The Dukes of Hazzard 2 Preview

The Dukes are at it again. This time a mysterious newcomer to Hazzard County is trying to frame Daisy for a recent bank robbery in a neighboring county, and the Duke boys have to team up and drive the General Lee really fast in order to save their beloved cousin.

Developed by the same team responsible for the first game, Dukes of Hazzard 2 will be based on an updated version of the original game's engine. The main difference in the new game is that now you'll take control of not only the boys in the General Lee, but also Daisy in her jeep, Cooter in his truck, and several other different characters and vehicles as you race it out through more than 25 Hazzard County environments. Just like the original game, Dukes of Hazzard 2 features cutscenes between levels that set the story and explain the mission objective. The missions are all vehicle-based, but objectives range from simple checkpoint races, to outrunning the law, to collecting certain special objects - all while racing against the clock. Power-ups like nitro boosts, extra time, and wrenches will help you, while classic enemies like Rosco and the Hazzard County fuzz will try to prevent you from completing your missions. The game will also feature realistic car damage that will affect handling, as well as the branching paths found in the first game.

The graphics are still being tweaked, but at this stage they look like a cleaner version of the original. The pixelation is still there, but it's been reduced significantly. The frame rate has been sped up a bit, and the backgrounds aren't as foggy and aren't plagued by horrible draw-in. The most significant change to the graphics is now you're driving several different cars, each with its own look and driver. The game features new voice work by all the original actors, so now you can hear Bo, Luke, Daisy, and Rosco talk to you while you're playing. The soundtrack has also been updated, with new bluegrass tunes filled with twanging banjos.

With tons of new missions, an updated game engine, and an all new multiplayer mode, Dukes of Hazzard 2: Daisy Dukes It Out should satisfy eager Dukes of Hazzard fans ready to relive their favorite episodes. Dukes of Hazzard 2 will hit store shelves this November.