The all new 4X4 Evo2 is finally here! This game comes as close to the real 4 wheeling, mud slinging, rock climbing, log jumping experience as you can get without actually climbing into a real 4X4. It doesn't matter if you are a Ford fan, a die-hard Chevy driver, a Jeep nut, a "Grab Life By The Horns" Dodge driver, or a believer in the newer Lexus, Infiniti, or Misubishi 4X4's, all are represented in this game, over 120 models in all! And with over 125 upgrades for these vehicles, you can build and drive them as mild or as wild as you like! If this game were any more realistic you would have to install a 5 point racing harness in your computer chair and wear a helmet!

The tracks in Evo2 are just.....well. Phenomenal! Photo realistic is a pretty good description of how they look, white knuckle, bone jarring, axle breaking, fender bending is how they feel from inside your 4X4. New textures and models were used to build these tracks and they blend together flawlessly, the guys at Terminal Reality have really out done themselves on this one as I have never seen a game that has such beautiful graphics! The new game does come with all the tracks from the original Evo but they have all been reworked with the new models and look much better than before. You also get many new tracks that are just beautiful! The combination of the new models, textures, lighting sources, and shadowing are a step above anything seen before in ANY game! All new truck geometry will give the trucks a more realistic "feel" as they bump and bounce and even flip and roll (nothing like watching a good roll over from inside the cab!!!).

When you get this game loaded up, the first challenge you face is deciding on where and what to run. As stated above you get 120 Vehicles to choose from and 125+ upgrades to those vehicles, but you are also going to find 32 different outdoor race courses scattered all over the world. Race past the pyramids of Egypt, over high cliff passes in Tibet, up and down Pike's Peak, race over dessert sands or through winter snow. The list goes on and on and while that sounds like a lot of choices already it doesn't stop there. You are going to be amazed by the weather systems that can be added to these tracks to make them even more challenging, fog, sheets of rain, and even day or night! Race in "SINGLE RACE" mode or start your own racing "CAREER" and race a series of races for cash and a chance to try out for one of TR's Racing Teams!

I tested this game using a variety of controllers and found that with a little practice, joysticks and wheels both work great. Stay away from keyboard control if you can help it (joysticks are inexpensive and provide much better control). As with any game, practice makes perfect. These trucks (class III) are rather difficult to control with no experience, if you are a beginner to this game stick with the stock trucks (class I) until you feel comfortable enough to move up. Also, a couple of driving tips for you, #1 Set up your emergency brake and learn to tap it to help swing the rear of the truck around in tight or high speed turns. #2 Try to keep your tires on the ground, spinning tires in the air provides zero grip or forward momentum. #3 When building your truck up from stock form, use this order,  (a) suspension, brakes, tires (b) engine, electronics (c) appearance,  I know everyone likes a COOL looking truck, but COOL don't put power to the ground and if you want to win, you need power to the ground, not rollbars and fog lights!

Time of day, weather conditions, track location, truck, length of race (in laps), number of AI trucks, as well as graphics resolutions, details, and controller set up are all adjustable to your taste and preference. Your also going to get three drivers views to drive by, the first is "In Cab" or a view from inside the truck (this is my favorite even though you don't get a dashboard, you do get a map and instruments...and all the jolts and bumps of off-road racing!), the second view is a "Momentum View" in which you will see the truck but as your speed increases, the truck moves farther into the game screen (this replaced the chase view in the original Evo game and is my least favorite view. The truck becomes increasingly difficult to control as it moves into the screen, also the scale of the track objects becomes out of proportion to the truck. Maybe in future games or patches they will bring the chase view back...(HINT HINT), the final view is a "Blimp View" or your truck as viewed from high up in a blimp or helicopter, this view is a little difficult to drive by at first but with a little practice it works great, try it on the Beach Course!

OK, you say you like 4X4's but aren't really into racing? No problem, 4X4 Evo2 is much more than just a racing game. Lets add the ability to just go 4 wheeling on your own, no restrictions, just go explore any of the tracks (and let me just tell you the maps are quite extensive!) in the "FREE ROAM" mode. If you are the adventurous type then TR has also added a "MISSION" mode, in which you will be given a specific set of instructions and a map. Complete the missions for cash, but be on the look out as there are hidden treasures to be found.

Now that you have had time to explore and practice, and have built the "Killer" 4X4, hook up to the network (Internet connection required) and compete head to head with other 4 wheelers from all over the world! Get good enough and maybe you can make it into one of TR's Racing Teams.

