It’s not
every year that we get to play a new game in the ATV Offroad Fury series.
Nearly, especially if you count the PSP versions, but not every.
The frequent updates were likely one of the reasons the series’ creator,
Rainbow Studios, is no longer on board. Though this news came as a surprise,
the new developer, Climax, proved they had what it takes to fill Rainbow’s
shoes with the release of ATV Offroad Fury 3.
The latest
iteration, ATV Offroad Fury 4, is almost certainly the final sequel that will
be made for the current PlayStation. If there’s ever been a time for the
developers to maximize content and gameplay longevity, it’s now.
Syllabus
-
6 Continents
-
70+ tracks (including some
repeats) -
New story [career] mode
-
Dozens of upgrades
-
Online multiplayer (for
you and up to seven of your closest adversaries) -
The ability to control
more than just ATVs…
Course
Work
ATV Offroad
Fury 4 does not teeter from tradition. It does not explore the unconventional,
or examine the possibility of a series reinvention. The game sticks to what it
knows, and what the fans know, to be the best off-road racing experience
available.
Four years
ago the series was king. Today it’s starting to show it’s age, but don’t let
that deter you from what is still a great sequel. ATV Offroad Fury 4 is as
good as the series has ever been – albeit with the exception of newness and
innovation. But if you’re still playing the last game and have been longing
for another, you won’t be disappointed.
Racing
101
With no
significant, instantly noticeable changes to the main portion of the game, ATV
Offroad Fury 4 at first appears to be less of a sequel and more of an update.
That’s not a complaint, but it’s not praise either. I’ve loved this series
from the beginning. The original team at Rainbow Studios were beyond genius in
their creation of the game. Their work was so well done that after three
sequels, the same style of gameplay is still a blast – even when carried on by
the new developers at Climax. Still, I doubt I’m the only one who wanted
something more.
This year,
Climax gives us "more" in the form of MX bikes, buggies, and trucks. The first
new edition is not unlike the ATVs you currently control. They’re a tad
faster, a little looser, and not quite as stable. But the general feel is the
same. Many of the moves are the same as well – at least in the way they’re
performed. Hold the square or triangle button to put the game into trick
position. Follow that action by pressing any of the directional buttons and
your biker, or ATV rider, will perform a trick. Tricks earn points – points
increase your credits – and credits increase your upgrade buying power.
Trucks and
buggies are the biggest change, and also the greatest mixed bag. Neither
vehicle was designed for steep hill-climbing or high-flying trick performance.
They were made strong to last long. Flipping upside down won’t be an automatic
re-spawn to a lower spot in the race – if you’re lucky you’ll keep rolling. If
not, there is still a way to rock the vehicle back and forth until it’s back
on its tires.
The truck
and buggy controls are vastly different from the traditional ATV gameplay.
Trucks are a tight, smooth ride. They’re a little unstable when speeding
through uneven terrain, but you’re not going to flip over too often. Buggies
have looser steering mechanics and can power-slide more freely, ranking up
extra points (and extra credits) for the player. Buggies are the slowest
vehicle in the game, but have a better time withstanding poor driving
conditions.
Due to the
handling differences among vehicles, trucks and buggies have been given their
own set of courses. You’ll see fewer bumps, fewer hills, but many more sharp
turns. There are a lot of straightaways to pick up speed, and a couple of cool
areas that’ll let you gain air. This varies by course, but the general themes
do not change.
Edited
By…
A very basic
course editor is included, adding to the game’s potential replay value.
However, none of the homegrown courses look or play as good as the ones the
developers make. That’s to be expected – after all, they are the
professionals, not us. Taking that into consideration, the unintuitive editing
and awkward track placement system – which were supposed to be designed
for inexperienced game developers like ourselves – are unacceptable. Only the
most diligent players won’t be turned off, but they’ll certainly be
frustrated.
ATV Offroad
Fury fans can get down ‘n’ dirty for one more PS2 outing. The tiered-based
Story mode is great, allowing players to decide how many additional events
they wish to enter once a certain point has been reached. The truck and buggy
gameplay, and its course design, will need to be overhauled before it’ll be
groundbreaking in the next generation. They’re moderately amusing, and are not
emphasized nearly as much as the ATV races. But you can choose to use an ATV
throughout most, but not all, of the game.
If more of
the last game (and the two before that) is what you’ve been
waiting for, ATV Offroad Fury 4 will be a solid edition to your collection.
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Gameplay: 7.7
It’s ATV Offroad
Fury 1, 2, and 3 with more track options. The implementation of new vehicles
adds unexpected variety to a game that started out with only ATVs. The series
has been working with ATVs since the beginning, so it’s no surprise that it’s
still the best vehicle in the game for controls, speed, and maneuverability.
Graphics: 7.0
ATV Offroad Fury
4 has some cool visual tricks up its sleeve, just as it did five years ago.
The graphics haven’t evolved much since the original, leaving the player with
a game that, at first glance, appears to be a rehash.
Sound: 6.0
Disappointing. I
applaud the game’s use of rock music, and its huge list of tracks from a wide
range of artists. From mainstream bands like Audioslave to many you’ve
probably never heard of, the lineup is one of the best around.
Unfortunately, these songs – no matter how good they are – do not have the
rotation value of other rock soundtracks. You’ll like most of what you hear
the first couple times you hear it. Then the songs, for a reason I can’t quite
explain, lose their appeal. Likewise, the sound effects in this game are
dated, repetitive, and lost their appeal with the original. Real-world
Supercross events might sound like this game, but that doesn’t mean the
constant engine revs are good for the ears.
Difficulty: Easy
The later
ATV/bike races should be fairly challenging to those who are out of practice.
If you’ve been keeping up with the series, your skills will turn the game into
a wad of cookie dough. The new truck and buggy events do not add to the
challenge.
Concept: 5.0
Same idea for the
fourth game running. It’s polished, yes. The story mode’s voice acting is
actually impressive – I never saw that coming. But the plot is as generic as
they come: a rookie, shot down from victory, fights to become the world’s
greatest athlete. Pardon me while I yawn.
For the next
generation of ATV Offroad Fury games, I hope they can take the series to a
new, groundbreaking level comparable to what the first game did upon its
debut. And no, I’m not referring to a more immersive story mode. Developers
are better off scrapping the script in favor of innovative gameplay.
Multiplayer: 7.8
A solid, highly
competitive experience to dive into once you’ve gotten all you can get out of
the single-player modes.
Overall: 7.7
A great way to
say goodbye to the current run of ATV Offroad Fury games. It’s exciting, has a
wonderful trick system, excellent courses, and all the addictive content the
series is known for. It’s more of the same, and for the third time running.
But unlike other series that just love to repeat themselves, this one is still
really good.
