Review: Splashdown Rides Gone Wild - daytrum

Publisher: THQ

Ages: seven and up.

Parental Advisory:
Edgy language

For a wet and wild Sea-Doo simulation, THQ's Splashdown Rides Gone Wild delivers the water-laden goods. This action game appeals to a wide audience, and you don't have to be into Sea-Doos to enjoy playing it.

Splashdown Rides Gone Wild is the sequel to the popular Splashdown racing game, which came out in 2001. The sequel is better in almost every way. The courses are more creative and involving; players can perform more tricks and have better control over their execution; and the superb water and physics technology has evolved as well, which results in more realistic waves, currents and downhill rivers.

The game features various modes: training, career, arcade, and versus and tracks that include four main events and 45 courses. Players can compete in eight outdoor worlds, 12 indoor stadium courses, and there is also a technical time-trials mode and a freestyle mode that lets players unlock extra content that include characters, equipment and more. And the fantasy courses, which emulate Venice's canals, a pirate battle and more, are an absolute blast.

The graphics are amazing and serve convincing water effects and detailed environments. The game offers pure action on the water and little in the way of objectionable elements. As a result, it's a great family game.

In all, Splashdown Rides Gone Wild delivers a wetter and badder simulation that will appeal to lots of players. And fans of the first game will welcome the game's new and improved features.

11/5/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff

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