Though higher-end cars are effectively locked at the beginning of the game, a player is free to pursue a dream and skip over the less interesting cars. Players can now upgrade their car into extreme machines. Off-Road 3 show a creativity and attention to detail that I never expected. Eleven courses traverse a range of environments, including Yosemite, Mt. Fuji, the Canadian Rockies and New York City. Rather than race in circles, many of these tracks take the form of a course - with a starting line miles away from the finish line.
Most tracks provide creativity and unique challenges in the form of unique characteristics.
The Yucatan track demands good climbing performance while Red Rock stresses speed and handling. To win a tour, players must choose their upgrades carefully and plan for each race. Despite these improvements, the game never realizes its potential. Graphics have been enhanced greatly with the addition of 3D hardware acceleration, but framerate remains a frustrating mystery. Even with the latest 3D hardware I frequently encountered slideshow quality graphics.