
When a game is delayed as long as Juiced it rarely bodes well for the end product. The delay seems especially unfortunate in this case its meant the game has been beaten to the starting line by similar titles such as Need for Speed: Underground 2 and Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition. Juiced is, like the other games mentioned, a street racer and has the same obsession with customising your car with both performance mods and after-market cosmetic alterations (all of which are based on real products). 7.5 trillion combinations are apparently possible, although youll have to trust THQs maths on that as its doubtful theyve counted them personally. What is truly unique about Juiced though is your ability to recruit and organise a team of your own racers. Special crew races are possible and you can control your team members in-race, in a similar manner to the B-spec mode in Gran Turismo 4. The show-off trick challenges are also a neat addition and a welcome alternative to the standard races. Although it has some interesting features there are still some notable problems with Juiced, particularly in terms of the handling which is disappointingly simplistic and an uncomfortable halfway house between the likes of Gran Turismo and Ridge Racer. The artificial intelligence of rival drivers is also weak and outside of the more exotic game modes the game treads very similar ground to its rivals. As long as youre not expecting anything too original though this is still a very competent racer. -- Harrison Dent
Features:
- Collect and customize over 50 real cars with authentic mods from more than 30 aftermarket brands -- Over 7.5 trillion car customization possibilities
- Intuitive car handling - you'll feel the difference your mods make to FWD, RWD and 4WD cars
- Highly realistic damage effects - a first for a game featuring real cars
- Recruit and manage your own crew and control their behavior while you race
- Gain or lose Respect by driving, modding and gambling your car in a pink-slip race