The Dukes of Hazzard 2: Daisy Dukes It Out (PlayStation)

If Dukes of Hazzard: Racing For Home left you wanting more, South Peak's second game in the series, Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out, isn't exactly going to satisfy that need. In fact, despite a few gameplay touch-ups and a plot change, the game is a carbon copy of the first. Missy Law has come to town impersonating a geologist. Disguised as Melanie Shaw, she intends to rob the Hazzard Bank and frame Daisy for the heist. Once again, it's up to you as Bo, Luke, Uncle Jesse, and Daisy to prevent the crime, bring the criminals to justice, and win the Fourth of July race.

Following the first game's lead, the story behind Daisy Dukes It Out is told through an array of frightening prerendered video clips. The characters are smoothly rendered and nicely animated, but they better resemble lifeless marionettes than actual human beings. On more than one occasion, you may find yourself wondering if Jesse Duke is actually some demon. The audio behind each clip is quite good, due mostly in part to the use of the original Dukes of Hazzard voice actors, namely John "Bo" Schneider, Tom "Luke" Wopat, Catherine "Daisy" Bach, and Ben "Crazy Cooter" Jones. The in-game visuals are decent enough, with a frame rate and clarity on par with that of the Destruction Derby series. There are rarely more than a few vehicles onscreen at a time, so slowdown and texture warping aren't as much of an issue in this game as they were in the previous installment. On the audio front, country-style rock music accompanies each mission, while a number of CB radio interruptions break up the silent monotony of driving. Even the balladeer, Waylon Jennings, gets into the act, imparting his hokum wisdom whenever a mission ends with a death-defying leap or otherwise dangerous situation.

As is the tradition in Hazzard County, crime solving isn't done with wits, but with cars. As such, Dukes of Hazzard II: Daisy Dukes It Out features 18 missions' worth of high-speed chases, insane jumps, and killer car wrecks. Most of the time you'll be driving the General Lee, since, as odd as it may seem, the game's namesake, Daisy, only participates in six of the game's missions. In a notable improvement from the first game, the courses in Daisy Dukes It Out are laid out in a free-roam circuit fashion, similar to what you'd find in Crave's Tokyo Extreme Racer series. Because of this, not only do you have greater leeway in the shortcuts and routes you're able to take, but the entire game also gives the impression that you're driving around a realistic remake of Hazzard County. As an added bonus, the game's joyride mode lets you explore all of Hazzard County's landmarks, including downtown Hazzard and the Boar's Nest, without bother from crooks, cops, or pedestrians.