Sound:  
By now most of you have probably heard a large semi-truck go by or honk those enormous horns they have. If by chance you haven't, one has to ask where is this hole in the ground you've been living under, and welcome to the topside. Now, unless you are one of these underground dwellers, you know that a truck engine has such a deep resonant sound that to simply hear one idle is an aural experience. Or, at least it is in reality. In 18 Wheeler, the sounds of the semi just can't be done justice. Not to fault Sega and Acclaim as they sure did try to capture the essence of it (bless their little hearts), but no matter their efforts, a virtual truck just doesn't have the impact on the ears that a real one does. Still, despite it's less than perfect nature the horn in 18 Wheeler is still fun as hell to use.

Control:  
One thing you have to give Sega is that their games sure have dynamite control. When you are playing 18 Wheeler it really feels like you are controlling a big rig. Well, at least I think it feels how it should. Hell if I'd know, I've never driven anything bigger than a passenger car. Anyway, the controls are very simple and quite functional. The analog shoulder buttons control the gas and brake, and the analog controller handles steering. With this combo, very precise moves are easy to pull off... as precise as you can get in a ten-ton vehicle that is. The other various buttons allow you to change views from 1st to 3rd, honk the neat little horn, and change gears.

Gameplay:
Gameplay is the heart of any title, and while 18 Wheeler may not be the deepest game on the planet, it sure has its fill of options and short-term fun. There are four modes of play to choose from: Arcade mode, which allows you to haul different types of cargo across the continental United States. Parking, which presents the challenge of maneuvering an enormous semi into a parking space that wasn’t really designed for it. Score Attack, a mode that focuses on amount of points in a race instead of finishing first, and finally the Versus mode which lets you race your butt off against a friend.

Parking and Score Attack are the kind of gameplay modes I like to refer to as filler. They are nice for a few minutes of amusement, but they really don’t have any staying power. The single player Arcade mode and multiplayer Versus modes are the only ones worth focusing on. In Arcade, the object of the game is to drag cargo from one side of the country to the other in a series of increasingly difficult stages. Different cargo types weigh different amounts and thus change the way you have to play to succeed. For example, you get more points for hauling a heavier cargo because it slows your truck down, which in turn makes it harder to reach checkpoints and the finish line in time. It’s a nice concept that allows you to choose differing cargo types based on your skill level.

In addition to the cargo simulation aspect, there are also four different trucks to choose from, each having differing statistics in speed, torque, and toughness. There doesn’t seem to be much difference between the various trucks, but perhaps that can be attributed to the fact that I absolutely stink at this game and would repeatedly lose no matter the truck or cargo I selected. In fact, to finally see the ending I had to invite my friend over to finish it for me. He seems to think that indeed each truck feels different, and since he works on semis for a living, I’m inclined to take his word on it.

On a side note, each truck has a unique driver that controls it. In traditional fashion the female character is far to attractive for her own good, and another character’s stereotype is almost offensive. Play the game, and you’ll see what I mean. Anyway, I digress.

The last aspect of gameplay that I would mention is the rival that constantly hounds you throughout your travels across the states. His name is Lizard Tail and he is a major pain in the ass. I’m not exactly sure why it is that this rival manages to have a superior truck to you in every aspect, but he always tends to win and repeatedly makes it clear that he is doing so. Frankly it annoyed the hell out of me while I was playing, but once again my friend seemed to have no issue with him, so it is probably just something on my end.

Multiplayer:
Multiplayer in 18 Wheeler is fun, but I have two major gripes with it. One is that you can’t change the viewpoint from first to third. For people like myself this makes the game a tad more challenging, but given the small amount of screen space each player recieves, having an entire truck taking it up might not be too intelligent. Secondly, only two people are allowed to play at one time. Once again this is probably because of the sheer size of the trucks and more a logistics issue rather than any limitations of the hardware. Regardless, the multiplayer is one aspect of the game I quite enjoyed, mainly because I could win against the friend that made me look so bad in the single player Arcade mode. Don’t ask me why that is, as I have no idea.

OVERALL:
18 Wheeler might not be gorgeous, and it certainly isn't fast. However, it is different, and different is becoming the norm nowadays. If you are tired of the same old racing formula with small and fast little cars, then take a good look at 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker.

Different is good.

 

The Lowdown on  18-Wheeler American Pro Trucker Aesthetics: Average Control: Very Good Gameplay: Above Average Multiplayer: Above Average Sound: Average Innovation: 5/6 Lasting Appeal: 3/6 Overall: Above Average! "A Quality Game"