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Big Mutha Truckers
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Graphics & Sound:
As I think back over my many years of gaming, I can't recall many games featuring the fascinating world of the professional trucker. In fact, outside an Oregon Trail update that featured a big rig I used to play in sixth grade, I don't think I can name one (hell, I can't even name the one I played!). However, the theme has been gaining some ground, such as the recent release of 18-Wheeler American Pro Trucker. Big Mutha Truckers tries to fill in this void by combining an arcade style truck racer with over-the-top characters and interesting economy-based gameplay. Though it has high hopes, the result is a game that never gets off the ground. Graphically, Big Mutha Truckers is about as weak as they come. All of the vehicles in the game, including the rigs that are the game's primary focus, are remarkably bland and uninspired. Though there is a little effort to personalize each character's rig, the effect is something you're likely to rarely see since you're spending a majority of play time staring at the truck's flatbed or trailer. CPU controlled cars fare even worse and feature little variety in their types. Character models are worse still, with some even getting to the point of looking like someone's first outing with a 3D-rendering program. Animations are terrible and some body parts are so out of proportion with the rest of the character's body that even claiming that it's the 'graphical style' can't cover for things. On the positive side of the coin, the driving environments are actually pretty well done. All of the props scattered around the levels, such as buildings and trees, are fun and done really nicely. Besides, anyone who read my Hulk review knows I'm a sucker for interactive (read: destructible) environments. Since the game is about truckers, it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to imagine the developers throwing in one of the more colorful aspects of trucking life (and I'm not talking about the ones that come with short-skirts outside of truck stops). Sadly, Big Mutha Truckers is devoid of most of the cool CB talk that makes trucking interesting. Though most of the dialog in the game takes place between your driver and various bar owners, it still would have been a fun addition. With the exception of 'Born to be Wild' by Steppenwolf (which admittedly feels a tad cheesy and overdone when used in the game), most of the game's soundtrack is bland and out of place. I don't claim to be the most well versed in the ways of the redneck trucker, but I'm pretty sure that European techno isn't a major part of their listening day. Thankfully, the game offers a variety of radio stations to choose from, similar to what is offered in the Grand Theft Auto series, but few are worth listening to for very long. And, just because I know at least one person is dying to know, Big Mutha Truckers does not feature Custom Soundtrack support, but seeing as how my whip is in the shop, I couldn't beat that dead horse even if I wanted to. |
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Gameplay:
After reading the setup for Big Mutha Truckers, you'd assume I would be drawn into it immediately -- and you would be correct. I mean, the entire theme of the game is based around rednecks and other denizens of the trailer park! As it turns out Ma Jackson, one of the most renowned truckers in the country is finally retiring. This, of course, means that she has to decide which one of her four kids (each with their own baby daddy -- but I'll get to that in a minute) will carry on her legacy. In order to decide, she sends her motley litter of hillbilly progeny on a 60-day trek, delivering merchandise and making as much money as possible. You begin the game by selecting one of Ma's kids -- Bobbie Sue, the sexy jail bait daughter; Cletus, the slack-jawed yokel; Earl, the overweight dimwit; or Rawkus, the 'darker' Billy Dee Williams wannabe. After a tutorial that has you knocking down newspaper stands, Ma sets you loose hauling merchandise between cities. In order to profit from your trucking, you'll have to keep track of what each town needs. In order to keep tabs on this, you'll have to stop off at bars and ask the bartender where you can get merchandise and who needs what, as well as who will give you the best price. All financial obligations are carried out at each city's main store. This is where things get interesting. Your goal is you buy low and sell high, so you have to keep track of how much items are going for from the competition. This is handled by an arrow system that indicates how well or poorly items are selling. If, for some reason, you find yourself strapped for cash you can visit the local loan shark (or other 'financial planners') for cash. The only down side is that their interest rates are usually steep, so invest in them at your own risk. Some bars also feature slot machines for those feeling lucky. Money can also be earned by racing other truckers, which happens every morning. After you've amassed a small fortune, you can spend your money on new merchandise or upgrades for your truck, which include things like bigger cargo holds, fuel efficiency upgrades, and better brakes. You can also go for vanity items like a louder horn and custom logos (some of which you can design yourself). Money can also be spent on more necessary items like fuel, repair costs, and different cargo containers (which one you get depends on what you're hauling -- like rocket fuel or perishable food items). As I mentioned earlier, this part of the game is easily one of the more interesting aspects of the game and it's clear a lot of development time was spent on it. It's unfortunate that other areas didn't receive the same attention. |
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Difficulty:
Driving a rig is probably one of the more boring jobs available, and it takes a broad attention span (and ass of iron) to go anywhere in the business. Big Mutha Truckers replicates the tediousness of driving cross country in a rig, but manages to keep things interesting at the same time. For the most part, the game is pretty easy for people who can pay attention on the road. Rig races against rivals are extremely easy, and may become your best source of income. As you drive from town to town, a few mini-games will unlock along the way, such as having to outrun (or at least lose) pursuing police cars or avoiding biker gangs trying to hijack your load. Police cars are easy enough to lose, but hijackers take a bit of skill. After they latch on to your cargo hold, you'll have to try to shake them off before they reach your cab, otherwise they'll steal your trailer and merchandise.
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Game Mechanics:
In terms of controlling your rig, Big Mutha Truckers definitely falls on the arcade side of things. The basic controls are easy to figure out, but the handling isn't as good as it could be. True, driving a big rig isn't like cruising around in a sports car, but I would at least expect to be able to drive in a straight line without careening off like I had just had a case of Wild Turkey. Everything is extremely loose and over exaggerated, so getting a handle on things will take some work - but even then you may not come completely to grips with the scheme. I had hoped that the upgrades would improve the handling, but this isn't the case. The timed missions or at least the time given between checkpoints is very unforgiving and can ruin some areas of the game. To its credit, Big Mutha Truckers at least tries to be a fun game. The economy-based layout and somewhat interesting plot lines can make for some interesting moments. Yet, at the same time, it seems that too much time was spent on making these elements entertaining, and a majority of the more vital elements were ignored or quickly patched together. Normally I wouldn't suggest a game like this, but given its 20 dollar price point, it's not a bad game if you can overlook some of the game's flaws or are interested in the world of trucking. For those who just aren't sure, the game is good enough to make an excellent rental. |
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-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker |
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