Terminal Reality brought the seriously fun and successful Monster Truck Madness to 4-wheeling enthusiasts via Microsoft. Since then, Terminal Reality has moseyed over to GOD Games. It only makes sense then that Terminal Reality would follow up one successful title with an ambitious project of similar design. They almost pulled it off. In many ways 4x4 Evo breaks new ground in off-road racing - especially compared with the competition.

Technically, 4x4 Evo delivers a one-two-three punch of outstanding graphics, integrated online play and complex career-mode elements. With the visual detail turned to maximum the game delivers visual richness far exceeding today's standards. The SUVs, trucks and other vehicles reek of detail and colour while the terrain rolls and buckles with realistic earth tones. Visual minutiae add character and life to the standard fare of ovals and large figure-8 tracks. Still, the designers left out the option of driver's side view with steering wheel, A-beam, instruments and most importantly, a rear-view mirror.

Interactive elements, such as earth-moving bulldozers, heavy lifting cranes and fast-moving trains add variety and random hazards during each race. The skies above the race flaunt airborne hang-gliders, airplanes and birds. This is a nice touch but entirely unnecessary. Still, the richness of each track conveys a feel and flavour unique to each track. There will be no mistaking one track for another.

4x4 Evo boasts one the most complex career modes available. Though Ford, GM, Chevy, Dodge, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Lexus and Nissan are represented, the foolhardy claim of "over 70+ vehicles" doesn't hold water. In truth, there is little difference between the Ford Explorer Sport and the Ford Explorer Limited. Hell, why not include the "Ford Explorer Sport - Blue" and the "Ford Explorer Sport - Red" as "unique models"? Ford certainly doesn't claim to offer 20 SUVs, so why should Terminal Reality make that claim? Probably because 70+ sounds a lot better than telling the truth and saying 28.

Through the career mode players earn money to add enhancements to their truck. Players win cash by winning races, which allows them to purchase upgrades and new vehicles, which allows them to win more races. Thankfully players won't have to wade through days and weeks of races to unlock the cars. As with the tracks, every vehicle is available from the get-go. Upgrades, however, must be earned. A critical feature of career mode has been left out, however. Though drivers are free to drive head-on into thousand-ton rocks at 60 mph, the trucks back away undamaged. Terminal Reality failed to allow any vehicle damage no matter how much punishment they take.

Star Rating: HHHHI

Producer: Take-Two Interactive Software

Required Spec: 

64MB RAM

8 Mb 3D AGP Graphics Card

Pentium II 400

4x CD-ROM drive

300MB Hard Drive space.