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Monster 4x4: Masters of Metal
by Jolex Del Pilar
Thursday, October 30 2003
Monster trucking: gaming genre, or deviant American past time? Read inside.
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Title:
Monster 4x4: Masters of Metal
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Platform:
Gamecube
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Publisher:
Ubi Soft |
Developer:
Ubi Soft Barcelona |
#
of Players: 1 - 2 |
Genre:
Racing (off-road)
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Origin:
Spain
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Expected
Release:
November 2003 |
Grapevine:
Ubi Soft's last monster truck based game was lacking, but there is always hope... |
Yes I know, a game about monster trucks. Apparently there is a demand for these type of games or companies wouldn't be making them. At least common buisness acumen would determine so. Personally, my preferred method of fantasy crushing involves giant 40 foot robots like Battle Engine: Aquilla, but to each their own.
Monster 4x4: Masters of Metal continues Ubi Soft's monster truck series of gaming which began with Monster Jam: Maximum Destruction. Maximum Destruction, while a decent attempt at creating a monster truck racing game, was still lacking in terms of overall content, and gameplay modes. Multiplayer mode was one of the game's few saving graces.
This years iteration of the series looks to feature 30 tracks and at least four modes of play including; training, stadium circuits, exhibition arenas, and of course multiplayer. The tracks will also be based on real-world locations. Some of the confirmed locations include Alcatraz Island, Central Park (NY), Louisiana swamps, Cape Canaveral, and the Arizona desert. Additionally, Ubi Soft has managed to license 20 real monster truck "personalities" such as Grave Digger, Prowler, El Toro Loco, and Bulldozer.
We can only hope with all the attention paid to getting authentic stages and trucks, that Ubi Soft has concentrated on making more varied and creative environments for truckers to interact with. Give the gamers some "silliness" on the tracks. High jumps, car piles to plough through, and of course ways to screw over A.I and human controlled drivers. To me there are basically two types of racing games, the ones that fall into the "Gran Turismo" realistic realm, or those that fall into the Mario Kart genre of racing silliness. The latter is where I believe monster truck racing games must fall to in order to be enjoyable.
Monster 4x4 should be in stores next month for you to purchase or rent from your local video store, as always, our full review should be up shortly before or during the game's launch.
--- Jolex Del Pilar
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