Monster Jam: Path of Destruction

Giving players the chance to crash, slam and jump over anything in their path, Monster Jam: Path of Destruction is the perfect game to get out your frustrations on unsuspecting RVs. Sharing many of the same qualities as its siblings such as Monster Jam: Crush It! and Monster Jam: Urban Assault, this entry in the series offers an adequate monster truck experience for fans and newcomers alike.

Big Wheels & Big Jumps

The reason why anyone would want to play a game about monster trucks is obvious. People enjoy big things doing big stunts. And Monster Jam Path of Destruction certainly doesn’t let down in that regard.

Players have access to 30 officially licensed monster trucks to drive as they simulate the career of a virtual monster truck driver. Players are taken on a cross-country US tour of different cities, venues and arenas, as they undertake challenges to upgrade their truck.

The career mode is perhaps as thin as it might sound on paper. While the scope and variety of the stages gives a nice, expansive feel to the game’s campaign, there’s no real sense of progression or motivation that justifies the move from setting to setting.

Handles Like A Beaut

Of course, as a driving game at heart, the handling is key to the experience Monster Jam Path of Destruction wants to provide. And for the most part, it delivers. Unlike your average racing game, Monster Jam Path of Destruction needs to simulate the tumbling, roly-poly style movement that makes monster trucks such a delight to watch in person. This kind of movement is fairly accurately mimicked in the game, with the player often finding themselves tumbling over obstacles, ramps, or even other competitors.

The controls are also unique in that they adopt a two-stick control system. Rather than use the left analog stick to only move the front wheels of the truck, the back wheels are also controlled using the right stick. This creates quite a steep learning curve to begin with, but it does provide a satisfying monster truck driving experience that feels more authentic compared to other games.

Driving With Your Pals

Unfortunately, one might expect the multiplayer portion of the game to be the crowning jewel in Monster Jam Path of Destruction’s crown. Alas, the multiplayer is essentially the same content as single player, albeit with other real people driving around. There is clear potential in the multiplayer side of the game, but the developers Virtuos clearly didn’t have the vision, or perhaps the budget, to make the online aspect of the game as compelling as it could have been.

Not just dumb fun, Monster Jam Path of Destruction provides a nice foundational monster truck experience that gives players a satisfying yet challenging way to experience their favourite sports event. And while it is certainly lacking in content and in some visual flair, the core gameplay is fun enough in short bursts, especially for people who really enjoy monster trucks.

PROS:

• Includes real commentators
• Officially licensed monster trucks
• Unique control system that is satisfying and rewarding

CONS:

• Low on content and on polish
• Underwhelming visuals
• Multiplayer could be greatly improved