At this time, and in this beta, the game includes licensed light-trucks and SUVs from Toyota, Nissan, and Lexus, but more than 50 total vehicles are planned. Hopefully Ford, Chevy and the other heavy hitters will jump on board, if not I'm sure the team is poised to at least model the characteristics of these vehicles (I want that Cherokee).

But the tradition of free-form racing continues. You still have to hit the checkpoints but it's up to you where you want to drive and how much mud you want to kick up into the camera. And that's one of the most startling differences-- or, evolutions -- from the Monster Truck days. Now in the rain, mud or snow there is significant material kick-up from the tires. There is sliding, not fishtailing like a two-wheel drive vehicle, but the disconcerting four-wheel slide you get from an SUV. The graphics look great, particularly the headlight effects and the impressive sky and sunset textures. Best of all, I was impressed while looking at graphics that probably weren't finished yet.

The tracks included with the beta were also impressive. Varied between a baja desert, an Arizona style red-rock track, a muddy and disused runway, a junkyard and a very cool track strewn with old aircraft wreckage. The tracks are freeform and fun and the AI spills and thrills convincingly.