Monster Trucks are tonnes of fun. Oversized and overpowered machines whose sole mission is to smash, bash and flip to elated cheers from the crowd. Many have tried to make the jump to the gaming world over the years with mixed results. The latest monster truck fuelled game to hit the scene is Monster Jam Showdown.

Showdown is the latest instalment in the long-running Monster Jam licensed series. Developed by Italian studio Milestone, who are no strangers to games based on anything with an engine. Having series like MotoGP, Hot Wheels Unleashed and Ride to their name, Monster Jam Showdown should be in good hands.

Capturing the Thrill

I was at the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live event a few months back. Here I witnessed the likes of Tiger Shark, Bone Shaker and Mega Wrex battle it out, and it’s hard not to get all fired up from the sounds, smells and earth rumbling from these steel titans.

Right off the bat, Milestone have nailed the feel of throwing one of these eight-tonne monsters around a mud logged track. Monster Jam Showdown is built upon a control system which sits bang between a sim and arcade feel. Milestone did a great job of translating the unique drive systems of the beasts, like dual steering turn, to the game.

Unique Control

Monster Jam Showdown presents a strange feeling at the beginning due to its unique control scheme and handling. Each thumb stick takes control of a set of wheels. If you use just one to corner, you’ll turn as you would expect, but using both sees you spin in circle. And this where the trick side of the game comes into play.

You’ll spend a fair bit of time learning how far you can push the limit on the steering. However, it’s all so well weighted, thanks to the games physics system. Which, again, has nailed the feeling of weight transfer and its interaction with wheeled machines.

That physics system also means there is a fun damage system in play. You’ll see panels and doors being ripped from the frame of your prize truck. With enough punishment a machine can be strip it down to just the roll cage. However, this damage is purely cosmetic and will not affect your performance at an event.

Driving Soup

Despite the generous machine line-up and anorak levels of visual detail, all the trucks feel, drive and sound the same. This a bit of a shame in general. But, given there are 40 trucks in the base game, and another 26 on the way through DLC, it’s a massive waste of potential.

Part of the draw of a licensing monster truck game is the notion of driving the likes of Grave Digger, Megalodon and Sparkle Smash. When they all feel the exact same, it shatters that illusion a bit.

And, of course, the lack of mechanical variety means the experience wears itself out that little bit sooner.

Packaged Monsters

Monster Jam Showdown packages its carnage in several modes. You can play the main showdown mode in solo, or take your skills online and face off against seven mates, or randoms across single events, or create a tournament for longer play. There is also the nice addition of a split screen mode for more local couch-fuelled fun.

There are ten core events in the game from strength up racing to head to head races and more interesting activities; like best trick events, as well as free style – where you can just rip loose to land the largest stunt score.

Showdown mode is the core of the single player side and its very limited in terms of environments and tracks. Death Valley, Colorado and Alaska are the three main biospheres in the mode and do mix up terrain and visuals as you may expect, it’s just there isn’t a lot to really do within them.

Evolving Beasts

Progression also feels limited as you earn badges for winning races which then sees you taking on a monster truck “boss” before being able to move on. Though these badges are based most around finishing position and maybe biggest stunt or the like, meaning it’s very much win at all costs.

Also, modes beyond the online and showdown side of things are a bit thread bare other than being able to tinker with your truck, but it’s very matter of fact and just a single button press or adding pre-made liveries.

The visuals of Monster Jam Showdown are excellent. The game recreates the trucks and the locations to throw them around in with pleasing detail. In play, it looks almost like you are watching highlights on telly at times.

Monster Jam Showdown smash big foot shark stars

The audio presentation, on the other hand, is lacklustre. As mentioned above, all the trucks sound the same. Outside of stripping away this vital piece of personality from each fabled truck, the same and singular roar put out by every machine eventually becomes boring.

Milestone never seem to pay enough attention to their soundtracks, with their usual output seemingly aiming for unintrusive and ignorable. Monster Jam Showdown goes one worse that usual, with the music managing to be simulataneously bland and grating.

Creating a Monster

Monster Jam Showdown delivers a solid control system that is challenging and enjoyable in equal parts. But, it just doesn’t do enough on the events or modes side to test you.

Dusty racetrack physics in gaming jeeps dirt track

Similarly, MJS delivers a massive roster of Monster Jam star vehicles, each brought to life with stunning visual accuracy, but squanders that work by leaving them feeling and sounding far too alike.

If you’re looking for something fresh in the racing scene, then this ticks that box. But your mileage will very much depend on how much you’re willing to overlook its issues.