Can you feel the roar of the machine? Can you feel the rumble? Pick your line, open the throttle and let the machine carry you to the finish line. Of course, there are others that are out to beat you to it.

ATV Offroad Fury 3 is, no surprise, the third title in the SCEA franchise of offroad racing games. Developed by Climax Group, this is not an overly involved game in terms of action, but it is ripe with options, and challenge.

Rather than merely give you the whine of the engines, the developers score the action with a great selection of rock tunes to propel the action.

There are 38 unique environments over 10 terrain types which include ice, water, dirt, grass, mud and snow. There are some minigames involved as well in the game.

There are four modes in the main menu – single player, multiplayer, hall of fame (your records, offline scoreboards and saved replays) and the options. The single-player mode has training, single event, championship and waypoint. The single event features supercross, nationals, enduro, short tracks and freestyle competitions. The championship is akin to the career mode. You compete in events and progress to upgrade your machine. Waypoint allows you to create your own Enduro Waypoint races.

In the event types, there is amateur and pro freestyle, amateur and pro supercross, amateur and pro nationals, amateur and pro enduro. Of course, you can select your rider, or repaint your ATV. In the freestyle, you are given a machine, a course and a timer in which to complete as many stunts as possible.

Jump combinations will sometimes unlock faster “short” cuts around the track.

While you are racing – and yes, you can set the AI to normal or expert – if you pull off a stunt combo, you can add to your final points. Most of the time, in the races, this is about taking the best line and not making any mistakes. A tiny mistake can result in falling from contention to playing catch-up to the pack.

And even a little bump, while it may eliminate your opponents can have nasty repercussions. During one race, an opposing rider got too close and the machines collided. The opposing rider went flying from the ATV, but the machines hooked together, and that slowed my machine enough to allow all the other machines to pass.

The control elements are very basic and easy to use. Players should have little trouble learning to use the controller. The challenge comes in knowing when to lean into a corner, when to use the brake and just open up the throttle and go full out.

Graphically the game has a few minor faults. The game has a rag-doll effect which seems to treat all riders with the same silly, totally unconscious tumbling effect. There is no life, no control. This is rag-doll physics taken to the literal extreme.

As for the environments, this game looks superb and the play elements are well realized. 

ATV Offroad Fury 3 provide challenge and diversity in both the racing environments and the race types. This is a solid fix for fans that like to challenge other racers and a wide variety of terrain, from snow to mud. This is a very good racing title.

Gameplay: 8.8

The game does have some load times, but once you launch a race, unless you quit out, it is wide-open racing from beginning to end.

Graphics: 8.8
This game has sterling environments, and the machines really react well. The biggest graphical flaw is minor – and that is the rag-doll effects when a rider leaves his or her machine. The cosmetic looks in the garage add a nice flavor to the action as you sticker up and customize your machine.

Sound: 8.9

A kicking musical soundtrack backs up this title. There are more than 30 tunes here and you can edit them in the jukebox setting.

Difficulty: Medium
The AI can be very tough in the highest setting. In the normal setting it is rather easy to compete against.

Concept: 9

Solid from top to bottom, this game has variety with the mini-games and very nice racing challenges whether against the top-end AI, or in multiplayer mode.

Multiplayer: 8.7

The game offers multiplayer on the same machine using split-screen technology. You can also play online.

Overall: 8.8

A solid racing title with great environments, ATV Offroad Fury 3 features options galore and challenge. This is a wonderful title for the PS2 and should sate the appetites of those who would rather open the throttle in environments not necessarily meant for a racing event.