Mark gets down 'n' dirty with the PS2's latest ATV offering.
Despite a previous two successful outings on PS2, the ATV Offroad Fury franchise has had something of a change behind the scenes. Old developers Rainbow Studios are out, with British developers Climax taking over the reigns of the best-selling quad bike series. Thankfully, the transition has failed to dent the quality of one of the better extreme sports brands on the market - and in a few key areas, even managed to improve on an already accomplished template. Anyone approaching the ATV Offroad series for the first time will find a game that plays somewhere between Mario Kart and a Tony Hawk's title - though takes itself distinctly more seriously than both. With a wide selection of powerful four wheeled mudriders to unlock over the course of the game, an impressive sense of speed, and an authentic array of dirt tracks and locales for its racing-heavy action, it treads a fine line between simulation and arcade styles. Perhaps a little niche, then, but ATV Offroad Fury 3 nonetheless offers an accessible, adrenaline-pumping alternative to the mass of more traditional racers on Sony's car-crazy console.
Handling of the game's 24 different ATVs could be best described as fast-but-floaty. All are capable of a blisteringly quick pace, and each has slightly different handling mechanics based around the usual racing criteria (acceleration, top speed, etc), but aside from some slight inflection in weight and cornering, they collectively tend to slide around surfaces with a noticeable lack of solidity or grip. This places steering at the more arcadey end of the scale, but isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it sets up for a more forgiving racing experience and a blend of styles befitting of the extreme sports theme.
An accessible, adrenaline-pumping alternative to the mass of more traditional racers.
Easy to pick up and play, ATV Offroad 3 offers a relatively simple control scheme, but also a pleasing degree of depth for those wanting to carve up the mud with maximum style. Powersliding is easily engaged with a simple press of R1, and though by no means essential, can prove the edge when used well in hectic last lap high-speed dirt dune duels. Tricks can also be performed on the ground and in the air, with the technique of Preloading to prepare for jumps and gain advantageous air still an important factor in finding the best racing line on each of the bumpy all-terrain courses.
The large number of tracks include elements of snow, dirt, mud, ice, water and grass, and can be played in the self-explanatory Practice, Lap Attack and Single Race modes - or more notably in Championship, where the majority of the game's singleplayer experience lies. It offers a comprehensive campaign encompassing Amateur and Professional difficulty settings across SuperCross, National, Enduro, Short Track and Olympic cups, as well as a Beach and Ice Tournament, and a more open-ended Tony Hawk's style Freestyle Championship, where tricks and collectables replace racing as the objectives of choice.
Added to this are the options afforded in customisation - which, especially next to the arcade handling, really does add up to a baffling amount of simulation-style tinkering. The new vehicle tuning system allows players to change tyre type and gear ratios, while bikes and riders have around 20 customizable components; including some more aesthetic alterations to further personalise your preferred racer. The game even gives a choice of a male or female rider, with ever-so-slight differences in handling and cornering as a result - though this may go understandably unnoticed in the face of some compelling high-speed competition.
In all, with such a plethora of environments and playing styles, a massive amount of credits to accumulate and a host of new content to puschase with them, ATV Offroad really is as comprehensive a singleplayer package as dirt bike racers get.
Muddy funsters
As a multiplayer title, it's also a real treat, supporting up to four players for heady splistcreen speed sessions with use of a multitap. Here, all of your unlocked content becomes useful in racing around the wide selection of courses, plus interacting in a set of Tony Hawk's style minigames like Treasure Hunt and a slew of sporting homage's from soccer to hockey. Waypoint races also offer a further degree of customisation, allowing you to take the more open ended tracks on offer and place gates around them, effectively creating brand new courses on familiar terrain.
Sadly, there are a few faults that prevent ATV Offroad 3 from becoming a classic. While the visuals do the business with realistic dirt flying around, sticking to the well-animated riders and generally embodying the intended sense of speed, collision detection can tend cause irritation - especially when travelling at slower speeds, clipping a wall and seeing your rider flung from the bike in spectacular fashion. The soundtrack is also inescapably hit-and-miss, with everything from Ska to Metal to more chilled Country tunes seemingly thrown in with little consideration of any natural progression from one to the other. Thankfully, these are largely drowned out by some throaty engine noises, and an overall set of sound effects that furthers the created effect of a dirt racing scene.
Despite being something of a niche title, ATV Offroad Fury 3 does what it does pretty darn well - it's a well-presented, well-rounded package with a lot going for it. Admittedly, Climax's take on the dirt-based racer doesn't really break new ground in the genre, but offers just enough to set it apart from a heavily crowded market on Sony's console, and should appeal to anyone looking for a change of racing pace.
GAME's Verdict
- Frantic high-speed arcade racing with a twist.
- Massive amount of tracks, modes, unlockables and customisation options.
- Comprehensive multiplayer package.
- Floaty arcade handling could be too samey for some.
- Hit-and-miss soundtrack.
- Iffy collision detection.
Review by: Mark Scott
Version Tested: PS2
Review Published: 16.02.06