**Spoiler Free Review!*** An outstanding piece of provocative story telling and an unforgetable expierece.
While some games are willing to sacrifice story for a solid multiplayer experience, Big Rigs Over the Road Racing has, beyond the shadow of a doubt, kept it's brilliant single player campaign uncompromised. Without spoiling any details, the game literally confronts you on a psychological level that is unseen in video games today. It challenges you to confront your inner demons in such a way as to blur the line between the video game's protagonist and you, the player yourself. Who would have thought that such a humble game could have such a profound effect on the mind and soul? Again, I am fearful for spoiling the main plot, so I will not reveal any details to the contrary. Just allow me to say that if you thought you knew yourself, your own heart and emotions, you are in for a BIG shock.
The game's storyline begins simply enough; you play as an unnamed Big Rig driver (surely a metaphor for yourself) delivering illegal goods to shadowy figures. What unravels is a psychological journey of unseen enemies, a world turned upside-down, fragile alliances, an imperfect protagonist who has as many immoral fractures as he has virtues, multiple anti-heroes, ground breaking visuals, a chest clutching soundtrack and much, much more.
The characters you met not only feel fleshed out, they also feel believable and are not just there for eye candy or plot convenience. While you may think you have seen the last of that interesting and mysterious hitchhiker from level 6, you will be surprised at just how much of an integral part of the story he becomes as the plot unravels. Love interests genuinely spark emotional connections, while antagonists will cause you to literally curse their names. Whoever you met and how you interactive with them will have a profound and drastic effect on yourself, the world and the lively characters in it. Do something wrong and people will know of your misdeeds. Saving that cat outside of old' Mrs Fillerbaster's house will result in recognition for your good deed. In short, the story and the NPCs within are an integral part of the overall Big Rigs experience.
Big Rig's visuals are beyond any of your expectations. A wide palette of colour has been used to highlight every square inch of detail. One moment you'll be travelling through a beautiful, lush green field; the sun hanging lazily in the sky as a swarm of birds dart realistically through the air. Suddenly a crack of thunder will destroy this delightful scene and a torrent of rain, leaves and road debris will clutter your vision. All this time, your jaw will be slack and your eyes will be like putty in the developer's hands. It is true that Stellar Stone have really gone out of length's way to provide a serene and truly epically visual spectacle. The game's instruction manual proudly proclaims that over 9,000 hours went into digital animation and motion capture; a statement we wholeheartedly believe. Every visual component of this video game looks and acts realistically. Even in the later surreal stages of the game, when your senses are flipped upside-down, you will be in awe of the visual delights the developers have in store for you.
Stellar Stone has outdone themselves with the music. Mighty orchestral overtures accompany the visuals superbly. From the mournful wails of a lone trumpet to the light hearted battalion of flutes, the score sets a haunting tone that is as memorable as the rest of the game. Even now as I write this article, my fingers are periodically drumming the rhythmic percussion beats heard during the most heated moments of the game.
However, all good mentions put aside, there are one or two slight niggles with Big Rigs that hold it back from getting a perfect 10. Firstly, you will need a powerful machine to run Big Rigs at it's highest settings. That said, however, Stellar Stone have done a good job at optimising the game so that it will be able to play on lower end computers. Also, if you bought Big Rigs with the hopes of playing along side friends, prepare to be a little deflated; multiplayer is absent from this game. Although you may argue that the game is meant to be an embracing and haunting experience to enjoy on your own, it would have been nice to have had something to do with your friends as they enviously watch you play the game on your own.
In summary, imagine the creative team of Valve software forming a child with Alfred Hitchcock, with just a pinch of Shakespearean genius to bring out a story on unimaginable greatness. Big Rigs Over the Road Racing is everything and more you could ever want in a video game. It is a carefully crafted masterpiece that is sure to sit proudly on display next to your computer.
Rating: 9.5
The Good: Outstanding visuals will immerse you in a believable, living and breathing world – Tear jerking music sets a haunting tone – An intricately woven story with many twists and turns – Over 9,000 hours of gaming – unmatched gameplay – An unexpected, yet resolute ending that strikes a good balance between leaving the player fulfilled and wanting more.
The Bad: Requires a powerful computer to run – Lack of multiplayer is somewhat disappointing, although forgivable considering the context and nature of the game.
**Please note; at time of writing this article, the author was unaware of a multiplayer patch currently in development by Stellar Stone. The developers have contacted kcooper_007 and he will, upon release of the patch, re-review Big Rigs Over the Road Racing.