Monster Jam : Crush It! (PS4) Quick Review
Dirt. Big trucks. Even bigger engines. Monster Jam. Everybody knows it, these guys tour all over practically year round, pulling crazy stunts and smashing cars every weekend in some arena or stadium. I've personally always been a fan of the motorsport, so when I saw it get a release on PS4, I needed to experience it. So strap on in and come see how Crush It fares in the current gen of consoles.
In this game, you take on the role of a nameless (well...your own name really) driver, touring the stadiums across the US, racing and freestyling your way to championships. You even get to take your battle to the woods and mountains, in a semi-side scrolling series of races styled much like Urban Freestyle where the goal is simply to make it to the end. How does this game do? Let's find out.
What's Good?
- Multiple Modes. You get a few places to churn up some dirt in this game. Either kick things into gear in the arenas in short races, guiding yourself along a tiny course running a hot lap against another truck, or freestyle mode where you get the whole setup of the arena floor, or you can take your truck into the woods or on the mountains for a sprint over some obstacles. It's a nice little variety that you get to explore with this game so the arenas don't get boring and repetitive.
- Easy Controls. It's your standard driving controls, but what helps you out in this one (especially during freestyle mode) is the right stick becomes a trick stick almost. You can use to assist in rolling or pulling off tight turns, anything it takes to finesse your way to a few more style points and, hopefully, a golden trophy.
- All The Good Trucks. Everything starts off with a simple monster truck, but anyone who's a fan of the motorsport knows all the good ones, and they're all in here too. Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Monster Mutt (complete with flappy ears), you can drive them all, and all it takes to unlock them is simply winning certain events or beating the time record which is set easily enough so you can smash the time without really trying.
What's Bad?
- Long Load Times. Easily the largest setback of this game. I felt like I spent more time waiting to take control of the monster trucks than I did actually controlling them. Once you're in a race, if you need to restart then the reload goes fairly quickly. But for as small as these arena setups are, and honestly not that detailed (a few piles of dirt here, some smash cars there), it shouldn't take long at all to get into these races.
- No Customization. It would be nice to build your own truck. It would be nice to have a season mode where you could participate with your custom truck. It would be nice to have a season mode period. But you don't. Monster Jam let's you pick an individual sprint race, an individual freestyle event, or one of the "trials" races. It makes this game feel like it's extremely short and offers almost nothing to the player.
- No Customization. It would be nice to build your own truck. It would be nice to have a season mode where you could participate with your custom truck. It would be nice to have a season mode period. But you don't. Monster Jam let's you pick an individual sprint race, an individual freestyle event, or one of the "trials" races. It makes this game feel like it's extremely short and offers almost nothing to the player.
Is it Worth it?
Absolutely not. I've loved monster trucks my whole life, I grew up going to the events and even being lucky enough to stand inside the rims of the massive tires. All my life I've dug my hands into every Monster Jam game that I could find, and I've yet to find one I've enjoyed. They all boast things that the sport itself doesn't really do. Massive races out in the open of some big wooded/mountainous area. This one gets the benefit of keeping a portion of the game contained in an arena, but without a tour or career mode it's a big let down. It is still fun to play, but you'll be done with it the day you sit down with it. The single race events are only a lap (not even trials/heats or bracket style tournaments like at real events) and freestyle is easy to spam multiple back and front flips to get yourself a victory. You can pick it up on PS4 or Xbox One for around $20 in the case, but I would hold off on getting this title until it dips under $10, and even then it barely gets you your value.
Yes, I finished and won all of the races/freestyles/trial races, and i barely broke a sweat. I was upset with this game the moment I didn't see a season option on the menu, and it only got worse from there.
Absolutely not. I've loved monster trucks my whole life, I grew up going to the events and even being lucky enough to stand inside the rims of the massive tires. All my life I've dug my hands into every Monster Jam game that I could find, and I've yet to find one I've enjoyed. They all boast things that the sport itself doesn't really do. Massive races out in the open of some big wooded/mountainous area. This one gets the benefit of keeping a portion of the game contained in an arena, but without a tour or career mode it's a big let down. It is still fun to play, but you'll be done with it the day you sit down with it. The single race events are only a lap (not even trials/heats or bracket style tournaments like at real events) and freestyle is easy to spam multiple back and front flips to get yourself a victory. You can pick it up on PS4 or Xbox One for around $20 in the case, but I would hold off on getting this title until it dips under $10, and even then it barely gets you your value.
Yes, I finished and won all of the races/freestyles/trial races, and i barely broke a sweat. I was upset with this game the moment I didn't see a season option on the menu, and it only got worse from there.
