4x4 EVO 2 Preview

Though there were some complaints about the game's physics engine, the original 4x4 Evolution was met with widespread praise because of its fun arcade-style racing, as well as its unique multiplayer mode, which let PC users race against Dreamcast owners online. Terminal Reality, the developer behind the popular Monster Truck Madness series and the original 4x4 Evolution, is currently finishing up development on the sequel, which features a similar physics engine along with upgraded visuals, new customization items, and options. There's even a new adventure gameplay mode that pushes your SUV to the limit by offering a number of challenges you wouldn't typically find in an off-road driving game. Unfortunately, Terminal Reality has decided to do away with the PC vs. console multiplayer component and instead focus on a pure PC multiplayer experience, so those fans eager to test their driving skills against console opponents will be disappointed.

4x4 EVO 2's most intriguing feature is the adventure mode. Unlike other modes in which the focus is solely on beating opponents to the finish line, the adventure mode does away with opponents and finish lines altogether and replaces them with a series of objectives. One such objective requires you to find a remote village located in a forest and rescue any survivors from a fire located just outside of town. Terminal Reality plans to add several different scenarios, most of which are specifically designed to make life difficult for you and your customized SUV.

The traditional driving modes still play a large role in 4x4 EVO 2. The career mode lets you start out with any one of the basic SUV models from several manufacturers, ranging from Chevrolet, Infinity, and Jeep to Lexus, Dodge, and GMC. Once you choose a vehicle, you can take it into a race and earn money based on your performance--if you place well, you receive more money than other competitors. You use this money to purchase additional parts and upgrades for your SUV, which can substantially improve the SUV's race performance. It's also possible to buy an entirely new SUV, a rally edition SUV, and even a monster truck, but with EVO 2's expanded list of parts, there's a seemingly endless number of modifications you can make to the SUV you already own. Parts are also officially licensed from various companies, like Boja, so gearheads should be able to recognize some names when they browse through the upgrade options.

4x4 EVO 2 includes a free roam mode as well. Free roam doesn't force you to rescue stranded villagers or race to the finish line against opponents, so you can take time and explore more than 30 different tracks in the game. This comes in handy if you have difficulty completing a track and need to find shortcuts to make a decent finish, since you can take time and not have any additional pressure from other objectives. As in the original game, shortcuts are incredibly important because some additions to 4x4 EVO 2 make it much easier to fall behind the rest of the pack in a career mode race or during a mission in the adventure mode.

Built Tough

There haven't been many changes to the slightly unrealistic physics engine in the transition from 4x4 Evolution to 4x4 EVO 2. SUVs still soar through the air after jumps, and collisions with scenery are minor setbacks, but spinouts and overturning are now much easier to accomplish. In the original 4x4 Evolution, it was pretty difficult to lose complete control of your SUV, if you did at all. This adds a slightly new dimension to the gameplay because now it's beneficial to keep an eye on your speed in relation to your position on the track rather than just constantly pressing the accelerator. These changes to the gameplay come as a result of other companies under the Take 2 label, specifically Rockstar, which is working directly with the 4x4 EVO 2 development team.

If spinouts are more common, it's logical to assume that the control isn't quite as good or easy to use, but that's not the case here. Generally, sharp turns or abrupt turns are trickier to execute and often result in making contact with a giant boulder or some other object. But, in the current build of the game, controls are still solid and work well with the arcade-style physics.

Another feature in 4x4 EVO 2 makes it possible for your SUV to stall if it's underwater too long. On some of the new tracks, water covers a large area, so there are times when you have no choice but to drive through the water. If you have enough cash, you can buy a snorkel for your engine, which keeps it from stalling in relatively shallow areas, but deeper water still poses a problem.

Graphically, some subtle upgrades and changes have also been made. As expected, the vehicles look great, and they should, since they're made up of more than 1,000 polygons--but they don't truly shine until you've completely customized them with new tires, headlights, or other parts. The tracks in EVO 2 are similar in style to the tracks in the original game, but they seem to be a little larger and have more detail. The draw distance is also impressive, as it's been pushed back pretty far, allowing you to see more of the track at a single time when using certain camera angles, like the sky camera.

4x4 EVO 2 offers a few new interesting features and tweaks. The adventure mode is undoubtedly one of its unique features, which should help Evo 2 stand out from other off-road driving games. It's also a welcomed change in pace from the typical driving modes. The game still presents an overall arcade driving experience, but since it's easier to lose control of the vehicle, there's a stronger focus on who's the better driver rather than who can hold the accelerator the longest. Even though Terminal Velocity is currently tweaking and refining EVO 2, the game is scheduled for a late October release.