Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: ATV Offroad Fury

Written by Adam Woolcott on April 25, 2002

Full Review: Look ma, no hands! slams into wall

When the PlayStation 2 launched in October of 2000, SCEA had a drought of zero decent games for its own console. Marred with stupid ideas like Fantavision and horrific sports games like NFL Lameda..I mean Gameday, Sony was building a terrible track record with their new hardware.

Thankfully that pitiful streak came to an end in February of 2001, thanks to Rainbow Studios and their title ATV Offroad fury. While the game wasn't developed by an internal Sony team, ATV was easily the best SCEA published game at the time and to many people the best PS2 game period. Now the game is $20 bucks as a charter member of Sony's reborn greatest hits, and ATV once again rides as one of the better racing games on the system. It's got pretty good graphics, a nice learning curve, a great (if not fitting) soundtrack, and best of all, it plays well and is a lot of fun despite being fairly challenging. For $20 bucks, you can't go wrong.

The initial impression of ATV is how deep the game is. There's simply a ton of things to do and a lot of tracks to do it on. The career mode is of course the main gameplay mode, but there's also separate modes for other kinds of ATV racing. The Maxxis Nationals are straight up race tracks on offroad locales such as the Badlands. The career mode starts here. Next is the supercross circuit Ц which is the same kind of thing you'd go see at a big stadium. Freestyle is the only race that emphasizes tricks over position Ц the more tricks you do, the more points you score. Finally there's the УenduranceФ races which are lapped checkpoints on a wide open track. Each different area has around 10 tracks to race on, giving you an almost unfathomable amount of variety. Which isn't a bad thing; it's better to have too much than too little. Of course, ATV makes you earn it through career mode, because half the tracks are locked at first. Each track can be raced in multiplayer as well, with up to 4 players.

Along with the strong amount of tracks and races, ATV Offroad Fury has around 20 different ATV's to choose from, from many different manufacturers. You'll find major names like Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Honda amongst plenty more. Each bike from the manufacturer has a trait over the others, be it improved handling, faster speed, or better overall acceleration. It leaves it up to the player to decide which style of ATV is right for them.

With that in mind, ATV's controls are top-notch and responsive based upon the vehicle you're using. The looser-handling ATV's tend to slide around the tracks, but make up for it with strong speed and/or accleration. On the other hand, some are slower than others, but handle exceptionally well, making corner-rounding simple and the place to catch the faster vehicles. Of course, there's a few that are well rounded in all areas for a balanced ride.

As an arcade-style racer, ATV manages to avoid complex controls and ultra-realistic physics to bring down the enjoyment. Instead, ATV brings in УpreloadingФ jumps to go along with the standard accelerating/braking techniques. Preloading a jump is essential to getting past the huge mounds of dirt that are used for big air. Basically, all you have to do is pull down on the left analog stick and when you're ready to jump, let go of it and land the vehicle on its 4 tires. It's not as easy as it sounds Ц but once you get the hang of it and the timing right, it becomes second nature. Because it's an absolute necessity to compete against the computer as well as humans, ATV includes a training mode to get down this skill, along with many other skills you may need.

Basically, that's all there is to learn about ATV Offroad Fury Ц once you get that element down the game becomes easy to play, but damn near impossible to master. The computer is tough Ц not too tough that you're unable to win, but challenging enough to make you earn your first place trophies. They make mistakes, but usually know the track well and are able to keep pace. The only downside is that the other computer opponents (4 out of the 5 are CPU in a race) tend to stick together in a pack, which can cause headaches, unless you're in need of a come from behind win, in which it's a good thing. But when you're winning a race, one mistake will put you in last simply because the computer rides close together at all times.

The tracks are brilliantly designed; each one is completely different and has its fair share of dangerous hazards to throw you off. The first track in Career mode is lacking, however it serves as a training course before they stick it to you. From then on, prepare to earn and learn your wins as you move up the ladder.

ATV also includes tricks, but except for the freestyle racing, they aren't needed to win races. They're for show to be honest, and maybe best used if you're showing off for someone (like showing off in a video game makes you look cool). They're actually very risky (like real life), because a mistake could cause a mess, as well as cost you your position in the race. They're there if you want them, but you may not even notice.

Honestly, the only thing УwrongФ is the AI issues; which aren't that big of a deal anyway. The controls are spot on, there's a ton of depth to keep you playing for a long time, and it's the kind of pick up and play game that appeals to anyone needing a good party racing game. The game is just flat out fun.

On the visual end, ATV is a little lacking, but a year ago they were great, and today they're still not bad, but compared to newer games, they're outshined. The tracks have a lot of outside detail like trees and billboards and stuff like that Ц nothing out of the ordinary, but nice touches. The bikes and riders look good, but small on the whole Ц where things come together is the great animations.

The trick animations are really cool and are plentiful. They look just the same in the game as they do in the instruction manual's artwork. Also, the crash animations are hilarious, in a sadistic sort of way. When you wipe out, usually you go flying way ahead of the bike, but if you hit a dirt mound, it's possible that your bike will follow you and proceed to run you over. Lovely, eh? Of course, if an opponent wipes out, you could run the downed racer over too. But you wouldn't do that, would you?

The sound effects are rather limited, but it's made up for with the outstanding soundtrack. The effects are basic things like the high-pitched engine noises and the moaning of the riders when they go splat or get run down. When you're in a supercross race, the crowd cheers great jumps and boos when you wipe out and embarrass yourself. But that's about all there is in ATV Offroad Fury.

Where the sounds shine is the soundtrack. It isn't really a fitting soundtrack, featuring rock bands like Sevendust, Soundgarden, & Alice In Chains (RIP Layne Staley), but it's great nonetheless. There's around 15 tracks, and all are pretty good Seattle Grunge/Alt. Rock stuff that's on the airwaves these days. It's just that УSpoonmanФ doesn't fit the theme of the game at all. It's like putting rap music in a game about deer hunting.

ATV Offroad Fury

Full Review: Look ma, no hands! *slams into wall*

Full Review: Look ma, no hands! slams into wall