4X4 Evo 2, Sony Playstation

Overdue on PlayStation 2 by a good six months, Terminal Reality's hardcore rally sim is the fine sequel to one of the best all-round racers created. Off-road racing as a game concept has existed for well over a decade, but it was the introduction of 3D environments that really made the genre stick. The series first appeared on Dreamcast, and was widely loved by the console's userbase. Though not revolutionary in terms of game dynamic or presentation, it was a refreshing change from the legions of Gran Turismo clones and so-called 'wacky' themed racers. Billed unofficially as a Gran Turismo for truck enthusiasts, 4x4 Evo 2 boasts an incredible amount of real-life licensed vehicles. Toyota, Chevrolet, Ford, Lexus, Mitsubishi and many more have supplied laser-scanned versions of their best trucks, all very cool indeed. All these trucks can be (somewhat expensively) upgraded, a la Gran Turismo, with cash being earned in races. New to this game, however, is Mission mode, a mode that awards cash-prizes for the successful completion of various off-road type tasks. The races in 4x4 Evo 2 are extremely difficult. A standard truck, bought with your initial allowance of $30,000 is simply not good enough to win even the first race. You must complete some missions to earn enough money to make some enhancements, or you will simply get bogged down to the axles. The handling of the vehicles is pleasing enough, though ploughing through a quagmire for hours on end can leave you feeling a bit disheartened. If you enjoyed the first game, or you just love off-road racing, be sure to check this out.

Buy 4X4 Evo 2 for 18.99 GBP

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