4x4 Evolution

Pros • Lots of dirt! • Solid looking graphics • Lots of upgrades available • Real world vehicles	Cons • Upgrading can be a little confusing and even overwhelming! • Where is the online play that made the Dreamcast version so cool?
Bottom Line The best part of 4x4 Evolution for the Dreamcast was the online multiplayer gameplay. It isn’t here and what is left is good, but just not good enough. Without the online component, this is essentially a false start for racing fans. With 70 off-road vehicles, real world licenses, diverse racecourses, and several modes of play 4x4 Evo should have been a top-notch off-road racing game. As it is, it’s probably too hardcore for causal racers and without the online play it doesn’t allow the intense race fans the ability to compete.

Racing most certainly is not always about staying clean – sometimes it is nice to get down and dirty. One of the most innovative off-road racing titles was released last year for the Dreamcast, with a major part of the appeal being able to take the action online! For PlayStation 2 owners, the arrival of Terminal Reality’s 4x4 Evolution comes accompanied with both good and bad news.

The good news is that racing fans looking for the Evo experience on PS2 will be able to go wild, but sadly (this is the bad news), without the online multiplayer component. The result is essentially the same as having an excellent arena for a first-person shooter but then only being able to play against bots. This is fine to pass the time, and can even be extremely challenging and downright enjoyable; but in the end you’ll still be wanting just a bit more (especially if you did have a chance to play online with the PC or DC versions). Hopefully Terminal Reality and Gathering of Developers will take another chance with 4x4 Evo when Sony’s most touted online service becomes a reality. Until then, hardcore race fans looking for single-player or two-player split-screen action can still enjoy some off-road racing.

Truthfully, this lack of online play really should be a minor complaint, and had it not been for the fact that the Dreamcast version had it, this game would probably rate higher. For the race fan there is a lot in this title including a vast selection of licensed vehicles. With 70 or so trucks to choose from, you can take your pick from the biggest names in SUVs – everything from trucks that would make a diehard redneck proud to something only a yuppie would think is cool. There are more high-priced environment-killing vehicles than you’d find at Detroit’s auto-show, with Dodge, Ford, GM, Nissan and Lexus all being available for the choosing.

In the game’s career mode you’ll begin with a truck with a price tag that could probably pay for a year at an Ivy League college but you’ll be surprised at how little you’ll get for your $30,000. Don’t expect too many extras, and at the start you’ll be basically limited to choosing a truck and customizing the paint job. As you gain experience in the dirt and win some cash, you can spend that hard-earned income on upgrades, both the cosmetic kind that will affect the truck’s appearance and also those that should improve performance. Individual tastes will probably determine if the upgrades – especially those to the appearance – will be for the better or will just get you laughed at!

These performance improvements include those to the vehicle’s chassis, engine, suspension, drivetrain and even electronics. Real world economics also seem to come into play, as you’ll end up having to buy a lot of stuff you probably don’t need in order to increase your engine size or make other complicated upgrades. The level of customization is impressive to the point of being almost overwhelming, and will no doubt appeal to serious gear-heads more than casual players who would probably be better off saving those winnings and just buying a higher end vehicle.

Throughout the career mode you’ll be able to take part in either series races or special events. The series lets you compete in a circuit of races and successful finishes will unlock more series to race. The special events are just one-off races that have very specific vehicle requirements like engine size. For those who want to experience some quick off-roading, there is also a quick race mode, and the time attack mode. The quick race is exactly what it sounds like and you can hit the dirt on one of the game’s 15 unique tracks with one of the higher end trucks, while the time attack is basically really good for testing those upgrades before you face real – that would be real virtual – competition. Of course there is also the split-screen two-player version and the PS2’s slightly higher graphical resolution does look better than the same mode on the Dreamcast. But again we’re reminded that the online multiplayer gaming is missing in this version of 4x4 Evo.

This is all too clear when it comes to racing against the AI-controlled vehicles, which lack diversity. The computer trucks seldom make those kinds of small mistakes that will allow you to steal the lead. It therefore takes a lot of racing on the same courses over and over again to get any cash to improve your vehicle. Without the ability to go online, you’re essentially racing against the computer in an almost futile attempt to get enough cash together to improve your truck and put up a bit more of a fight!

In the end 4x4 Evolution is a great-looking simulation but only the hardest of the hardcore are going to be able to get into this game, let alone be able to advance very far. Casual gamers should probably look elsewhere or wait until Sony has an online network and Terminal Reality releases a sequel!

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