Baja: Edge of Control Review for Xbox 360 (X360)

System: X360, PS3	Review Rating Legend
Dev: 2XL Games	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: THQ	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Sep. 22, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-10	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Graphically, Edge of Control is a bit of a mixed bag. The game's many vehicles look very basic, lack detail, and damage is represented poorly. Instead of having realistically dented panels due to crashes, they will just fly off of your vehicle leaving a naked frame behind. The tracks that make up the game's thousand miles of racing all look incredibly similar. Since they are based on the Baja 1000's location, they are accurate representations of the actual terrain. However, expect to see a plethora of sand, dirt, cacti, tumbleweeds, rocks, and not much else. The lighting effects are pretty good, with warm sunsets reflecting on whatever panels you happen to have left on your vehicle and casting accurate shadows from the limited objects found on the tracks.

Baja: Edge of Control screenshot

The real travesty of this game is that it suffers from an identity crisis. Edge of Control can't seem to figure out whether it wants to be a simulation or arcade racing game, leaving both potential types of players with an inadequate experience. There just isn't enough realism involved to be a simulation game, but there is far too much realism to accommodate fans looking for an arcade experience. Due to its often frustrating gameplay, many won't stick around to enjoy modes like Free Ride, which allows players to just drive around the game's massive environments with no goals other than exploring, or its technically sound online offerings.

In the end, it seems like Baja: Edge of Control was trying to please everybody and, in doing so, managed to create an experience that isn't ideal for anyone. Narrow tracks, lifeless environments, lackluster graphics, a huge learning curve, awkward physics, questionable steering issues, and an overall frustrating experience is all that players are left with. Baja: Edge of Control was a sound idea, but the execution just isn't there. There are just too many other good off-road racers on the market to make playing through this game worth your time.

By Adam Brown
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.0

Graphics
While the lighting effects are rather good, the game's vehicles and environments are bland and lack detail.

2.0

Control
There is an extremely high learning curve involved in playing this game. However, even after you've caught onto the game's mechanics, the physics make sure you are almost always out of control.

3.4

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The game's sound effects are nothing special, but the soundtrack is full of some pretty good tunes.

2.5

Play Value
There are a ton of races and events in this game, the only problem being that they all control poorly and aren't fun to experience.

2.6

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Serious off-road racing: Conquer towering mountains and race along steep cliffs in the most unpredictable terrain ever created. Race over 1,000 miles of massive unforgiving environments in nine epic open-world landscapes with over 100 tracks.

Off-road vehicles: Harness the horsepower of over 160 sponsored vehicles, including trophy trucks, 4x4s, and buggies across eight varied vehicle classes.

Tune your vehicle: Fine-tune the roar of your off-road machine with over 200 authentic vehicle parts. Use the support management system to monitor and repair vehicle damage via truck and helicopter teams.

Career mode: Earn contingency money based on how many advertiser logos are on the vehicle at the end of the race and build your off-road career.

Multiplayer: Race in four-player split-screen, or with up to ten players online.