Calamity is a fright, Mom is a redneck dream, Schizo looks like a Red Baron wannabe who has overindulged in pizza and beer. And then there is Rookie, a student from Idaho. You just know there will be mocking there – which is not necessarily a good thing, especially when the reviewer lives in Idaho.

Ok, so they skipped on the gags, but what Ubi Soft has delivered is a title that includes a solid sound track but mires in the arcade power ups and repetitive gameplay. This is not a bad title; it just is not an outstanding one.

The game includes three modes of play – Training, Champ Tour, and Race Event modes of play. The game has nine cities and three types of events per city – stadium, offroad and exhibition. You can collect hidden stars in the off-road events to unlock game features. The exhibition allows you to earn money which can be used at the store to buy power ups.

Power ups include Shock (which will allow you to jump your vehicle), Shield (go through any barrier without losing control), Wheels (improved tire grip), Nitro (go faster), Extra Tank (more gas), Radar (good for finding checkpoints in off-road races), and Star Sensor (find stars).

Each of the races requires that you qualify against other opponents and then go head-to-head against the computer AI. The big problem with that is the computer AI is not overly smart. It has no killer instinct, and if it bumps you off the course, it tends to slow down and let you catch up. Good for younger players who want the thrill of having a chance to compete, not so good for the veteran racers who like things a little more cut and dried.

The controls are simplistic, but the game will let players customize their controllers to suit their own desires. The musical score has a nice pulse-pounding rock beat, but the in-game announcer may sport that big stadium announcer sound, but he is less than exciting.

Graphically the game has some strong elements and weak ones as well. The vehicles are nicely designed and there is a satisfying crunch of metal on metal when they land off a jump. The stadium courses are nice, but the exhibition courses lack dynamic crowds, which is who you are supposed to be playing for. The vehicles do have a tendency to shake loose through the bantering of the race.

The character animations almost seem out of place against the backdrop of the arena and vehicle setting.

Monster 4x4 is not a bad game; it is just a very average game. The gameplay is repetitive, and the AI makes the title somewhat less than challenging. This is a title that could have been a solid performer, but in the race for the checkered flag, it comes out as a runner-up.

This game is rated for Everyone.

Gameplay: 6

Repetitive gameplay – three courses, three skill types across the country. The idea is to take part in events and win trophies and money to power up your vehicle. The races themselves are smooth, but the game is highly repetitive.

Graphics: 7

The characters are wall decorations. They trot out a colorful cast and do nothing with them. The trucks are varied but all perform the same. The physical characteristics of the racing are decent.

Sound: 7
The rock soundtrack does not feature the big name songs, but rather music tailored for the game. The music, though, fits the game, and the ambient noises – engines revving, tires throwing dirt and the crunch of metal landing hard – are well rendered. Throw out the announcing though; it is rather basic.

Difficulty: Easy

The AI, especially at the beginning stages is neither smart nor aggressive. Case in point: The host truck is bumped off the track and incurs a two-second penalty during the second lap. That should kill chances of winning the three-lap race. But nope – rather than your computer opponent cruising to the win, apparently the throttle sticks in first or something and you have the opportunity to catch up.

Concept: 6

You can customize the control elements to suit your driving tastes, and the interface is well done. The only problem here is that the game is the same thing over and over.

Multiplayer: 7

Head-to-head with another player will offer more competition than the AI.

Overall: 6.5

This game has some nice elements, but certain it is not enough to power-shift through the competition of driving games. The vehicle animations are good, but the overall repetitive nature of the game makes this a very average title.