I
know what you’re thinking… “Another street racer. Joy.” Sarcasm aside guys,
Juiced really does look like a title that has the ability to be a big hit. Half
simulation and half arcade street racer, Juiced, from developers Juice Games,
will please all the street racers out there looking for that racer that really
knows what it’s all about – customization and respect.
The main focus
of the game is to trick out your car. With all the possible combinations of
real aftermarket parts, decals, and paint jobs, the number of unique
possibilities is estimated at over 7.2 trillion combinations. Dang! Spoilers,
fronts, and sides are all customizable, which will be important when your ride
goes online. It’s truly a chance to express yourself through your car.
The handling
of the car plays just as you think it would. Being part simulation, part arcade
racer, the cars are neither difficult nor easy to drive, but rather a happy
medium. There’s lots of powersliding through turns, and keeping that engine
revving at high rates is bound to cause your chariot to do a few donuts. It
took me only a few turns to get comfortable with it, but once I got my groove,
the game was a blast to play.
Gameplay modes
available focus on the single-player campaign mode and multi-player online
mode. In the career mode, racers compete in races for cash and respect, both
being vital to souping up the cars and unlocking all the car parts. The online
mode is obviously going to be a big hit, and the variety of cars (50 licensed
vehicles and several customization options) should keep the races fresh.
This game
could be a sleeper hit of the racing genre, with some great things going for
it. The slick customizations are incredibly deep, and are the best I’ve seen so
far. Look for Juice Games to step up as a prominent developer in the future.
Juiced should be released in the Fall.
For All E3 2004
Previews