18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker First Impressions

Sega's infatuation with loosely representing real-life professions in Dreamcast games continues with 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker. Originating in the arcades, American Pro Trucker lets gamers drive through busy streets and highways while keeping an eye on both rival truckers and a timer.

The game features four distinct stages, through highways around New York, Florida, San Francisco, and more. After selecting from five big rigs, each with a unique driver, you must haul cargo as quickly and safely as possible. The more damage your truck receives, the less the "job" is worth.

According to Sega, the game will also feature a realistic driving system, taking characteristics like speed, acceleration, torque, and handling into consideration. Even the weight of the cargo will determine how the truck handles, accelerates, and brakes on and around the highway.

The Dreamcast version of the game also boasts exclusive new stages and will feature a two-player split-screen battle mode. Other peripheral gameplay modes include the parking mode and the end-of-stage bonus rounds, where you can practice your driving skills.

Sega hopes to capture the same intense feel and popularity of Crazy Taxi with its home version of American Pro Trucker. The game is more linear than Crazy Taxi however, so we'll have to wait and see whether American Pro Trucker will garner the same appeal.

18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker will be shipping in early 2001.