As a hardcore racing enthusiast with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that Monster Jam Showdown left me feeling a tad disappointed. Coming from a lineage of adrenaline-pumping monster truck games, I was expecting something truly spectacular and unique.
The newest addition to the Monster Jam series, titled “Monster Jam Showdown,” is set to launch on August 29th for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch, and PC. In this year’s Monster Jam, the focus lies primarily on its single-player Showdown mode, which encompasses a variety of event types, along with advancement and truck acquisition. The campaign mode in this game isn’t particularly deep, mainly offering an opportunity to try out different events. My main pleasure from playing “Monster Jam Showdown” stemmed from the realistic physics incorporated within its driving mechanics.
As a gaming enthusiast, diving into the limited modes of Monster Jam Showdown, I find it crucial to delve first into the driving mechanics and control feel that I truly appreciate in this game. What makes this experience unique is how these colossal eight-ton monsters are handled. Each set of wheels has its own thumbstick for control, allowing me to maneuver independently with the right thumbstick rotating the rear wheels – ideal for executing sharp 180-degree turns and drifts. When I use both thumbsticks simultaneously, my truck spins in place, earning me style points for tricks. The versatility in dual-steering controls and the freedom to explore what each set of wheels can accomplish is one of the standout features of this game.
A significant part of the triumph of Monster Jam Showdown lies in its realistic and stunning physics, which contributes greatly to its success. The trucks in this game truly embody their 12,000-pound mass. You can sense the weight transfer as these monstrous vehicles skid off course after a sharp turn or tumble from a wheelie. It’s remarkable how effortlessly you can maneuver these trucks in any direction, and they react more or less as you’d anticipate. I find myself particularly captivated by the thrill of spinning the truck on two wheels, watching it roll uncontrollably in wild spasms.
“The physics allows a full range of movement, both on the ground and in the air”
Absolutely, I always take extra caution while maneuvering those massive Monster Jam trucks, as a slight miscalculation could lead to some serious wear and tear on my ride. The game does an impressive job of simulating vehicle damage, with panels peeling off the truck body as collisions become more intense. It’s all for show, though, as the damage doesn’t affect performance, just adds a bit of realism and requires time to fix before getting back into the action.
As you try your hand at various daring stunts within the game, you’ll get a good sense of its damage system. The stunts are executed by manipulating physics to roll and somersault your vehicle. If you’re familiar with the Trials series, you’ll notice the similarity in controlling the truck for backflips, followed by straightening it out upon landing. I appreciate how natural it feels to adjust and rotate the truck mid-air, and how the heft of these machines prevents them from feeling overly fragile.
In this game, it seems that the driving experience leans more towards a simulation-style racing game (simcade) rather than the fast and furious arcade style. This is due to the minimal traction in the trucks, which necessitates braking before turning most corners. Additionally, you have to be cautious not to accelerate too aggressively during turns, as the immense power of these heavy trucks can cause them to skid or drift off course. If you’ve played rally racing games before, you might find the driving mechanics somewhat familiar, but don’t expect an easy arcade-style racer as advertised. The substantial weight of the eight-ton trucks takes some practice to get accustomed to their bulkier handling.
“Turning corners requires careful throttle control, lest you drift off-track”
After getting accustomed to driving one monster truck in Monster Jam Showdown, I found all of them to be remarkably similar. Despite spending a good 30 minutes testing each truck for unique traits, there were none to find; they all handled turns, accelerated, and distributed weight identically. This discovery was quite frustrating for me since one of the exciting aspects of monster truck games is their variety of uniquely designed trucks. Although these trucks look distinct from one another, with Gravedigger’s imposing shape contrasting Zombie’s playful aesthetic, they drive exactly alike, eliminating any strategic consideration when selecting a specific truck. To make matters worse, every truck shares the same exhaust note, which is unusual since real V8 trucks have different sounds.
The highlights of “Monster Jam Showdown” include competing in multiplayer matches over the internet and the single-player “Showdown” mode. You can engage in numerous 8-player competitions online, or even organize a tournament. For those who prefer local gameplay, there’s also the option for split-screen two-player matches. Throughout these modes, you’ll encounter around ten distinct activities. These include traditional circuit racing, head-to-head contests, best trick challenges, and the crowd-pleasing freestyle, where you can perform high-scoring stunts within a large open stadium. While not entirely unexpected considering past “Monster Jam” games, I find it peculiar that you cannot choose the match type and track from a menu; instead, they are only accessible through multiplayer or Showdown mode play.
“There are three regions with multiple zones each in Monster Jam Showdown.”
In essence, Showdown mode is the game’s main single-player adventure, but I find it lackluster for multiple reasons. Although there are three distinct environmental regions – Death Valley, Colorado, and Alaska – there’s a scarcity of tracks or unique stadiums within them. Each region boasts unique terrains and impressive visuals, yet the courses don’t offer sufficient variety. Regrettably, you frequently race the same track with different match types.
As a Monster Jam Showdown gamer, I’m hoping for a bit more excitement in the game beyond just the tracks and multiplayer. So far, the main draw has been the exclusive access to the game’s tracks that I can’t get anywhere else. However, there’s not much else to keep me engaged in the game. Progressing in Showdown and checking out the multiplayer modes are about all there is to do.
As a gamer, I’ve got to say that the music in this game is just plain generic and repetitive. It’s like listening to the same track over and over again, with those irritating percussion sections that never seem to change. I mean, there aren’t many tracks to begin with, and they all sound the same.
“Tracks loop in on themselves occasionally.”
I was eagerly anticipating enjoying a monster truck game like this one. There’s been a significant lack of innovative arcade racing experiences lately, and it’s disappointing to see titles such as Monster Jam Showdown following the trend. At least, the driving mechanics offer an enjoyable experience, but overall, the game gets lost within its unremarkable structure.
This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.
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2024-09-02 18:11