Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Monster Jam Showdown by developer Moon Lagoon:
Monster Jam Showdown: (The Explanation)
Monster Jam: Showdown tries to bring the thrill of monster trucks to your Nintendo Switch, but the experience falls flat. While there are 40 legendary trucks to unlock, like Grave Digger and El Toro, getting them involves repeating the same races over and over. It feels more like a chore than a fun challenge.
The AI opponents don’t help much either. They stick to their racing lines and barely react, even if you ram into them at full speed. Instead of a thrilling crash, your truck spins out of control while the AI trucks keep rolling like nothing happened. Stunt races add some variety, but the controls are so unpredictable that it’s hard to enjoy them fully.
If you love monster trucks, you’ll appreciate the attention to detail in Monster Jam: Showdown. The trucks look incredible, with each one faithfully recreated, right down to the last bolt. The Unreal Engine 5 graphics make them pop on screen, and seeing these massive machines in action is impressive.
Unfortunately, the environments aren’t as exciting. The tracks feel generic, and the backgrounds don’t do much to capture the wild energy of a monster truck event. It’s like watching a cool truck in a dull setting.
I also experienced several instances of frame rate slowdown and camera issues while driving around. There were a few times where my respawn also landed me in a terrible spot unable to respawn again or elsewhere and instead having to restart the track. Your mileage may vary, as I could see this game being fun for younger gamers or fans of Monster Trucks, but those niche audiences still might not get enjoyment out of racing over and over again.
The sound effects hit the basics: roaring engines, screeching tires, and the sound of metal crashing. But after a few races, the audio starts to feel repetitive. There’s no dynamic sound that makes the races feel more intense, and the crowd doesn’t add much to the atmosphere. They’re more of a quiet background noise than a roaring stadium full of fans.
Monster Jam: Showdown looks great on the surface, but the gameplay struggles to deliver the excitement you’d expect from such massive trucks. The controls are clunky, the AI is boring, and the race modes don’t offer much variety. Multiplayer is a bit more fun since human players are unpredictable, but the overall experience still feels slow and frustrating.
If you’re a die-hard Monster Jam fan, the detailed trucks might keep you entertained for a while. But if you’re looking for a fast-paced, exciting racing game, this one is likely to leave you disappointed.
Monster Jam Showdown: (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Mileston
Publisher: Milestone
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Racing, Arcade, Sports
No. of Players: 1-2 players (Single System), 2-6 players (Online)
Release Date: August 29, 2024
Price: $49.99
File Size: 7.5 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
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