Review: ATV Offroad Fury Pro (PSP)

QuickView

Good: Huge variety of modes, smooth control, smooth online play

Bad: Occasional framerate dips, fair amount of repetition between events, limited track editor, bizarre song selection

Alternate Title: ATV and Buggy and Truck and MX Bike and A Bunch Of Other Stuff Offroad Fury Pro

ATV Offroad Fury Pro is a huge racing game on the go, and improves on its predecessor in almost every way. It offers new vehicle types, a huge variety of game modes, a large track selection, and online multiplayer. In short, if you're looking for one huge racing package to go, look no further.

The game's biggest draw over the previous title is the addition of several new vehicle types. Players can choose from MX bikes, ATVs, buggies, trucks, rally cars, and even snowmobiles. For the most part these different types of vehicles feel very similar in terms of control and handling, although the lighter ones tend to be slightly more fun due to their ability to get more air. Trucks actually end up being the dullest, due to their heavy weight, which keeps the racing strictly on the ground.

Control remains as responsive as ever, with surprisingly good air control. Players can tilt their vehicles forward and backwards and perform tricks by using different button combinations. Doing so nets trick points, which can be turned into cash to buy upgrades for your vehicles.

photo

Another of the game's best features is its wide assortment of gameplay modes. Players will have no shortage of event types to choose from, and whether you play alone or online, there's always something to do. In terms of single player options, there is the championship career mode as well as the option to play single events. The career mode serves as the real meat of the single-player experience. Players can choose to have up to three sponsors at a time, who reward or penalize according to race performance. Some of these sponsors care only about rank, while others look for number of trick points. It's an interesting game mechanic that adds a nice layer of depth to planning out your career.

The events themselves are almost entirely racing-based, although the Freestyle mode requires you to perform tricks and fulfill objectives in order to win. It would have been nice to see a little more variety between event types, as they start to kind of blend together after a while. The game comes with 64 different tracks spread across a number of indoor and outdoor environments, and the ability to create your own only helps lengthen the experience. Unfortunately, the number of options available for custom tracks is fairly limited, and most of your custom made ones will feel somewhat flat.

Graphically, the game looks pretty good for a portable racer. The environments and vehicles both look great, and for the most part, the framerate is pretty consistent. Unfortunately, I did encounter a few crippling framerate drops, particularly in the outdoor environments. Additionally, some of the trees and other scenery look very flat, hurting an otherwise good graphics package.

The sound is also another mixed bag. The sound effects are all fine, but the game hits a bump with the soundtrack. It's always nice to hear licensed music on a portable system, but the mix of tunes is really bizarre. Songs run the gamut from alternative rock to hip hop to emo to death metal. Some of the songs feel right at home in a racing game, but others will probably drive some players nuts. It would have been nice if they had simply picked a genre and stuck with it.

Despite a few blemishes, ATV Offroad Fury Pro is really a great choice for racing fans looking for something on the go. It has a huge variety of modes and unlockable content, and the abilities to make custom tracks and play online only help extend the game's lifespan. Expect to be playing this one for a while.

Graphics: 7.0

Sound: 7.0

First Play: 8.5

Replay Value: 9.0

Gameplay: 8.0

Overall: 7.9

Comments

Lawrence.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below - responsibility lies with the relevant user alone. Read our full policy.