Thunder Truck Rally

Last updated
Thunder Truck Rally
Monster Trucks
Monster Trucks cover.png
Developer(s) Reflections
Publisher(s) Psygnosis
Platform(s) PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
Windows
1997
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Thunder Truck Rally (Monster Trucks in Europe) is a monster truck racing video game developed by Reflections and published by Psygnosis where players select a monster truck or otherwise 4X4 vehicle equipped with monster truck tires and have the option of either racing or crushing cars in an arena.

Contents

Gameplay

In car crushing mode, players are awarded style points for how well they crush other vehicles. [4]

Development

During development of the game, project leader Martin Edmondson stated, "No code is shared between DD2 and Monster Trucks (with the exception of surrounding code such as sound and sprite routines). Monster Trucks started development about three quarters through DD1 and is a game based on those famous car-crushing, monster pick-up trucks with the oversized wheels." [5]

Reception

The PlayStation version received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [6] Glenn Rubenstein of GameSpot described it as "A fairly average driving game with a few new bells and whistles", [13] Next Generation as "Not horrible, but nothing special either", [15] and IGN as "a good, solid title, although the grainy graphics do grate sometimes." [14] GamePro concluded that "For off-road fans, it's a pretty solid buy, but run-of-the-mill racing buffs should get enough with only one rental." [11]

Most critics found that the game's car crushing mode, which they anticipated would have the most immediate appeal to players, is shallow and ultimately unexciting. [13] [15] [11] Some also complained that in endurance mode, the guiding arrow tends to veer unexpectedly, which they felt was unfair, since the AI opponents always immediately know how to take a turn. [14] [15] Both Rubenstein and Next Generation remarked that while the controls are generally very good, the physics make it too easy to go off on a high jump that severely damages the player's truck. [13] [15] Other common criticisms were the extensive pop-up [13] [11] and weak sound effects, [8] [11] while subjects of praise included the rigorous course design, [8] [13] and the numerous modes and options available. [8] [13] [14]

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References

  1. 1 2 Edge staff (March 1997). "Monster Trucks (PS)". Edge . No. 43. Future Publishing. p. 83. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Wayback Machine". web.archive.org. 1997-06-05. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  3. ↑ I. G. N. Staff (1997-06-04). "Thunder Truck Rally". IGN. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  4. ↑ EGM staff (March 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally: Psygnosis' Rough Racing Game Rumbles and Tumbles onto the PlayStation". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 92. Ziff Davis. p. 106.
  5. ↑ "NG Alphas: Destruction Derby 2". Next Generation . No. 17. Imagine Media. May 1996. p. 54.
  6. 1 2 "Thunder Truck Rally for PlayStation". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ Sackenheim, Shawn. "Thunder Truck Rally (PS) - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Kujawa, Kraig; Hager, Dean (May 1997). "Team EGM Sports: Thunder Truck Rally". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 94. Ziff Davis. p. 117.
  9. ↑ Reiner, Andrew; Storm, Jon; McNamara, Andy (May 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally - PlayStation". Game Informer . No. 49. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on October 21, 1997. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  10. ↑ Halverson, Dave "E. Storm"; Jevons, Dan "Knightmare"; Stockert, Bruce "Reubus" (May 1997). "Thunder Truck [Rally] (PS)". GameFan . Vol. 5, no. 5. Metropolis Media. p. 24. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Air Hendrix (June 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally (PS)". GamePro . No. 105. IDG. p. 69.
  12. ↑ Dr. Moo (September 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally Review (PS)". GameRevolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on April 20, 2004. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rubenstein, Glenn (July 1, 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally Review (PS)". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  14. 1 2 3 4 IGN staff (June 3, 1997). "Thunder Truck Rally (PS)". IGN . Ziff Davis. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Thunder Truck Rally". Next Generation. No. 33. Imagine Media. September 1997. p. 131. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  16. ↑ OPMUK staff (March 1997). "Monster Trucks". Official UK PlayStation Magazine . No. 17. Future Publishing. pp. 92–93. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Monster Trucks". PC Games (in German). Computec. August 1997.
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