Monster Jam Steel Titans
- June 24, 2019
- Rainbow Studios
- 4h median play time
2016’s Monster Jam: Crush It! was truly awful. We awarded it 4/10 simply because its Trials-style Hill Climb mode provided us with a couple of hours of mindless fun. If not for that, it probably would have been a 2/10.
"Monster Jam Steel Titans" is an action-packed racing and destruction game that brings the full Monster Jam experience to life. Compete with 25 official trucks, such as Grave Digger and Max-D, in various game modes including stadium and outdoor racing, stunts, and destruction challenges. Smash through environments, perform epic stunts, and hear the roar of the crowd in 12 stadiums on your way to the Monster Jam World Finals. Train at Monster Jam University and explore a massive outdoor world.
Reviews
- The game is fun and provides a great experience for Monster Jam fans, especially for kids.
- There is a good selection of monster trucks and the graphics are decent.
- The open world and various gameplay modes, including freestyle and racing, offer enjoyable moments.
- The physics are inconsistent and often lead to frustrating gameplay, with trucks flipping easily and feeling weightless.
- The game lacks depth and variety, with repetitive events and limited content after completing the career mode.
- There are technical issues, including bugs that prevent the game from launching and poor support for steering wheels.
- graphics32 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are generally good and visually appealing, they lack polish and can feel dated compared to modern standards. Some users appreciate the art style and detail, particularly for a monster truck game, but others criticize the performance issues and the simplistic environmental interactions. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent but not groundbreaking, with room for improvement in future iterations.
“The graphics are very nice - not the most amazing ever, but definitely a lot more impressive than I was expecting to see from a monster truck game.”
“This game has amazing graphics and the real monster trucks in real life and even leaves behind tracks; that's how much this game really goes for the graphics. Overall, it's an amazing game.”
“Graphics: it's a UE4 game, so of course it's going to look good. Maybe not play well on certain machines, but yes, it looks very nice.”
“They're not very long games, the physics are extremely arcadey, they've aged a lot graphically (although their art styles still hold up somewhat) and, coming from the Wii, the performance is pretty bad.”
“Bad graphics, bad controls, no option to swap between controller/keyboard, does not recognize other input devices (wheel, HOTAS).”
“[horrendous graphics, frustrating gameplay, boring events to endure]”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by solid mechanics and fun arcade-style racing, though opinions vary on its execution, with some players enjoying the combo and upgrade systems while others criticize the physics and controls as unrealistic and frustrating. While the game offers a variety of modes and a visually appealing environment, it suffers from repetitive gameplay and a lack of depth, leading to mixed feelings about its overall enjoyment. Players appreciate the split-screen co-op feature, but many express a desire for improved mechanics and camera angles to enhance the racing experience.
“The mechanics are sound, the physics are hilarious, and it has split screen co-op.”
“Gameplay is fun, controls are easy, movement feels great and the damage system is great.”
“Fun game, solid mechanics, some cool areas to free roam in.”
“Its a cheap game mechanic to keep one truck close to you in points.”
“Many people, and again the influence of MTM2 refuses to be so easily cast aside, lament this game's comparative lack of pure racing gameplay.”
“With impossibly light trucks that flip over if you simply sneeze, incredibly repetitive gameplay and a pointless, bland open world, Monster Jam: Steel Titans just isn’t fun to play.”
- music12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the inclusion of notable tracks like Dragonforce, while others find the soundtrack to be generic and forgettable. The sound design is generally praised for its fitting soundscapes, but many agree that the overall quality of the music does not stand out and lacks energy.
“I still enjoy playing them, especially for their great soundtrack (seriously, how did they manage to put Dragonforce in a PSP game??).”
“The soundscape is also well put together with the trucks sounding like they should and the soundtrack comprising the kind of upbeat rockabilly you'd expect from this stuff.”
“[vehicle design, hardcore soundtrack, could have used a multiplayer mode].”
“The music is subjectively terrible.”
“Soundtrack is somewhat light instrumental without a kick in energy.”
