PSP

ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails

To sum up everything I've said in a more succinct manner, ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails is the total package. It's fun, it's involved, and it's portable. Some of you will no doubt have worries that the A.I. may be too challenging or that the career mode may be too time consuming. With regards to those concerns, my only advice is that you cowboy up and at least give this game a rent (or borrow it from a friend). You'll be missing out on one hell of a great ATV game if you don't.

Rev your engines, turn off the sound, crank the music and speed off into the sunset. Or a rainstorm. Or in any weather, climate or condition you please. ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin’ Trails is the imperfect game you can’t put down.

So what have we got here? Offroad Fury 3 with lesser visuals (plus some slowdown areas) and some control issues. However, what gets me most is that other reviewers are slamming Blazin’ Trails when earlier they gave Offroad Fury 3 significantly higher scores when it’s the same game, albeit with two extra problems. That said, it comes down to if you’re willing to take portability over the better Offroad Fury 3 (and can tolerate the aforementioned problems). If you are then ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin’ Trails is your best (and only) option. If you’re not, stick with the PS2 version with one exception – if you’re planning to go hardcore with the online modes, Blazin’ Trails has its parent game beat. So what will it be?

In the end, ATV Offroad: Blazin' Trails is a lot like the sport itself in that it's muddy, but suitable for some people who can look past its mess. Given the much too difficult AI, the pre-load that leaves you anywhere but on track and the ATV being placed in the most annoying locations, gamers that are easily frustrated will definitely want to look elsewhere. However, if you have a lot of patience and plan to play online with others, the game can be good, clean fun.

Although Blazin’ Trails does manage to present an engaging amount of gameplay thanks to the large number of game options, diversionary mini-games and impressive online features, it’s also significantly hampered by a kludgy control system, unforgiving trick system and psychotic AI. If you’re looking for a decent off-road title to satisfy your on the road driving frenzy, Blazin’ Trails will satisfy you for a while, but you may soon find yourself looking at other titles for your racing fix.

ATV Offroad Fury for PSP has everything going for it, and after being given almost another month after initially being slated for the PSP launch day, there seemed to be a chance that it would come out a winner after some disappointing preview heats. But the champ doesn't feel like itself on the new handheld, and there are dings and scratches on its paint job. As an online experience, the iffy issues are equalized out (though it was no fun when we got lapped while still trying to unstick ourselves from a barrier after a hammer racer knocked our jump off course.) Take that up and get used to the problems and shortcomings of the racing play before you bother getting into the single player content. That's the best shot this game has got at a career as your PSP racing game of the moment, because it got knocked out of contention early on and is just there to finish up its season before another racer comes along and puts it out of the running.

Although Blazin Trails will not hold the interest of non-fans of the sport, those interested in the world of ATVs will likely be pleased with Climax’s offering on the PSP. ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin’ Trails offers a pleasing collection of simulation and arcade gaming, all wrapped up in a solid offering of gameplay modes. Unfortunately, the often-frustrating difficulty of the Championship mode will annoy some gamers greatly, as are the overly touchy controls, which prove to be the game’s key downfalls. Overall, though, handheld gamers should be pleased with this ATV racing experience.

ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails isn't a bad racing game, but it's not a good one, either. If you're a PSP owner and you're jonesin' for a racing game, you might want to look elsewhere, unless you're a big ATV fan. But then again, who isn't?

Still, for offroad fans, this is a solid entry in a niche that has thus far gone unfilled on the PSP. However, I don't think anyone will remember this a year from now.

In the end, ATV Offroad: Blazin’ Trails is a lot like the sport itself in that it’s muddy, but suitable for some people who can look passed its mess. Given the much too difficult AI, the pre-load that leaves you anywhere but on track and the ATV being placed in the most annoying locations, gamers that are easily frustrated will definitely want to look elsewhere. However, if you have a lot of patience and plan to play online with others, the game can be good, clean fun.

While good-looking graphics, demanding gameplay, and a great soundtrack appear to create a fine gaming package, ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails' single-player ends up being more frustrating than fun. Those looking for a challenge will find plenty of it here, and the online play definitely brings a lot of replay value to the table as well. Those looking for a racing game to chill out with and enjoy, however, are probably better served elsewhere.

Fans of the ATV series will definitely want to pick up ATV Off-Road Fury Blazin’ Trails, but if you’re new to the series, I would highly recommend checking out the PS2 versions first due to its high level of difficulty.

There is enough to do in ATV Offroad Fury to fill 2 games, but the real questions is; will you want to play it for that long? The handling is very hard to get used to and deeply frustrating, especially when you know it’s the graphics limitations and the controls’ precision that you are competing against. For fans of the series, this is a no brainer; this game manages to pack in everything that has made the series great into a handheld version that offer almost unlimited replay value. On the other hand, newcomers may want to rent this one first to see if they can cope with the limitations of the hardware. If they see anything they like, there’s always the console versions which are more than worthy of your time and money.

40 seconds. That's how long it takes to load each race in Blazin' Trails. The loading process is also accompanied by what can only be described as a very scary mechanical scraping noise that sounds like the PSP is trying to tear itself in two. Not sure what's up with that. Still, once it's crunched and groaned its way towards gameplay, the result is thoroughly competent, and in many ways an impressive indication of what we can expect from PSP games in future.

