ATV 2: Quad Power Racing - GameCube

The game incorporates a wide array of well-rendered racers, vehicles, and locations. The various racing courses are elaborate and nicely detailed. You can knock competitors out of your way by administering a solid kick while passing--not exactly sportsmanlike behaviour, but gratifyingly reminiscent of the classic Road Rash. For tricksters and stunt-riders, the freestyle arenas offer a candy store of possibilities. But the standout feature is the physics model behind the game. The overall handling and responsiveness of the vehicles is surprisingly realistic--even the controller vibration is more convincingly incorporated than in other racing games. Some finesse is required to pull off even the simpler tricks, and as with the real thing, it's easy to lose control of these powerful machines. --Maile Bohlmann