Calamity is a fright, Mom is
a redneck dream, Schizo looks like a Red Baron wannabe who has overindulged in
pizza and beer. And then there is Rookie, a student from Idaho. You just know
there will be mocking there – which is not necessarily a good thing, especially
when the reviewer lives in Idaho.

Ok, so they skipped on the
gags, but what Ubi Soft has delivered is a title that includes a solid sound
track but mires in the arcade power ups and repetitive gameplay. This is not a
bad title; it just is not an outstanding one.

The game includes three
modes of play – Training, Champ Tour, and Race Event modes of play. The game has
nine cities and three types of events per city – stadium, offroad and
exhibition. You can collect hidden stars in the off-road events to unlock game
features. The exhibition allows you to earn money which can be used at the store
to buy power ups.

Power ups include Shock
(which will allow you to jump your vehicle), Shield (go through any barrier
without losing control), Wheels (improved tire grip), Nitro (go faster), Extra
Tank (more gas), Radar (good for finding checkpoints in off-road races), and
Star Sensor (find stars).

Each of the races requires
that you qualify against other opponents and then go head-to-head against the
computer AI. The big problem with that is the computer AI is not overly smart.
It has no killer instinct, and if it bumps you off the course, it tends to slow
down and let you catch up. Good for younger players who want the thrill of
having a chance to compete, not so good for the veteran racers who like things a
little more cut and dried.

The controls are simplistic,
but the game will let players customize their controllers to suit their own
desires. The musical score has a nice pulse-pounding rock beat, but the in-game
announcer may sport that big stadium announcer sound, but he is less than
exciting.

Graphically the game has
some strong elements and weak ones as well. The vehicles are nicely designed and
there is a satisfying crunch of metal on metal when they land off a jump. The
stadium courses are nice, but the exhibition courses lack dynamic crowds, which
is who you are supposed to be playing for. The vehicles do have a tendency to
shake loose through the bantering of the race.

The character animations
almost seem out of place against the backdrop of the arena and vehicle setting.

Monster 4×4 is not a bad
game; it is just a very average game. The gameplay is repetitive, and the AI
makes the title somewhat less than challenging. This is a title that could have
been a solid performer, but in the race for the checkered flag, it comes out as
a runner-up.

This game is rated for
Everyone.

Gameplay: 6

Repetitive gameplay – three
courses, three skill types across the country. The idea is to take part in
events and win trophies and money to power up your vehicle. The races themselves
are smooth, but the game is highly repetitive.

Graphics: 7

The characters are wall
decorations. They trot out a colorful cast and do nothing with them. The trucks
are varied but all perform the same. The physical characteristics of the racing
are decent.

Sound: 7
The rock soundtrack does not feature the big name songs, but rather music
tailored for the game. The music, though, fits the game, and the ambient noises
– engines revving, tires throwing dirt and the crunch of metal landing hard –
are well rendered. Throw out the announcing though; it is rather basic.

Difficulty: Easy

The AI, especially at the
beginning stages is neither smart nor aggressive. Case in point: The host truck
is bumped off the track and incurs a two-second penalty during the second lap.
That should kill chances of winning the three-lap race. But nope – rather than
your computer opponent cruising to the win, apparently the throttle sticks in
first or something and you have the opportunity to catch up.

Concept: 6

You can customize the
control elements to suit your driving tastes, and the interface is well done.
The only problem here is that the game is the same thing over and over.

Multiplayer: 7

Head-to-head with another
player will offer more competition than the AI.

Overall: 6.5

This game has some nice
elements, but certain it is not enough to power-shift through the competition of
driving games. The vehicle animations are good, but the overall repetitive
nature of the game makes this a very average title.