“The music is generic and forgettable.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally described as problematic, with numerous bugs and poor physics affecting the experience. While some players report smooth performance on their PCs, others find that the glitches can occasionally enhance gameplay by allowing for unexpected tricks. Overall, the game is seen as fun despite its instability, with many recommending the sequel for a more polished experience.
“This game is okay, but just don't get it; just buy the sequel. This game is kind of buggy and has horrible physics and collision, while the sequel is much better in every sense.”
“An incredibly fun, albeit very buggy at times, game that delivers on the thrill of driving a monster truck.”
“But the game itself isn't entirely horrible; yes, it's buggy, but the game is pretty fun career-mode wise.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some users find it well-optimized and comfortable, others report poor performance and slow gameplay, suggesting that further optimization is needed to enhance the experience, especially given its relatively simple graphics and arcade-style physics.
“The game is very well optimized and comfortable.”
“The overall gameplay was rather slow for my computer, and I know it could be optimized, since I've played games that are a bit more intensive than this.”
“The overall gameplay was rather slow for my computer, and I know it could be optimized since I've played games that are a bit more intensive than this.”
“It just needs to be optimized better.”
“I strongly recommend it get optimized.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players feel that the grinding aspect of the game could be improved by reducing the number of championship events and increasing the rewards for wins, which would enhance overall enjoyment. While points are considered fairly rewarded, the necessity to grind for different trucks, each with varying costs, remains a notable concern.
“If the championships had fewer events and offered more rewards after winning, it would create a less grinding experience and I would have more fun with the game.”
“I feel that points are fairly rewarded (about 1,000 per race roughly?), but that does mean some grinding for different trucks, all of which have varying point costs.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted by its entertaining mechanics and physics, which contribute to a fun experience, especially in split-screen co-op mode. Despite some complaints, players report consistently enjoying the humor throughout their gameplay.
“The mechanics are sound, the physics are hilarious, and it has split-screen co-op.”
“Despite all the complaints and suggestions I have, I was smiling and laughing for the whole first three hours of gameplay and don't see that changing much.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviewers indicate that the game's replayability is limited, primarily due to a lack of customization options and additional tracks, making it feel like a one-time experience after completing the career mode. However, there is potential for improvement if future updates enhance gameplay mechanics and introduce more content.
“The replay value is impressive; each playthrough feels fresh with different strategies to explore.”
“With multiple paths and choices, every run can lead to a unique experience, making you want to dive back in.”
“The game offers a variety of challenges and unlockables that keep you coming back for more.”
“Replay value: if there was more customization, as well as more tracks, then I'm sure there would be more, but this one seems like a one-and-done type deal. After you unlock all the trucks and complete the whole career, there really isn't much else to do.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization of this game is viewed positively, as it is seen as a genuine effort rather than a cash grab, especially for fans of the genre. Players are encouraged to support the developers for creating a quality racing experience that respects the franchise.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, forcing players to spend more to fully experience the game.”
“While the game itself is enjoyable, the constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience.”
Critic Reviews
Monster Jam: Steel Titans review
With impossibly light trucks that flip over if you simply sneeze, incredibly repetitive gameplay and a pointless, bland open world, Monster Jam: Steel Titans just isn’t fun to play.
40%Monster Jam: Steel Titans Review (PS4)
As far fun factor goes, Monster Jam: Steel Titans has plenty of it, but one cannot deny that the game could have used some extra polish, especially in the graphics and physics department. The controls will probably be the one element that will either make or break your gaming experience, as you will either master them and play as if you were born with mad skills, or you will probably end up avoiding certain game modes altogether. Overall, if you're an adrenaline junkie but lack the money to afford a monster truck, or the life insurance to cover you in case of accidents, then Monster Jam: Steel Titans is pretty much the next best thing.
70%Monster Jam Steel Titans Review
It’s one of those games that’s alright for a couple of hours if you can get it at a deep discount. Otherwise, it’s just too frustrating to recommend.
40%