Juiced

Posted 08/25/2005 at 6:56pm | by

0

Comments

Print

Juiced is the latest underground racing sim to hit store shelves, and it reeks more of commercial exploitation than legitimate street cred.

From the get-go, Juiced wastes no time putting you into a drivers seat to live out your dreams of asphalt domination. There’s no infiltration of an underground scene; the career mode begins as soon as the game starts. Next thing you know, you’re racing to win in a borrowed car, and from there every taste of victory allows you to buy newer, faster cars, or to trick out the one you’re currently racing.

A calendar of racing events is available for you to pick and choose from. Some events are free and can be used to build your bank account as well as “respect,” which is gained by winning races, performing stunts, and satisfying other requirements.

Some racing events require you to pay an entry fee or to have a certain level of respect in order to participate, which is aggravating but gives you something to strive for in the game’s early stages. You can also earn money betting on races from the sidelines, but unfortunately you have to actually watch the entire race unfold, which gets boring fast.

As in real life, customizing your cars becomes a major time suck requiring serious investment, but it’s incredibly satisfying to turn a used hunk of junk into an awesome beast of a machine. (Juiced shamelessly flaunts its licensed brands, and you’re reminded at every turn that the NoS-powered Acura you’re driving is actually approved by Honda.) While racing for “pinks” in all-or-nothing races is uncomfortably tense and thrilling, we always chickened out if we were losing and would just opt to not save the game.

Handling is more arcade-inspired than simulation-based, and the damage modeling is disappointing. Though cars take a beating in races and you’re forced to pay for repairs afterward, you never get the sense that your car is actually smashed up or in need of repair. We were also turned off by the closed-circuit nature of the tracks. If this is illegal street racing, we’d like to be dodging pedestrians and avoiding cops, not bumping into roadblocks.

The arcade mode is the most enjoyable part of the game, and makes competing in the campaign to unlock cars and tracks worthwhile. You’ll be satisfied if you treat Juiced as an arcade racer, but those itching for a realistic underground racing sim should look elsewhere.
—Norman Chan

+ FRESH SQUEEZED: Licensed cars and parts, fun arcade mode, and sparkly graphics.
- CONCENTRATE: Weak damage models, frustrating career mode, and simple tracks.

Month Reviewed: October 2005
Verdict: 7
URL: www.juiced-racing.com ESRB: T