Gaming Miscellany

So there is a young person in my life who is obsessed with monster trucks. Recently Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 went on sale at a very large price cut, so I pulled the trigger knowing it would be a hit. This person is too young to do the unlock grinding, but old enough to enjoy driving around doing jumps and smashing stuff.

I wasn’t expecting anything resembling a well constructed racing game from this title, especially since it seemed like just another cash grab, licensed piece of shovelware, which it is, but man, playing something like this makes you realize the WORK that must go into designing something as amazing as the Forza Horizon series. Steel titans is BROKEN, the trucks are all the same, just pallet swaps, they’re fun to jump and smash things with, but races are life shortening affairs, frustrating beyond comprehension, and the world maps are pointless screen clutter that don’t help you get anywhere at all. There should be some actionable criminal proceedings around the fact that THQ Nordic was ever allowed to sell a copy of this game at full price.

Anyway, the youngster loves bombing around in the over the top, recognizable trucks he loves, so it was worth it just to see the joy, but man, the vast chasm of standards between companies (and I know budget is in there as well) is amazing. This made me love Forza even more! 😁

Senator Armstrong from MGS, if Jim Cornette was a jacked monster?