 Preview By: Andrew Joy |
Developer: | Ubisoft |
| Publisher: | Ubisoft | |
| Genre: | Racing | |
| ESRB: | Everyone | |
| # Of Players: | 1-4 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | Thrustmaster Wheel attachment | |
| Estimated Release: | 11/19/2006 |
Like any good racing game, Monster 4x4 World Circuit includes lots of variety. In the single player mode, this game can seem a bit like an RPG, as winning races on the World Circuit boosts your truck's stats. The World Circuit is broken into different races as well, including a one-on-one challenge (against a CPU), a pure race to the finish, and in true monster truck form with all the tricks and flips you’d expect from a game like this. Apart from leveling-up your car, you can also customize it in the single player game, choosing from various paint jobs and decals, and both single and multiplayer also include power-ups. In the multiplayer game, up to four players can either race or take part in a variety of mini-games which include monster truck soccer (which should be great fun with the controller), a versus mode that has you sending exploding barrels at your opponent, and more. From the ability to customize your car, to the multitude of single and multiplayer events, this game looks at the very least to have several hours of good gameplay, though it’ll be up to you whether that seems enough for a purchase or just a rental.
Naturally, of course, I wouldn’t go through all this without mentioning a few areas of concern. Among them, the deplorable lack of online multiplayer seems to be hitting the Wii pretty hard at launch, with only one game set to include it this year (Pokemon Battle Revolution)...and that is only in Japan. Still, even though the original Xbox version of Monster 4x4 World Circuit didn’t support Xbox Live, it seems like it might behoove Ubisoft to delay the title and include it in Monster 4x4 World Circuit once an online strategy has been firmly established on the Wii. Even though this game clearly has one up on Nintendo’s Excite Truck as far as multiplayer is concerned, adding online play would make this title a must have in my opinion. Also worth noting, most reviews of this game on Xbox panned the game’s awful, pseudo-metal soundtrack, even though it would seem a perfect fit. Now, if this game were being ported to the Xbox 360, I’d say no problem as that system supports custom soundtracks. With the Wii, however, this just isn’t possible (at least not at launch), so you’ll have to decide how big a part the audio plays in the overall experience.
For a launch title, Monster 4x4 World Circuit is about what we expected for the Wii: lots of ports and multiplatform games where the development costs have already been mostly taken care of. However, this game does have its charms...in the same way the girl next door can be more alluring than some exotic beauty. The controls might be a new experience at first, but for the most part you know what to expect. And you know what they say about familiarity...it breeds contempt. Okay, so perhaps that was the wrong adage, but you take my meaning. And, if nothing else, there is also the added bonus of the included steering wheel (also available with GT Pro Series), which snaps over the Wii-mote and can be used with almost any standard racing game on Nintendo’s new system. Now, while that may not seem all that important to you, Ubisoft recently announced that the attachment would be available separately, too, but it will cost you twenty bucks. Even with some of the new content, I’m not sure Monster 4x4 World Circuit is worth the price they’re asking, but I’m certain that wheel isn’t worth $20, so you might as well save some money and get the bundle.
Posted: 2006-10-25 18:20:49 PST