If you're a Monster Truck fan, this might be a game you'd be interested in, but for some reason I highly doubt it. I guess I had higher expectations for this game, but unfortunately there isn't a lot of good things that I can say about it. Sure, the makers of this game give it all the hype, but after playing it, I just am not impressed. I'm not saying that other people wouldn't like the game. I am just not a big gamer, so if I wasn't impressed, then I can't imagine other people would be either. I can only give you, the reader, my view point. Some of the hype is crazy. This game is far from fun. Not very challenging, but yet they say Get ready to crush some cars, and kick up some dirt WHERE is this happening??? WHEN will this happen? I've yet to see anything like that in this game. I'm sorry to say but the only damage you're going to do with this game is to your wallet. No, the game wasn't expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for, and that's about it.

My biggest complain about this game is the graphics. The graphics in this game are worse than anything I've every played. Well maybe not worse, but you'd think that for the technology of today, it could be better. I mean when you are a monster truck, and your stopped on the track everything is clear enough, it's just your average graphics. But the minute you start moving, you have trouble seeing things, the pixels are like something that's been zoomed in to 300% or something. These game makers have to realize that while the graphics look good sitting still, the player won't always be sitting still. It's a racing game, the player will be moving. We want to SEE where we're going, and what is in the way. Would you go out there blind folded? Well you may as well be blinded folded when driving these trucks on the tracks in this game.

Colors blend together too much. There are trees and tree stumps in the path, those are gray in color, the track is either brown or grayish in color, you tell me how easily you will see something in your path? There are cars on the track, I can only assume these are the cars that you are "Crushing" well the cars are red, and those are easy to see, but they don't cause any harm to you, you can just drive over them. You don't actually see any dirt kicking up, or cars being crushed etc. So that hype is just exaggerated. You can at least adjust your view, by hitting the "Select" button, so you are not as close up, and this helps a little bit, but still it's not good enough in my opinion. I guess I just expected more. Monster Trucks are cool, and I thought my son would enjoy it a lot more than he does. Now I see why he doesn't play it. I wouldn't play it either.

In the main menu, you can either choose to play a Quick Game where according to what "they say" you'll have quick racing action, but according to what "I" say, you'll be annoyed because quick racing action is hardly the word for it. Sure, it's true that you can select whatever track you want to crash on, - oops, - to Race on. There is no order that you have to take or anything like that it's basically your choice to do whatever you wish. It's like a free run of whatever track.... test 'em out so to speak. You have nothing to lose, and nothing to gain, so go for it.

You also then have the option to play in a Career Mode where you'll have 10 races where they say there is Pure, High-Octane Excitement HA, please..... Don't make me laugh... Yep, sure you'll have pure excitement alright, when you get mad at the game because you hit things that you can barely see are in front of you. When your truck flips up side down and while you are trying to get it right side up again, the other trucks on the track are in your way and passing you. It's very very annoying. Not to mention once you do get turned around, you can't even figure out which truck is yours because there is no indicator and/or any way to decipher which truck is yours, they all look the same, and they are like ants just crawling all over each other. Valuable game time is lost, and why??? Because you didn't see a tree stump coming. If it wasn't blending in with it's surroundings on the track, and if you HAD seen it coming, you most likely could have avoided it, and not lost all this time. Sure it's all part of making the game more difficult, but I certainly don't think it's fair play.

In the Career Mode, you must finish 1st or 2nd in order to advance to the next race, this is also when you will get paid, and you can then buy upgrades for your truck. It's too bad you can't buy an upgrade for the graphics!!!!

» Upgrades:

You can upgrade your Engine which will allow your truck max speed in the race. If you choose to upgrade your Turbo it means you increase the acceleration on your truck - Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't these two things doing just about the same thing??? Obviously if you choose to upgrade your Tires you'll gain better traction and control on the track, and upgrading your Shocks will improve the handling in rough terrain. Nitrous is another thing that can be upgraded, this will give you a strong burst of speed. Once again, isn't this almost doing the same things as the first two upgrades?

I'm sorry for being so critical, but I just feel that this game is just a big joke - The graphics are hideous and the career mode upgrades seem to all do the same thing. They re-worded it so that it looks like there are 5 different options, but in reality there aren't. I don't notice any big difference between the three that I mentioned. The Engine Upgrade, the Turbo Upgrade and the Nitrous upgrade all seem to do about the same thing. No noticeable difference. But anyway, I'll try not to harp on that subject. It's just a little annoying, that's all.

Winning Money

As I said before, each 1st & 2nd place finish earns you money, but HOW MUCH money you earn depends on the difficulty of the track that you just raced on. You can also acquire extra money by picking up the $ signs on the track. At least these can be spotted on the track, they are bright green in color and have some animation to them, therefore, making it easier to be be seen.

» Tracks & Locations:

SWAMPLAND
The first area you'll race in, you'll find some dips and muddy areas, but nothing to disastrous. Watch out for those tree stumps. You might want to change your camera view, to make it a little easier for yourself.

COOKS COUNTY ARENA
This is the first of four arenas. This is a smaller one than the rest but it has a few ramps and jumps, and even some cars lined up. Still kind of dull in my opinion.

AMERICAN RACEWAY
This is a little bit of a larger arena, with mud bogs, which are pretty blurry, and you probably wouldn't even recognize them as mud bogs, but they are, you'll have to take my word for it. Of course there are many cars to "crush" here as well. Although, you won't really see anything move the cars are just there, they are like a bump in the road, but you don't see REAL CRUSHING action.... Kinda boring.

ORANGE COUNTY RACEGROUNDS
This one is more difficult, it's got lots of dips and hills, and a big mud bog at the end. There are four sets of cars to smash through (once again, you won't see anything smash) In this particular area, your opponents are mean, so you have to fight your way through.

CHAMPION RACEWAY
This one is an indoor track, and it has everything you could possibly imagine. Opponents are ruthless, but they say the payoff is big.... Do you think I got this far??? No, I didn't... because this game is a joke.... but the big Payoff is the Champion Mt Racer! Oh well, I'm not wanting that win to bad, I'm too frustrated with this game already.

Your usual controls on the GameBoy Advance are used. Each button has a purpose:

L button - Nitrous Boost
R button - Emergency brake for sharper turns
Arrow Up - Nose truck down when airborne
Arrow Down - Reverse
Left Arrow - Turn left / Level when the truck is airborne
Right Arrow - Turn right / Level when truck is airborne
Select - Zoom Out/ In Camera View
Start - Pause Menu
A button - Gas
B button - Brake

I'd say this about sums it up. I'm sorry I couldn't give a better review about this game, but this game was a big let down in my family. We don't find it to be any fun at all. There just MUST be something better out there for Monster Trucks, wouldn't you say?


See My Other GameBoy Advance Video Game Reviews:

» The Lost Vikings
» Crash Purple: Ripto's Rampage
» Quad Desert Fury
» Mighty Beanz Pocket Puzzles


© 2005 - Lynda Nielsen §

Recommended: No