Jeremy McGrath's Offroad (XBLA)

I'm going to be honest with you guys. I had initially intended to skip this game, because of a youtube video I watched. I usually do not watch any videos, or read any reviews before taking on a game. It's a big no-no for reviewers to do so especially if they wish to begin the review of a game with an unbiased opinion. Fortunately I was still able to maintain a proper perspective of the game regardless of the circumstances. What I found as I did my playthrough of 2XL Game's (the developer) racing title was an extremely fun game that excelled in ways I did not think were possible. This goes to show that you should not judge a game solely based on how it looks in videos, or even on what you hear from others.

As the title of this game suggests it involves the offroad racing champ, Jeremy McGrath. Throughout the game's various modes of play Jeremy will guide you with hints, and tips on getting the most out of each race. Even during the actual races Jeremy's voice can be heard guiding you past each, and every turn. If you're annoyed by such audio interactions (as I was) there's no need to worry as the game can be tweaked through the "Help & Options" menu. As you play "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad" you will encounter tracks from different locales across the globe (California, Utah, Equador, Netherlands ...) as well as 5 different types of offroad vehicles (Pro Buggy, Rally Car, Trophy Truck, Sportsman Buggy, ProLite Truck). Through Arcade, Career, and Xbox Live you will race through rough terrain that will test your ability to maintain a first place lead. Obstacles are plenty in "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad", so don't be surprised when you see giant hay rolls, or snow covered boulders rolling across the track. While racing is fun with this game it is still very challenging. It's a highly competitive game that will definitely have you swaying in your seat with every turn. Whether you want to go at it alone or join other Xbox Live members the RPG style racing game will keep you entertained.

The one thing that sets "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad" apart from other XBLA arcade racers is it's true to life gameplay presentation. Each track in the game has impressive interactive details. Whether it's the snow covered terrain of the Netherlands, or the sunny countryside of California the intricate details all shine through with a photo-realistic quality that accents the overall experience quite nicely . Unlike most racing games this one actually features tracks that have realistic bumps, dips, turns, dirt ramps, and other interactive features (boulders, fences, signs) that the player can collide with causing different vehicular responses. The backgrounds of every available track are decorated with photo-realistic plant life, landscapes, and even lighting effects. While the visuals are impressive I couldn't help but notice the trees, and other background features did seem to have a 2D appearance. As you race though this will be easily overlooked as your attention will mainly be focused on the turns, and other players/racers involved in the race.

There are three engaging modes of play available in "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad". You've got the 'Arcade' mode which features various options pertaining to the track setup, and vehicle setup. You can tweak such things as the hazards, lap number, the mode type (Single Race, Time Trial, Practice), the difficulty (Amateur 75% XP, Semi-Pro 100% XP, Pro 150% XP), and even the type of opponents (Competitive, Open Class, Same Class) that will be in the race/s. For the most part 'Arcade' is a single player/local mode that will have you racing a single race, or a rally (multiple races) if you choose to go that route. Earning XP in this mode is the same as with any of the modes in the game. Your XP earnings depend on how you maneuver your vehicle (power sliding, obstacle collision ...) within the race as well as your placing during/after the race. The XP points that are earned in any mode can be used to upgrade the various features (Handling, Top Speed, Acceleration, Braking) of the vehicles that are available.

In 'Career' mode you'll take on 23 challenges against the big names/guys of offroad racing including Jeremy McGrath himself. At the beginning of 'Career' you'll start off with a certain vehicle type (a buggy if I remember correctly), and gradually race with each class of vehicle through the various tracks in the game. Along the way you will encounter both 'Time Trial' races as well as legitimate races against AI racing opponents. During, and after each given race you will earn a certain amount of XP based on your performance, and placement in the race. Taking the first place spot will grant you bonus XP. This also applies to every other mode within the game as well.

The final available mode in the game is 'Xbox Live'. As the title of it suggests this is where all of the online competition takes place. The settings for this mode are kept to a minimum, and don't include all of the other features you'll find in 'Arcade'. The main setting choices you will be allowed to tweak include the number of laps, the choice of track, the stages you play through (All Stages, Stage 1 - 3), and the class type (Open / Fixed). In this mode you will earn a slightly higher amount of XP compared to the other two modes. You can start your own lobby if you like, or join one that is public. The option for private races is also made available in this mode in case you only wish to game with players you know. You should also note that the game will allow a player to complete a race even if every of the player has dropped out.

Aside from the modes, and the game setups, "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad" also features a subtle array of available vehicle appearance options. Each of the 5 available vehicle types has 9 different paint jobs to choose from. None of these paint jobs have to be unlocked through any of the other modes. On the downside you will have to upgrade each "Paint Style/Job" individually through the XP that you earn. In this way the developer has treated each individual paint job as if it were a different vehicle which is definitely not the case. I'm not sure if there will be new vehicles made available, but it does seem that future DLC has been planned for the game in some form, or another. Something else to note is the fact that there are 5 available point of views of the vehicle during a race. You can chase the vehicle in a variety of third-person perspectives, or even experience the race from the driver's point of view. It's a cool feature that allows the player to see the game in the way they wish to view it.

When it comes to presentation, and gameplay "Jeremy McGrath's Offroad" is pretty much the complete package. It's a fun game with impressive graphics that can be enhanced further if you have an HDTV. The controls are kept simple allowing the player to stay focused on the intense racing at hand. Even the soundtrack is a nice detail that enhances the next generation quality of the game. With all the good though there is also some bad. One such thing is the fact that I had instances during a race where I found my vehicle stuck to the point I could not dislodge it, and return to the race. Another issue, which is significant is that I have found hardly anyone playing online. While this is not directly related to the game's overall presentation quality it is quite bothersome. The fact that the races I were able to do ended with the online players ragequitting only added salt to the wound. The upside to this unfortunate situation is that I was able to complete the race regardless of the fact that I was the only one racing. I was even rewarded my earned XP which was a pleasant surprise in itself. As far as recommending this game goes I think it is very much worth the points. It's really fun. I just wish more people were playing it.