System: PS2, PS3, X360, PC, PSP, DS
Dev: Juice Games
Pub: THQ
Release: Sep. 17, 2007
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Teen
Review by Amanda L. Kondolojy

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

One thing that could have used a little more tweaking was the controls. Again, I'm not saying they are bad; in fact they start off pretty well. You'll use the left thumbstick to steer and the face buttons to accelerate and brake. But as you progress through the different circuits and tracks become more difficult, you find yourself wishing that they were a little bit sharper. Sharp turns are especially hard to negotiate even with the brake, and it's almost easier to crash a certain way and let the car turn itself around then to actually try and make the turn cleanly.

Graphics are pretty so-so, and are certainly passable. Tracks all sport different looks, and there's a fair amount of detail given to individual areas, although it's not enough to warrant the "world tour" aspect of the game. Cars also look very nice, and feature some of the details that auto aficionados appreciate. The one part of the visualizations that does not warrant a passing grade has to be the different people you see in the game. While it's not too big of a deal considering the game is all about the cars, the people in the game look bad enough that it is noticeable. The models are just way too generic, and their skin has a strange and unnatural shine to it. The best way to describe the way the people look in this game is that they look like marionettes. But aside from this small factor, the graphics are good enough to get you through without complaint.

The sound quality was fairly good, with an entertaining soundtrack and an energetic commentator. But one thing that was really repetitive was the sound of the engine. While I believe it is essential to have good motor noises to give the game that realistic feel, I also think that looping the same engine sound over and over can get old fast. Fortunately, there is an option to turn down the motor sounds.

Taken as a whole, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights is pretty standard fare as far as the automotive genre is concerned. It certainly gives the experience of a driver on a Hot Import Nights circuit, and that's a good thing. However it fails to bring anything really new or revolutionary to the table, and that's where this title comes up short.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Freelance Writer

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