Offroad Fury Pro (Pre-E3 2006)

ATV Offroad Fury Pro, the latest release in the Offroad series for the PSP, is slated for release later this year. But what can fans of the series expect? The previous handheld release, the first for the PSP, offered a lot of tempting new features: obvious portability, easily accessible online play, and plenty of extra features, but dropped the ball when it came to key gameplay elements such as controls, graphics, and the physics engine, which all felt a bit sloppy. Offroad Fury Pro looks to improve on these simple, yet key, mistakes, as well as many other aspects of the game.

It is quickly apparent that the game is much improved graphically. The courses really jump out, which look clear and detailed as opposed to Blazin’ Trails’ muted colors, ugly textures and short draw distance. The physics engine seems to have kept its knack for throwing riders around like screaming potato sacks, with riders taking falls just a bit too quickly and easily. With a revision on analog stick sensitivity, the controls are much improved, and players won’t be yet again forced into using the directional pad for controlling their riders.

Improvements on the fallbacks of Blazin’ Trails aside, Offroad Fury Pro should also offer plenty of its own brand new content for players to enjoy, including plenty of new maps as well as classic maps from the PS2 versions included for the nostalgic. This isn’t the only perk owners of the PS2 version will enjoy, though; players will be able to link up with their PS2 and transfer unlocked cars, and be able to play PSP exclusive maps on their PS2.

The real strength of the game, though, is its easy access to network play. Blazin’ Trails offered an extensive online play system, and Offroad Fury Pro aims to expand upon it, with new game modes like enduro cross racing being added, as well as plenty of mini-games, headset capability, and being able to trade maps made with the track creation utility with other people.

Whether you were a fan of the last game or were disappointed by its drawbacks, Offroad Fury Pro is a game definitely worth anticipating for any racing fan with a PSP. The features, improvements, new game modes, pretty graphics and, of course, the online play make for one enticing, high speed formula.