, then there's a lot of potential for the series...

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/10/02, Updated 12/10/02