Once in a while along comes a game that has had little media exposure and suddenly upon its release becomes an instant hit and potential classic. ATV Offroad Fury is the first such game to come along on the Playstation 2. Not only is this game a surprising hit but also that it comes from Sony, who has had little to offer since Fantavision.

The premise of the game is quite simple in design, choose from one of 11 authentic ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) models and race it through six different event types on over 20 different offroad racing tracks. Roam huge racing environments (two square miles!) with complete freedom crossing whole deserts, forested landscapes, and old train yards. Take in beautiful snow covered mountain vistas as you plunge off cliffs. You can even create your own waypoint races and take on crazed ATV opponents.

After playing through the GT3 demo I thought I had seen the best graphics available on the PS2. I have been proven wrong as Offroad Fury is pure eye candy. The courses have been designed with utmost details and are vast in scope. You can see very far ahead in each level whether it be pine-covered mountains or cirrus laden skies. Not only can you see into the distance but you can also drive there. We spent hours upon hours just driving around each level before we even got the various challenges each had to offer. The realistic physics engine forces you to feel every bump and crash in each course. The bikes and riders have been designed with amazing detail. Some of our favorite animations have to be the hyper-realistic wipeouts. We spent one session seeing who could throw their riders the farthest from their vehicle. Childish? Yes. Fun? Most definitely. Gamers will also be happy to know that the framrate zips along at a mighty and constant 60 frames per second refresh rate. Round the visuals off with a superior edgy, hard rock soundtrack featuring Anthrax, Primus, Sevendust, Ultraspank and more.

Gameplay elements are balanced quite well. From the moment you pick up the controller things feel right. Even those who claim to hate video games will find the control appealing causing them to come over to your place more often. Thanks to a very helpful tutor at the beginning of the game you will learn the most basic elements quickly and then it is off to the races to discover tricks and more advanced maneuvering techniques. Any offroad game is incomplete without stunts. In ATV Offroad Fury there are 16 main stunts to pull off. Once mastered, you will have the opportunity to discover ways to link stunts in order to create super-crazed stunt combinations. While the general controls are easy to pick up, mastering the 11 ATVs in the game will take some time and patience. There is a lot more to this game than just getting the fastest vehicle and booting around the track. You will have to master jumping, landing and turning at various speeds. Finally an offroad game where you have to use not only your brawn but your brain.

Offroad Fury screams value. As mentioned earlier you have a choice of 11 ATV models featuring high-profile manufacturers such as Honda, Kawasaki and Yamaha. Each bike offers performance ratings for traction, acceleration, top speed and stability. If you do not like the default settings you can head to the garage and adjust each rating as you see fit. Total control is in your hands. The game includes six different event types including: Training Mode, Cross-Country Enduro Series, Freestyle Stunt Competitions, Stadium Supercross, MAXXIS Nationals and Pro Career. As if this was not enough, Rainbow Studios also threw in a Waypoint Editor which allows you to create your own races within a given environment. In addition to the one player modes, upto four players can participate with the use of the PS2 Multitap. We tested the two-player mode over and over spending more hours than we would care to admit. Everything remains intact with only a mild decrease in graphic detail and frame rate.

Overall, this is a solid racing game with great control and gorgeous graphics. There are hours upon hours of fun to be had here. ATV Offroad Fury is a pleasant and surprising gem in Playstation 2's crown. It is also a must have for your Playstation 2 collection.

Shawn's Comments
I thoroughly enjoyed this game and still play it all the time. It is just an extremely high quality game for a system still in its infancy. Everything about it is top notch; graphics, sound, gameplay, replay value, it excels in all areas. You may be thinking, how can an ATV racing game have much depth? Well most of the game's depth stems from it's superb balance of arcade fun and realistic handling that few games can deal with properly. But in ATV, you will feel in control all the time (even in the air) and the thrilling experience of pre-loading your suspension and leaping high into the air never seems to get old. My only gripe is that the waypoint track editor does not allow you to race against computer opponents which would have added even more replay value but I guess we can't have everything. Believe me though when I say that ATV Off Road Fury is simply one of the best games the PS2 has to offer.