4×4 Evo 2 | DJcube

Down and Dirty

NA release: 24th September 2002
JP release: N/A
EU release: N/A
Developer: Terminal Reality
Publisher: Universal Interactive
NGC Magazine Score: N/A
Mods Used: Widescreen Code

From the makers of Monster Truck Madness 2 (which was ported to the N64 by another developer as the dreadful Monster Truck Madness 64) comes another off-road racing game, this time with various 4×4 cars from popular manufacturers (although Range Rover is notably absent). One thing that 4×4 Evo 2 does have going for itself is a massive amount of tracks, each of being a large map that you can fully explore.

But not a single one is worth exploring, they’re all bland and empty, all with an array of mismatched objects that seem like they came from different N64 games. Bridges are far lower resolution than the roads, trees pop in and out constantly. My favourite was a track which had a load of tractors – just regular tractors. However, the model has been ridiculously oversized to the point that a Jeep can comfortably sit in the cab. Shadows are also really strange, as only some objects cast them. Shadows also don’t work when you’re driving over obstacles or bridges.

In the career mode, you need to earn money to get better upgrades to win races. Missions include hunting for bones or rescuing villagers, but they all boil down to the same thing: drive in a straight line to the marked point on the map. Driving in 4×4 Evo 2 is horrible, with everything feeling like a low gravity cheat is turned on: slow and floaty. You’ll also bounce awkwardly off every bounce, often just coming to a standstill for no reason.

As the GameCube version came after the other platforms, it has a few extra maps, which doesn’t help the game as not a single one looks or plays well. They could have spent the time trying to improve the controls or the camera (you have to pick a very distant camera, the close ones get blocked every time another racer is near you), but instead we’re left with an incredibly ugly game that’s horrible to control.

Worst

4×4 EVO 2 comes off as an entirely uninspired and unimpressive rehash of the same title which appeared on the X-box almost one year ago. While Gamecube owners don’t have many options in the way of off-road racing games I still wouldn’t recommend this title for anything more than a rental. If you happen to own a PS2 I’d suggest checking out the original 4×4 EVO, which is vastly superior to this game, and can most likely be found for under twenty bucks in the bargain bin.
The Cookie Snatcher, WorthPlaying

Remake or remaster?

The mission mode is a neat idea for a racing game, to let you explore levels more and provide some variety, so that idea could be salvaged, but not the game itself.

Official Ways to get the game

There is no official way to get 4×4 Evo 2.