Juiced Impressions

Everybody knows the big new thing in racing games is modding and street racing--witness the success of Need for Speed Underground and the impending release of Syndicate Street Racing. Now Acclaim is readying its own entry in the genre: Juiced. What will set Juiced apart from the pack? The game will feature the same general sort of car customization seen in other games, but a detailed simulation-style racing backend will give Juiced a less arcadelike, more realistic feel that fans of hardcore racing games should appreciate.

Juiced will present a "team-based" street racing experience in that you'll be able to build up a crew and even recruit other drivers to race for you. Some racing areas will be considered "home track" areas for you and consequently will give you a sort of home court advantage as you race. In terms of the actual driving mechanics, Juiced will be aiming for realism. The handling will be realistically modeled, and a believable physics model will also be implemented to aid those oh-so-important crashes. In addition, both your cars and the environment will sustain damage as you drive (or wreck). As you'd expect, you'll progress through the single-player game by getting a handle on these driving conditions and increasing your reputation as a skilled driver.

Juiced is due out in the fall of this year for the Xbox, PS2, and PC. The two console versions will feature both split-screen multiplayer and online play as well. More than 50 licensed cars created from the manufacturers' blueprints will be included, so car aficionados should have plenty of fodder to burn through as they try to build up their rep and become the king of the underground street racing scene. Look for more on Juiced soon.