Even with all of its problems, Blazin’ Trails can still offer an entertaining game. But, considering the number of racing titles available for the PSP, there are much better options available for those looking for a good racing title, making ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin’ Trails more for the hardcore racing enthusiasts and players who steer themselves more towards the multiplayer aspects.

The game's wireless features (such as leaderboards, head-to-head racing, and trading cards) are cool, but you won't be trading ATV cards with your friends. You'll be trading horror stories and talking about what you wish you would have bought instead.

I am really upset about this game, partly because I wanted it to be good and partly because I don’t know whom to blame because it’s not. The obvious finger pointing would be at Climax for not tailoring the game to the PSP control scheme, but if the PSP is at fault then we could assume that other games that require precise analog control are destined to fail before they are even released.

I like the idea behind having this game ported to the PSP, but they should have made it more refined. Once you get rolling the bad vibes dematerialize and you can get back to having fun. The gameplay is solid enough and it's a nice alternative racing game if you want some dirt and grime. It's not flawless in its execution, but I'd have to say there is just enough play in ATV Offroad Fury to keep fans happy.

ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails isn't a remarkable offroad game, but it is a respectable debut on the PSP. There is plenty of content in the game, but the difficulty level and average controls may mean that most people don't see all that the game has to offer.

Unfortunately, ATV Blazin' Trails isn't a must buy PSP launch title. That's not to say that you won't have some fun with it because its many game modes/options as well as its online play make it a somewhat enjoyable experience. However, its overall lack of polish keeps it in the junior leagues of videogames, and it somewhat mars Sony's otherwise great PSP launch lineup.

If you liked the console versions of Offroad Fury or any other similar ATV game for that matter, then you?ll likely approve of ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails. The game is packed with modes, options and replayability, though it has a few annoying problems which takes away from the potential enjoyability of it all.

Aunque el aspecto gráfico es bueno, las bajadas de framerate y su consiguiente dificultad hace que a veces sea desesperante.

Mal abgesehen davon, dass mich die parallelen Veröffentlichungen von PS2- und PSP-Titeln unter verschiedenen Namen mittlerweile nur noch anöden, kann ich trotz vieler freischaltbarer Goodies dem langweiligen und zeitweise auch unfairen Spielgeschehen nicht viel abgewinnen. Die Steuerung ist eine kleine Katastrophe, schwachsinnige Rücksetzpunkte treiben nach ohnehin schon ärgerlichen Abflügen den Frust nur noch weiter in die Höhe und technisch sind die pixeligen Kurse mit ihren heftigen Ruckelanfällen ein Armutszeugnis. Ihr habt nach MX Vs ATV Unleashed – On the Edge noch immer nicht genug vom matschigen Einheitsbrei? Dann bekommt ihr hier den insgesamt weniger gelungenen Nachschlag. Wer bereits mit dem THQ-Titel nicht viel anfangen konnte, sollte auch um Blazin’ Trails einen großen Bogen machen.

Blazin' Trails may suffer from some control and graphics problems but it may not be fair to compare it to a PS2 version. It's loaded with modes and is a relatively deep game for a racer. You can still do a lot of tricks with it but overall the racing experience is hampered by its mechanical shortcomings.

All told, this ATV runs its course as another Offroad game. If you're into this type of genre, then you'll be slightly intrigued. For the rest of us, wait for another extreme sportster to reach the PSP.

ATV Offroad Fury Blazin' Trails en laissera plus d'un sur sa faim. Entre réalisation technique ratée et prise en main irritante et mal équilibrée, le titre de Climax ne convainc pas, bien au contraire.

I have been very careful not to judge this game too harshly. Having worked on the development side in the past, I am aware how some reviews can seem overly harsh or unappreciative of the work that has gone into the games themselves, but if not one person on the development team thought that simply removing the ability to fall off your machine would help gameplay, then I guess it has earned its name, for Fury is something that I will not be playing without a very good reason in the future.

Persevere, and eventually you'll start winning races and pushing on, but overall Blazin' Trails feels more like a trial to be endured than a session to be enjoyed. Rather like mowing the lawn in fact.

So, to conclude, here are four good reasons not to buy ATV Offroad Fury Blazin' Trails. First off, it adds absolutely nothing new to the genre - a career mode and unlockable music videos aren't going to break any ground. Secondly, it's worse than ATV console games, thanks to a poor control system that's seemingly been designed with little thought for how the PSP itself is designed. Thirdly, the online mode, whilst fun when it works, doesn't work nearly often enough. And finally, you don't get to "be" Kenzie, Plat'num or Spike-E. Even if that last factor doesn't bother you too much, this game isn't worth your cash.

Blazin' Trails is fun in training and against other players as equally inept (and indiscriminate) as you are, and it boasts a high quality soundtrack and big air. But touchy controls, rock hard AI, horribly damaging restarts, and some surprisingly excessive load times, knock this offering down several pegs. Although (scratch, scratch), bargain basement racer that it is, you could do worse if you’re searching for close-to-free starter PSP action to whet your appetite for better games ahead -- and you'll have no trouble finding those.

With all its mud and dirt, offroad racing has never been called a pretty sport. Likewise, with all its flaws and problems, no one will call this a pretty game either.