ATV Offroad Fury

As is normally the case, when I ripped open the package, I was too excited to bother with the instructions. I threw the game in, and rifled into a quick single race to try things out. Racing down the opening straightaway, I ripped around the corner and hit the first jump. Now, I have never watched ATV racing in real life, but I cannot imagine one of those machines flying a couple of hundred feet like that...but I liked it! Now, flying is one thing, but landing was a little more difficult. With a corner coming quickly, I came down right into a sign at the side of the road. Well, that is not totally correct. My ATV hit the sign, but the rider flew over the sign, and slid. Then he hit a tree; then he bounced off the tree, and curled up into a ball as he came to a stop. Very cool.

The physics in this game are absolutely incredible. As your ATV bounces over the mounds, some skill is required to level it out and allow all four wheels to hit the ground at once. Otherwise, momentum is lost, and the machine is slowed down. Launching the vehicle off different surfaces (such as ramps, hills, stairs, railroad tracks--the list is endless) causes different jumps, and by leaning into the jump, riders can soar through the air while performing death-defying tricks. But watch out, because falling off can be lethal. Many a groan can be heard from any player as he watches his virtual self bounce, slam, slide, whack, roll and tumble on/off, over or through the landscape (including nasty falls over hundred foot cliffs). Players and ATVs react accordingly as they hit the ground, and other riders need to be wary when someone takes a wipeout. Warning: Flying ATVs can be hazardous to your health.

The controls are very crisp and responsive, and, as stated above, you have to get the knack for landing properly without either slowing down, or flying right off the machine. ATV Offroad Fury provides a very arcade-like feel, which fits it perfectly, allowing anyone to pick up the controller and start playing right away, and making for a great party game. The game provides a catch-up feature, meaning as soon as a rider falls behind they gain a boost to catch up with the other racers. This makes the game extremely competitive, but at the same time causes some problems in the single-player mode. It doesn�t seem to matter how poorly a player does for the first three laps of a five lap race. If no mistakes are made in the final two laps, the computer opponents are easily overtaken. But this feature really does add quite a bit to the multi-player feature.

Reversing is a little awkward at first, as it involves holding down both the brake and gas, but it is very rare indeed that you need to back up (unless of course you are lining up the ultimate trick, like launching yourself off of a balcony overlooking a cliff, which drops straight down to the bottom of an enormous crater!), so it doesn't cause much hindrance.

A cool feature they did add, however, is the ultimate stunt cam, where by holding R2, the camera view changes to that of a spectator on the ground watching the rider soar through the air above. It definitely looks great when performing extreme stunts high above the on-lookers.

My one complaint with the controls is that while the game went for fast-paced arcade feel racing, it left the stunts behind, leaving them at a somewhat realistic level. Combos are difficult to pull off unless the jump itself is about two-hundred feet long, and as opposed to Tony Hawk or SSX style flips and spins, the tricks are fairly simple, such as kicking both legs over one side, or leaning back with no hands. I personally would have preferred spins on the handlebars, mid-air flips, and impossible barrel rolls, but that's just me. The stunts are still well animated, even if they do look slightly plain.

The tracks themselves show a good deal of variety. They are separated into three distinct groups, indoor, outdoors and freestyle. The indoor tracks are fairly similar, as they are the same type of supercross tracks that you would see in a motocross game. With crowds looking on and cheering the wild jumps, you truly get the feeling of performing for an audience.

The outdoor tracks show much more variety, as you race across many different terrains and landscapes. From lush forests to harsh deserts, all the way to snow-covered tundra, every race provides a different experience. Players can even race up and down the sides of the Grand Canyon, where a little too much throttle can prove to be fatal.

The sound is decent, although hearing those high-pitched engines at full throttle for too long begins to sound like you are being chased by a pack of killer bees. The effects (including the ATVs, crowds and crashes) all sound sharp and clear, and Sony went all out with the music provided. A number of groups have tracks included, such as Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Sevendust, Strung Out and CIRRUS. Although not my regular choice for music, the soundtrack did fit in nicely by getting the player pumped up, and adding to the anxiousness of the race.

Overall, ATV is a solid game that most everyone will want to give a try. The multiplayer really makes for a great party game, not only for the competitiveness, but also for the entertainment value of the crashes and lunatic jumps and stunts. There is a decent amount of replay value, with over 20 courses and vehicles available, and the simplicity of the controls and ease of playability make it a great game to throw in when you just have a little time to waste. Although ATV Offroad Fury is not a keeper for everyone, you don't want to miss playing it at least once.

Adam Moore

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