If a monster truck represented the entire gaming line-up, the number of games that are specifically for next-generation consoles could fit in the driver’s helmet.  This is particularly true on the Xbox Series X|S line.  The entire line-up of games enhanced for the Series consoles is here.  Fortunately, Monster Truck Championship by NACON and developed by TEYON has received a “next-gen” facelift for the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.  Although we reviewed this game when it first launched, I got the chance to play this game on the Xbox Series X, and I can tell you this: it’s fun!  It is especially fun without much of a load-time.  The key benefits of this upgraded game are the high-resolution graphics and minimal load-time. 

Gameplay

Upon starting the game, you are “Welcomed” and prompted to enter in your “Driver Profile,” which doubles as your options. I set my game to “Medium,” and it was quite tough. Once you create your profile, you can choose from Career, Quick Play, Multiplayer, and Options.

The game is separated into the “Career” and “Quick Play” options, so no “open-world” here.  The “Quick Play” is where you play one of the following options: Race, Time Trial, Drag Race, Freestyle, and Destruction.  Once the play session is complete, the player can choose something else.  The Quick Play features the same types of events as in the Career.

In the career menu, you choose, from Events, Garage, Training, and Management.  Events are where you as the driver compete against others.  The Garage is where you can customize your Monster Truck as options are unlocked.  Training is there to teach you how to drive the monster, and Management is where you can select your team and complete sponsor-related events.

You really want to visit the garage after any new items are unlocked.  Customizing the truck will benefit you greatly.  You can then go back to previous events if you choose to do so.  After modifying the settings on my truck, I did find the early levels more accommodating.

Of the event types, I have to say that Freestyle and Destruction are my favorites.  Racing is the same in this game as virtually any other.  You race against seven other trucks.  Drag Racing is “Monster Jam” style, where you are side-by-side with another truck.  The winner goes on to the next round, and so-on. Time Trials are like races, but instead of other trucks, you are racing against the clock. 

Freestyle and Destruction are similar.  Both are in an arena where you either destroy objects or perform tricks.  The combos earned add multipliers.  Destruction focuses on destroying the objects in the ring, where Freestyle, the focus is on tricks.  Multipliers are earned in both event types.  Just ensure you land on your wheels and you will see your score increase quickly.  After playing these modes for a while, I couldn’t help but think that this is the Monster Truck version of “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater,” which is another great game and franchise.

The controls are what I expect for a “Monster Truck” game.  You control the front wheels with the left stick and the back wheels with the right stick.  With a push of a button, you can connect the two sets of controls.  On a personal note, I come from a Radio Control background and I have raced trucks on dirt.  They spin out easily if not properly prepared.  Even so, I found it a bit difficult to control the truck, but I suppose that adds to the realism as a simulation-type of game.  My truck spun around quite a bit in turns.  Then again, I am racing on dirt, so it is to be expected.  You can start the races with a little extra speed if you rev the engine the right way. otherwise, there are no boosting options that I could see.  The trucks can be launched off of ramps, and based on the speed, different tricks can be performed.  I’ve seen the same type of reaction in a Monster Jam event, so I have to assume that the physics are correct.

Visuals

The visuals are top-notch and when my kids saw it, they said, “it looks real.” If that was the goal, I would say, mission accomplished!  The trucks fling dirt and the tires have caked-on dirt for added effect.  As the trucks get damaged, the truck-bodies fall apart, to the point you can see the roll cage.  Seeing these trucks in real life definitely allowed me to make a mental comparison to them while playing the game. 

Sounds

The sounds seem realistic, and the music is quite good.  With the massive trucks and dirt, my first thought for comparison was Motorstorm on the PlayStation 3.  That game had a metal-based soundtrack, and although the music is rock-based, it is not quite as heavy for this more sim-based game than the arcade-style game of Motorstorm.

What Could Be Better

This is an updated game to the previous generation, so there is not much to complain about.  I’m not a multiplayer fan, but local multiplayer would have been a benefit.  I also would have liked it if the difficulty could be changed without starting a new career. 

Conclusion

Monster Truck Championship’s next-gen edition definitely shows love for these giant trucks! With the enhancements for the Xbox Series X|S, the game loads quickly and looks beautiful. I had fun throughout my time with this game, and that is the key element to any good game. When considering this game, just ask yourself: Do you want to drive a Monster Truck?