The thrill of Monster Truck action has come to the console in the latest instalment of the Monster Jam series and if you love giant tyres and destruction then buckle up.
I’ve been to the local Monster Trucks on more than one occasion and even been on the microphone as the ground announcing host for the big events held in Brisbane as a crowd of thousands watched cars being crushed and big cars defying the laws of physics with jumps that seem ridiculous. There’s a magic to the Monster Trucks and a sense of danger that is enjoyed by all ages. But can that magic be bottled into a video game?
Monster Jam Showdown is out now and I got my hands on the steering wheel of the PlayStation 5 version which is full of vibrant action and fun in a game that delivers on the big stakes of the real world sport that it’s based on.
The trucks themselves are the game’s hero with all the colour and over-the-top showmanship of their real-life counterparts. If these vehicles were people they’d be wrestlers in the WWE. Iconic names like Grave Digger & Megalodon make up the 66 different vehicles (40 in the base game) that are made up of real-life trucks and the fictionally created ones for the toy line.
There are multiple modes to choose from, in fact, if anything there are too many. Head to Head, Freestyle, Treasure Hunting, Circuit Racing, Best Trick, Survivor, Horde, Figure 8 Racing, Extreme Head to Head and Extreme Freestyle. There are so many options for you to show off your skills as you set out to expand your career in the Showdown tour or just do battle with your mates. The options of both online and split-screen modes make this a great party game to bring out when the lads come over.
Probably my favourite mode to play was Horde. It might look like a chaotic mess but it’s all about using skill and tactics to push ahead of your opposition for a few seconds in order to knock them out of the race.
Milestone has made some of the best action racing games in the last few years, the brilliant Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 Turbocharged is the perfect testament to what they can achieve when bringing toys into a believable space. Monster Jam Showdown goes down that path brilliantly balancing the fun of playing with your favourite toy with the real-world action of a Monster Truck Show.
At its core Monster Jam Showdown is a racing game but unlike other games that rely on speed as the trucks usually max out at around 160km, that in comparison to an F1 car that goes around 375km. It feels more like tactical racing and a lot of that is down to the beasts themselves and the unusual control system. You steer using the left control for the front wheels while the right controls the back. After years of playing more traditional racers, it takes more than a couple of races to get used to the dynamic but once you master the sensation it becomes second nature.
This control system is similar to the controls of some of the real-life trucks I’ve been lucky enough to sit in. They are a very confined space for a start but there are levers that control turning left and right and I have lots of respect for the drivers who are retraining their brains to maneuver them with such precision.
Monster Jam Showdown is an epic racing game full of stunts and style. There are multiple environments and vehicles to choose from that will keep fans of the brand happy for hours as they unlock and enjoy the unique quirks of this destructive universe.
Monster Jam Showdown is out now for PS5(&4), The Xbox family of consoles, Nintendo Switch and on PC through Steam and Epic Store.
