I really like big ol' trucks that gleam, with eighteen wheels of paint, grit, metal and muscle. That's the only way to describe the graphics for this original game by
Sega . Are the graphics top-notch and perfect? Not quite, but they're good enough that I feel I could trade in my
Camry for a Peterbilt right now. You can choose from five individual sharp-looking rigs that catch your eye with their uniqueness. The purpose is to take these trucks and race them against a rival driver of sorts, down to a designated goal area. You race down asphalt highways, running over anything in your way, and that includes all sorts of traffic.
Sega seemed to have really paid attention to the game overall and I like that. The traffic cars look really good, and they're each different enough from each other that you don't feel like you're staring at an
Atari 2600 game. The highways look like any highway you'll find from here to Gardenia. The backgrounds are nice, with swaying trees, sweltering sunshine, and even more things to run over like signs, poles, and fences. There are a few different views as well, but the 'cockpit' view has got to be classic. It looks like you're actually in the cockpit of a big rig, and a big rig in your living room is as good as two in the hand...right?
The sound to 18 Wheeler is one of its few good points to include on a resume. Things like over-blared country music, and CB trash talk between the drivers make the whole truck driving experience come right to your ears...via speakers of course. The whoosh of the air brakes make stopping pretty realistic, while the whinny of 500 horses groan through as you shift gears. If you could judge a game based on graphics and sound, then 18 Wheeler would win a huge award. Alas...
