This game has a lot of value, and it's pretty addictive!
Once you've picked up the cargo, you simply drive off across America to your destined city! There are a number of cities, including Seattle, Los Angeles, Denver, Memphis, and plenty more. Obviously, a game made in 2004 retailing at 10 bucks isn't going to be ultra detailed. But the surrounding areas of the cities are realistic. Up north you will run into snow and icy roads. Down south you will see some desert. Most of the roads are surrounded by grass and trees. As you approach the cities, there are often a few landmarks here and there.
What the game obviously aims to do, and does quite well, is to give you the feeling of being a truck driver. As you go along, you can upgrade your truck and buy much better ones. There is a noticable difference between your starter truck and the top of the line models, i.e. braking (your first truck feels like a train stopping), speed, handling, etc. All along the game you have to follow the basic rules of the road. Use blinkers when turning, watch for red lights in cities, turn on your headlights at night.. Police cars scattered across the highways keep an eye on you, and if you break the rules you will be stopped and fined. The fines aren't perticularly expensive, but they do lower your "prestiege" rating.
After a while, you start to feel how a trucker must feel. The cities are quite troublesome, with lots of tight turns, heavy traffic, and plenty of cops to keep an eye on you. You will sometimes get extremely frustrated with the traffic around you, as cars won't always give you enough space. But once you've got your cargo and you've hit the highway, the game becomes much more relaxing. I'm sure truckers can relate to all those sentiments.
GAMEPLAY
This game features very realistic truck driving, along with some nice tycoon eliments that don't take away from the fun but do add some learning and some depth. All the traffic laws apply. There are weighing stations that you must stop at, and gas stations to fuel your truck and get repairs. You will feel the frustration of a trucker in heavy traffic, and the relaxation of a trucker on a big empty highway. You will also feel a great satisfaction when you deliver a long haul with no damage and collect the cash.
CUSTOMIZATION
There are a number of trucks to choose from, and you will work your way up as you make more money. Sometimes while you drive around you will see a truck dealership. Going up to it will unlock more trucks. The difference between the trucks is noticable, which is a good thing for a simulation game. You can upgrade the brakes, tires, and even some cosmetic changes like paint jobs.
SOUND
The sound is not amazing, but it is solid and provide the right atmosphere. The trucks make distinct and realistic engine noises when accelerating and slowing down. All the little things are there, like horns, clicking for blinkers, and police sirens! Let's not forget the soothing sound of rain and windshield wipers. As for music, those of Southern influence might relate to it. Otherwise, it serves its purpose of setting you up for a big rig game, but you probably won't be using the Jukebox feature much. You will have to judge the music for yourself.
GRAPHICS
For a game made in 2003-2004 with the intention of sitting in the bargain bin, the graphics are quite nice. The trucks are fairly detailed. The cars around you are acceptable. Obviously, with a map ranging across America, you will see a lot of the same scenery and very similar looking cities. But there are some landmarks to spot out, and you will notice a change in terrain between areas of the country. The dashboard of the truck is very detailed, and helps to give the feel of sitting in a big rig. All in all, the game is nice to look at.
CONCLUSION
This game is well worth the price. If you like driving games or simulation games, or you've always thought it would be fun to be a trucker, you will enjoy it. Once you've hit the open road, you might get addicted to it! The game is even better with a steering wheel controller. It may be a bargain bin game, but you can tell the creators took time and care to make a solid game with good sounds, nice graphics, and a minimal amount of bugs.