 And finally, if you are the creative type, TR has also included a powerful "EDITOR" program that will allow you to fully customize your trucks or build your own 4X4 Evo2 track! How cool is that?!?!

Installation: Medium
Installation Wizards do the installation for you, the game is rather large and does take a little while to install. There is a nice piece of music to listen to as the game loads. Game set up after installation is a little more involved, you will be given options to set your graphics (your machine will need the most recent drivers to play Evo2), set up your controller, sounds, and game controls. Takes a few minutes to set but gives you enough options to cover most systems and controllers.
NOTE: Make sure your computer meets the Minimum System Requirements for this game, because of the advanced graphics, it may not run well on some older systems.

Gameplay: 9.5
Gameplay is awesome! With the highest level of graphics and the almost unlimited truck/track options, repeat potential is extremely high, when you get hooked by this game expect to spend hours at a time playing it!

 Gameplay has many options including:

• "SINGLE RACE" (race a single race, any track, any truck)
• "CAREER" (race a series of races for prize money, prize money can be used to buy upgrade parts for your truck)
• "MISSION" (compete preset instructions to complete the missions and collect prize money, additional "treasures" are also available if you can find them)
• "NETWORK" (compete with other racers on-line, collect enough points and maybe you will receive an invitation to join one of TR's Racing Teams)

Graphics: 9.5
The graphics in this game are nothing short of spectacular! All new models and textures that blend seamlessly combined with fantastic light sourcing and shadows give you almost photo realistic maps on which to play. Then sun glare and reflections off the hood of the truck are very nice touches. The trees and bushes are multidimensional, which keeps them from looking like the four sided models found in other games. The water and splash effects are also a step above those found in other games. The Guys at TR have obviously spent a great deal of time putting together this game and have used the very latest technology to give you effects that are just fantastic! You ain't gonna believe it till you see it!
NOTE: To get the full potential out of this game, be sure your system, and in particular your video card meet the minimum requirements, and have the newest drivers loaded.

Sound: 8.9
Sounds in this game are very well done and everything has a sound assigned to it. Helicopters sound like helicopters, you can hear the birds chirping, the gravel under your tires, the resounding "THUNK" as you smack a tree (and you will!), the splash of water as you cross the stream. The sounds are also well timed and are of appropriate volume. the ONLY drawback I had with the sound is that every truck sounds the same! Add some race headers and exhaust and it should be considerably louder and throatier (it is in real life) yet the game truck sounds the same, another example is that a 6 cylinder Toyota sounds just like a V8 Chevrolet, maybe that issue could use a little work. Overall the sounds and music for this game rate very strong, with all that goes on visually in this game, who is going to notice such small sound discrepancies?

Difficulty: 9.5
Get prepared to have the AI (Artificial Intelligence) drivers whoop ya on the track you first few races. This game takes lots of practice to master the driving skills necessary to win races, practice makes perfect. After you get a "feel" for the game then you will begin to start winning a few. As you progress through your career, the AI trucks and racers get faster and your skill level and truck upgrades must elevate to keep up. It can get quite intense at times! Use the "FREE ROAM" to familiarize yourself with a track before you attempt to race it.

Concept:  9
While the concept of this game is not entirely new (you can trace it roots back to Monster Truck Madness), and there are a lot of other games in this genre that have tried to give you a decent 4X4 experience, this particular game has been reworked and is in my opinion the foremost off-road driving game. They have taken the "best of the best" (The best game engine and game lay out) and added some "even better" (Even better graphics and truck geometry) to it, to give you 4X4 Evo2.

Multiplayer: 9
The standard on-line Network hook up for Multiplayer gaming applies here, which in itself isn't so special, but the fact that if you race well you might have a shot at racing for one of Terminal Reality's own Race Teams is Special! The guys who designed and built this game also race it regularly on-line and want some really good drivers for their Teams....could you be one?

Overall: 9.8
The only reason this game didn't score a perfect 10 is that I will be looking for a Evo3 and if I score Evo2 a perfect 10 then it sure doesn't give them much room to improve now does it?!
I am in love with this game, the graphics are the best I've seen, the new truck geometry gives you a more realistic feel, the sounds of flinging gravel and mud are riveting. There are enough options to keep you busy for eons! The editor supplied will keep the creative ones out there supplying the rest of us with new tracks and trucks for some time to come.
Leave it to Terminal Reality to take their BEST game and make it even better! If you want the ULTIMATE in off-road racing games, this is it.
"Ovaldog" gives this game 6 BIG THUMBS UP! (Hey, so I had to borrow thumbs from a couple of buddies to give you that rating....It deserves it!)