You're probably thinking that I'm a spoiled games writer, used to picking through the cream of the software crop: perhaps I have elitist tastes? Think again. My personally-purchased DS collection includes a bit of everything (and no Japanese imports). It mirrors that of any pretty mainstream gamer. I only expect a game to be fun, a distraction from whatever else is happening. I will quite literally play anything that meets these requirements and I am franchise, target market, platform and genre agnostic. As such, I'm not dismissing this game for any other reasons than those outlined.
The gameplay could have carried its other flaws: a great game is able transcend the constraints of graphics and sound. Not so with Monster 4x4. It's boring. Oh God, it's boring. You have five things to play with in each race: a turbo boost; a nitro charge (which gives you a nitro boost - get your overlaps out!); a 'fire' which sets you on fire; a shield, which stops you setting yourself on fire; and several launchable barrels, which, if you bounce them into opponents, sets them on fire, unless they have a shield.
Argh! What's the point in having weapons and power-ups that are so limited? Such videogame clichés need to be either the foundation of the game (as illustrated perfectly in the Mario Kart series) or they should be left out. Developers cannot get away with a sprinkling of such functionality as it achieves nothing, adding problems to gameplay rather than enhancing it in any way.
Unlike it's GT stablemate, Monster 4x4 has no option to use standard controls, meaning I was forced to use the tilt mechanism of the Wii hardware. Does this bring anything to the game? Well, no, not really. I mean, it's nice to have as an option, but enforcing this way of playing is a frustration. After a few hours - say three - the situation becomes uncomfortable. This is compounded by the fact that the special moves, basically an under-explored mixture of barrel-rolls and flips, are performed by rolling the controller around in mid-air when in a jump situation.
The options screen comprises a massive two sections: ‘Sound’ and ‘Controls’. The latter simply tells you how to use the controller – that’s not an option at all, it's an instruction! So, in fact, there's only one options section and that only lets you adjust the volume of the music and SFX. This exemplifies what a stunted little game this is.
The paltry three mini-games, Football, Vehicle Ball and Combat, are faint add-ons that are as much fun as the main game and suffer all the same problems, the main one being that they aren't any fun.
The game doesn't even bring anything for fans of real monster trucks. There's no depth, no real-world cars, no realistic settings or objectives. Why not have a proper monster truck derby going on, and why not even make a series of derby challenges the main game?
I don't profess to be the world's most intelligent person. However, if I ran a game publisher that was having a monster truck game developed, I'd make it about monster trucks and monster truck activities. I'd spend what can't be a vast amount licensing a few recognisable vehicles; I’d make it a must-have for fans. As things stand, this game is going to disappoint everyone, be they a casual or dedicated gamer, monster truck fan or racing enthusiast.
SPOnG Rating: E
This game launched in the US for $19.95 earlier this year. Now it has a lump of plastic in the box and it’s been crunched out for the Wii. Monster 4x4 World Circuit is not worth a rental and is most certainly not worth the price of a 'real' game. Avoid at all costs.
The gameplay could have carried its other flaws: a great game is able transcend the constraints of graphics and sound. Not so with Monster 4x4. It's boring. Oh God, it's boring. You have five things to play with in each race: a turbo boost; a nitro charge (which gives you a nitro boost - get your overlaps out!); a 'fire' which sets you on fire; a shield, which stops you setting yourself on fire; and several launchable barrels, which, if you bounce them into opponents, sets them on fire, unless they have a shield.
Argh! What's the point in having weapons and power-ups that are so limited? Such videogame clichés need to be either the foundation of the game (as illustrated perfectly in the Mario Kart series) or they should be left out. Developers cannot get away with a sprinkling of such functionality as it achieves nothing, adding problems to gameplay rather than enhancing it in any way.
Unlike it's GT stablemate, Monster 4x4 has no option to use standard controls, meaning I was forced to use the tilt mechanism of the Wii hardware. Does this bring anything to the game? Well, no, not really. I mean, it's nice to have as an option, but enforcing this way of playing is a frustration. After a few hours - say three - the situation becomes uncomfortable. This is compounded by the fact that the special moves, basically an under-explored mixture of barrel-rolls and flips, are performed by rolling the controller around in mid-air when in a jump situation.
The options screen comprises a massive two sections: ‘Sound’ and ‘Controls’. The latter simply tells you how to use the controller – that’s not an option at all, it's an instruction! So, in fact, there's only one options section and that only lets you adjust the volume of the music and SFX. This exemplifies what a stunted little game this is.
The paltry three mini-games, Football, Vehicle Ball and Combat, are faint add-ons that are as much fun as the main game and suffer all the same problems, the main one being that they aren't any fun.
The game doesn't even bring anything for fans of real monster trucks. There's no depth, no real-world cars, no realistic settings or objectives. Why not have a proper monster truck derby going on, and why not even make a series of derby challenges the main game?
I don't profess to be the world's most intelligent person. However, if I ran a game publisher that was having a monster truck game developed, I'd make it about monster trucks and monster truck activities. I'd spend what can't be a vast amount licensing a few recognisable vehicles; I’d make it a must-have for fans. As things stand, this game is going to disappoint everyone, be they a casual or dedicated gamer, monster truck fan or racing enthusiast.
SPOnG Rating: E
This game launched in the US for $19.95 earlier this year. Now it has a lump of plastic in the box and it’s been crunched out for the Wii. Monster 4x4 World Circuit is not worth a rental and is most certainly not worth the price of a 'real' game. Avoid at all costs.