Electronic Gaming Monthly: Juiced

Demian: If this all looks strangely familiar, kind of like, oh, page 136 of EGM #184, that’s because we’ve already reviewed this street racer. But before Juiced actually made it to store shelves, then-publisher Acclaim bit the dust. THQ stepped in, put Juiced back in the garage for some needed gameplay tweaks, and here we are, for real this time.

Aside from the usual tune-race-repeat dynamic, Juiced has a few interesting features. You can bet on races and race for pink slips—a few unwise wagers early on can have serious consequences to your cash flow. You’ll also add A.I. drivers to your “crew” as you progress, whose skills increase with track time while you play the pit boss or race alongside in a team battle. As in Gran Turismo 4’s B-spec mode, you’ll adjust your A.I. racer’s driving style with the D-pad—while not tons of fun, it is an easy (and optional) way to earn money.

Unfortunately, even when you’re behind the wheel yourself, Juiced just isn’t in the same race class as its top rivals, Need for Speed and Midnight Club. The cityscapes and cars have a cartoony look, and the handling is stuck somewhere in the not-as-fun-as-it-could-be zone between a sim racer and an outrageous arcade game like Burnout 3.

As expected, the Xbox version looks a bit better, but the PS2 game does support online voice chat if you’ve got a headset (as does the Xbox game, of course). And though you can race your career mode cars online—and lose them in ill-advised pink slip races—you can’t bet with other players, which is a shame. Juiced’s attempt to bring something new to street racing earns my respect, but not my love.

G. Ford: Back when I first reviewed Juiced over six months ago, I had some good times. While it never delivered the same thrills as Midnight Club or NFS Underground, it had a few clever ideas. But many months have passed and the game is only marginally better—its controls are a little smoother, among other tweaks—and the rest of the genre has moved on now that the big boys have their new updates. While still a respectable game that’s enjoyable for a few laps, Juiced lacks the impact it would have had last year.

1UP.COM—John: The problem with all of these tuner-culture games is that they take themselves so seriously. Even the menu screens have tribal tattoos here, and every new shaven-headed, Supra-driving thug you meet is more desperately earnest than the last. That said, Juiced is a competent entry into the genre. Most of the boxes on the list of necessary features for this kind of thing are checked, and it sits comfortably between Need for Speed Underground and NFSU2. Lots of cars, lots of mods, and gambling, which adds a dynamic that’s only really been done before in Street Racing Syndicate. Driving feel is on the arcade end of the scale, so you can chuck a 200-hp front-drive car into a bend at 80 mph without any tedious understeer. Realistic? No. But it’s fast, and it’s pretty fun. It’s just not anything particularly special.

Respeck, Yo

Juiced’s career mode is all about respect—after each event, your respect rating with other street racing crews will fluctuate depending on your performance. Some crews are impressed by circuit race wins; others don’t bat an eye unless you race for pinks. They all get pissed if you bang up their cars, though. Problem is, each crew leader says the same one or two things over and over; Carlos of the Legion crew can only say “Jour a deeeeemon wit da piiiiiinks” so many times before it gets a little ridiculous.

Good: Betting on races, making the A.I. drive for you

Bad: Car handling not as polished or fun as it should be

Not to be Confused With: Juice, the 1992 Tupac film

The verdicts (out of 10)

Demian: 7.0

G. Ford: 6.5

John: 7.0

Publisher: THQ

Developer: Juice

Players: 1-2 (2-6 online or system link)

ESRB: Teen