Review by: Scott Steinberg
Published: December 7, 1999

Ranking high on the list as one of the most unlikely partners for a video game publisher, The Nashville Network left many gamers perplexed when they signed on with American Softworks to create a line of titles based on their outdoor sports programs. Two hunting sims and multiple fishing titles later, ASC Games has decided to leverage its country connection once again, producing TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat. Off-road racing this is indeed, and it’s hardly a stretch given the target audience for the TNN-licensed offerings. Bearing in mind that the collaborations between these two companies have produced mixed results in the past, ranging from the excellent TNN Outdoors Bass Tournament 96 to the bland TNN Pro Hunter, I didn’t quite know what to expect from their latest effort, the first in the motorsports category.

So just how does one simulate the antics of off-roading vehicles, the muddiest, meanest machines ever to leave their tread marks on normally impassable terrain? A fine question, and certainly one I wish I could answer, though ASC doesn’t seem to be able to shed any light on the matter either, having developed an arcade style racer with a grimy coat of paint as opposed to a hardcore driving simulation. It’s a formula that’s been followed time and again, most recently by Infogrames’ Test Drive: Off Road 3, and while it may not attract off-road fans waiting for Codemasters to launch Off the Road, this is about their only choice for the Dreamcast in the near future. Needless to say, the type of driving model they’ve implemented places entertainment value over authenticity, lessening the impact of crashes, providing bouncy physics and limiting the rapport you’ll need to establish with each vehicle.

Confronting the main menu, you’ll be able to choose from five different modes of play. The old stand-by, Practice Mode, is a fairly good start, allowing you to get used to the feel of your vehicle before entering a proper competition. Championship mode is always a logical progression, as you’ll compete against multiple drivers on a path that leads through a selection of international courses. Using the Vs. Game mode, you can play with friends or against saved AIs, and there’s a Time Attack mode if you’re feeling like having a showdown with the clock. Finally, there’s Level Checker mode, which gives you the option to check the level of your saved AI and take a level check test.

The AI feature is rather unique, if only from a standpoint of curiosity’s sake, as you pick a car, take it through time attack mode, and data on your performance is saved to the VMU. Following this, the AI watches the way you perform on every run following this initial setup and begins to learn your driving style. After it’s had some time to learn a few tricks and at least get the handling down pat, you can check the AI’s ability in Level Checker mode to determine which tracks it’s up to handling. Depending on how sharp your little digital buddy gets, you may actually consider racing against it purely for amusement’s sake.