Juiced Preview

I know what you’re thinking… “Another street racer.  Joy.”  Sarcasm aside guys, Juiced really does look like a title that has the ability to be a big hit.  Half simulation and half arcade street racer, Juiced, from developers Juice Games, will please all the street racers out there looking for that racer that really knows what it’s all about – customization and respect. 

The main focus of the game is to trick out your car.  With all the possible combinations of real aftermarket parts, decals, and paint jobs, the number of unique possibilities is estimated at over 7.2 trillion combinations.  Dang!  Spoilers, fronts, and sides are all customizable, which will be important when your ride goes online.  It’s truly a chance to express yourself through your car.   

The handling of the car plays just as you think it would.  Being part simulation, part arcade racer, the cars are neither difficult nor easy to drive, but rather a happy medium.  There’s lots of powersliding through turns, and keeping that engine revving at high rates is bound to cause your chariot to do a few donuts.  It took me only a few turns to get comfortable with it, but once I got my groove, the game was a blast to play. 

Gameplay modes available focus on the single-player campaign mode and multi-player online mode.  In the career mode, racers compete in races for cash and respect, both being vital to souping up the cars and unlocking all the car parts.  The online mode is obviously going to be a big hit, and the variety of cars (50 licensed vehicles and several customization options) should keep the races fresh. 

This game could be a sleeper hit of the racing genre, with some great things going for it.  The slick customizations are incredibly deep, and are the best I’ve seen so far.  Look for Juice Games to step up as a prominent developer in the future.  Juiced should be released in the Fall.

For All E3 2004 Previews