Perhaps no better example of
their game design philosophy is their latest game, the sequel to Monster Truck Madness,
due out in early May. The aptly titled Monster Truck Madness 2 sports a totally new 3D
engine, dubbed Photex2, which makes the game a visual tour de force, with lens flares,
reflective water, volumetric headlights on the trucks, and a fully interactive racing
environment. Users with 3D accelerator cards will be dazzled by the visual pumped out by
the game, making even the Instant Replay mode a treat to play with for hours on end.
With the graphics blowing away any of the competition, Terminal
Reality has also concentrated on making the racing game more fun to play. Using a license
from the WCW, there are trucks to drive with Hollywood Hogan and Sting decals plastered
all over them, as well as a new Wrestling inspired multiplayer mode entitled "Summit
Rumble." Toss in interactive elements of the environment including the ability to go
underwater and destroy pylons and other obstacles, and all of the sudden Monster Truck
Madness 2 feels more like a realistic action game than a complicated simulation product.
We recently had a chance to catch up with TRIs Mark Randel,
who told us about what to expect in the game, and what Terminal Reality has planned for
the immediate future with the Gathering of Developers, their new publisher.