ATV Quad Power Racing (Game Boy Advance)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.0 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Frank Provo
• Reviewed on: 10/07/2002
• Released on: 08/20/2002
• Originally published on GameSpot: ATV Quad Power Racing (Game Boy Advance) Review

ATV Quad Power Racing is one of those games whose screenshots alone make you want to run out and purchase it. Its 3D scenery resembles the sort of backgrounds you'd usually see in PlayStation or Nintendo 64 racing games and far outclasses anything currently available for the Game Boy Advance. Unfortunately, stellar visuals alone do not make a great game, and ATV Quad Power Racing comes up short in every other possible category.

Foremost of its flaws, the gameplay in ATV Quad Power Racing is woefully basic. There are nine different ATVs and 10 courses, although you begin the game with only one of each and have to unlock the rest in the three different racing circuits. The various ATVs all have different speed, acceleration, and handling characteristics, and the courses differ in terms of terrain and obstacles. Nevertheless, each course and each ATV feels identical to the rest. The only aspect that truly varies between races is how far apart you'll be spaced from CPU opponents, who exhibit zero skill when you attempt to pass them.

The most enjoyable portions of each race are when you have to navigate a particularly dangerous set of obstacles. Crashes and spills elicit a painful groan from your rider, which is a welcome bit of variety in a soundtrack that mostly consists of engine noise. The power-ups are also pretty amusing. These items can improve your ATV's speed, acceleration, air, or traction for a short time, albeit at the expense of some other trait. The frog item, for example, practically launches you off hills, but it makes it nearly impossible to steer. Barring these few examples of joy, however, ATV Quad Power Racing is a remarkably boring game, and even if the gameplay were interesting, you'll never encounter more than one CPU opponent at a time, and there isn't a two-player link option.

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