Rating

C+

Specific Ratings

GameplayC+
GraphicsB-
Learning CurveB
Replay ValueC-
SoundC+

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • 18 wheelers...enough said
  • Nice trucks
Cons
  • Arcade game on a PS2? yuck!
  • Too easy
  • Need more options

18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (PlayStation 2)

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Summary

This release of the famous coin-op game onto PS2 was a good idea...or was it?

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Description

This Acclaim release for the PlayStation 2 was just a bad idea. I mean, the game rocked in the arcades because it felt like you were actually driving a big rig. You were sitting in a huge box that was dressed up like a big rig. What can be more fun than that? But the jump from arcade to PS2....well, it never should have happened.

Graphics:
The graphics are good. The rigs are really detailed and look great. Anything from tanker trucks to rigs hauling heavy machinery, they all look incredible. The backgrounds aren't great at all. They seemed to focus more on your view of the trucks and they really didn't care much about the scenery. And face it, it is an arcade game that has made its way to the consoles. So it sure as heck isn't no Gran Turismo, but for what it's worth, it can still be fun.

Sound:
It would have been nice to add some real country singers into the mix or something to give you that "hickish" feel. But they didn't. They could have done so many different things with the sound, like making the ability to change radio stations or something....added some variety. So this game just has your basic arcade soundtrack.

Gameplay:
It's fairly easy to learn how to play this game. Not many buttons are used. I mean, you got the gas and brake and, if you choose to go with a manual tranny, then shoulder buttons are involved, but that's it. You have different camera modes you can use. My favorite is the in-cab view. It's pretty neat what they have done. It really looks as though your in Jethro's "big rig". Or if you don't like that style, there is the classic follow mode. The best part of this game is definitely the parking mode. Ever wanted to get your big rig CDL? Play this game and go through the courses. It teaches you the basics of backing up, turning, stopping, and parking. This mode is loads of fun. I'd rather play this mode than the arcade mode or versus mode. In arcade mode, you drive across the country hauling things from point A to point B. You can choose what you would like to haul and you have to beat the clock. Pretty easy and it takes no time to beat. And of course, you have versus mode where you can match up against your friends.

Overall:
This game was fun when I first bought it. Then 30 minutes later I beat it and got bored with it. So this game has no replay value at all. If not for the parking mode in this game, then I would have rated it lower but thanks to the good ole DMV for allowing us to get a little taste of the test (ha ha). Anyways the game is a C+ and would recommend you rent it because it's just not worth buying.

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