4x4 Evo 2 Preview

The GameCube's library of games hasn't had too many entries in the racing genre since the console's launch last year. Universal Interactive is doing its part to fill that void with its upcoming release of 4x4 EVO 2. The game was originally released last year for the Xbox, where it received a lukewarm reception. Fortunately, developer Terminal Reality is doing more than just a straight port of that game. Featuring improved handling and some added features exclusive to the GameCube, 4x4 EVO 2 looks as though it may have quite a bit to offer.

You'll get to drive as crazy as you like in 4x4 Evo 2.

For those unfamiliar with the game, 4x4 EVO 2 is an off-road racing game where you'll be able to take the wheel of a wide variety of vehicles and compete to become the king of off-road driving. As you make your way to the top of the racing heap, you'll be able to buy new trucks or upgrade the ones you own to get that extra edge over the competition. You'll find more than 40 trucks in the game from well-known manufacturers such as Chevrolet, Dodge, Jeep, GMC, Mitsubishi, and Nissan. The variety of vehicles will come in handy as you tackle more than 35 tracks set all over the globe. The tracks will include deserts, mountains, and beaches and will feature different weather to add some variance to your racing. Thanks to the open-ended nature of the tracks, you're pretty much left to your own devices when it comes to making it to the finish line first. Though you'll find a roughly sketched-out track, if you feel like forging your own path, you can.

If you want to slam into your opponent you can do that.

The game will offer four modes to test your racing skills: career, quick race, time attack, and free roam. Career is the meat of the game, wherein you'll set out to rise through the ranks of off-road racers and be named best of the best. The mode is structured like most career modes and will have you participating in competitions to earn money to upgrade or purchase vehicles. Quick race will let you race by yourself or against a friend, via split screen, on any track in the game. Time attack will challenge you to beat the best time on a track, and you can also compete against a ghost of your best time. Finally, free roam lets you have a mellow time and cruise around the game's massive tracks. Not only will you be able to go sightseeing, but you'll also be able to sniff out the best route in a track without the pressure that comes with having a horde of opponents breathing down your neck.