ATV Accessories And Tools - Abused

Sony ATV Offroad Fury 4 Video Game
There has been a lot less productivity coming from me at the office lately. I can't quite put my finger on what it is. Maybe it's some leftover "Maana Syndrome" from our trip to Baja. Or maybe it's this new PlayStation 2 video game that I've been so absorbed in lately-ATV Offroad Fury 4 from Sony Computer Entertainment. For starters, there are more than 70 tracks on which to race your ATV, dirt bike, truck or buggy. If that sounds like a lot, well, it is, not to mention there's a track editor so you can build your own designs and then race on them. Spanning five continents and covering several different styles of racing, there's something here for everyone, from freestyle to motocross to point-to-point desert racing.

The Training Mode is a fast and fun way to dive in and get the feel of the controls. Once you graduate from there, you can play in Classic Mode, which is perfect for a quick arcade-style race. For a simulation-style gaming experience, you can play in Story Mode, in which you assume the role of an up-and-coming racer who must work his or her way through the ranks of the circuit. As you become more successful, you'll be able to purchase upgrades for your ride, as well as win sponsorships from various companies.

I especially liked the Freestyle Mode, which produces some painful-looking, yet hilarious crashes. Some of the different camera angles in ATV Offroad Fury 4 provide an awesome sense of speed, and preloading the suspension before a big jump is critical to perfect landings and maintaining your flow around the track, as is slipping the clutch to rocket out of tight corners. The artificial intelligence is well done. The competition is fierce but still crashes once in a while, so it's not impossible to make a last-lap comeback and snag the win. Small touches like this really make the game seem more realistic, and you can tell the programmers did their homework when creating this game.

Soundwise, I found ATV Offroad Fury 4 to be a disappointment. The two-stroke engines whine like a weed whacker, while a 650-horsepower trophy truck sounds similar to the Jetsons' flying car. Also, when taking the checkered flag in a supercross race with a stadium full of people, I was expecting to be drowned by cheers. Instead, I got an occasional whistle. What gives?

As for the soundtrack, it can be hit or miss. Most of the songs are from bands you've probably never heard of and include mostly hard-core rock, metal and hip-hop artists. One song can be kind of catchy, while the next one will be terrible and feature lots of hollering and screaming, which distracts when you're banging bars. Thankfully, the music is easily turned off. The graphics could have been a bit sharper, but at least they're as bright and colorful as one of Bill Cosby's sweaters.

For only $39.99, ATV Offroad Fury 4 provides enough replay value to keep you entertained for weeks and weeks. If your ATV is in the shop or foul weather has you staying home, this game is the next best thing to riding-except, of course, for reading ATV Rider.-Brian Purtymun