This time around the trucks also sport deformable bodies to reflect the pounding they take during races. Monster trucks aren't exactly precision machines, so while you might not experience the adrenaline rush of high-speed racing, you'll be busy struggling to keep at least two wheels on the ground as you slide, skid, and spin through every race. Owners of force feedback joysticks will face a happy extra obstacle in their fight to control these unwieldy mechanized beasts. Monster Truck Madness 2 considerately provides three skill levels and an option for automatic gear shifting, allowing you to take your time getting used to the slippery bouncing mayhem that dominates races. Monster Truck Madness 2 has a good mix of both rally and circuit tracks, including the obligatory romp through oil derricks, a tropical island laced with water hazards, and a happy jaunt through a lightning-torn graveyard, complete with caskets.
Most tracks feature harrowing jumps and encourage a healthy dose of cheating.
As long as you hit your checkpoints, feel free to ignore the track and set your own path. And while you can challenge the computer in a race setting, you can' t try to beat it in the new multiplayer-only Summit Rumble, a monster truck version of King of the Hill. Too bad, because the Rumble is a gas. While 3D acceleration isn't required to run the game, playing it on the minimum machine will force you to shut off features to get it to run at an acceptable rate. That said, 3D acceleration is a must if you really want to enjoy Monster Truck Madness 2.