Visually, the game has progressed significantly compared to last spring's build. The graphics are much cleaner than before and the environments have developed nicely. The textures don't look as ragged as in the early builds. Apparently, Climax is hard at work creating a fully streaming environment for the Baja modes, which at their optimal usage, will pit players in nonstop action against nearly fifty combined AI opponents after going point to point. It's fairly ambitious, to say the least, but it seems that Climax is coming along as planned.

One of the other new elements to this new installment lies with PSP cross-connectivity. Since there was no PSP when Offroad Fury 3 released in late 2004, this is new ground for the franchise. It appears that Climax has pulled out quite a few stops in order to enable as much cross-platform data exchange as possible. Offroad Fury 4 will enable players to upload their own user-created tracks to Sony's servers for others to enjoy. Also, gamers with a copy of the PSP game will be able to download PS2-created tracks for use in the handheld title. It's one part of Climax's heavy emphasis on cross-connectivity with the portable version. Besides user-created tracks, both games will share the same online community. That means that the same infrastructure that comprises PS2 online's lobbies and servers will also serve as the backbone to the PSP game, although console gamers won't be able to compete with players on the go.


Also, both games will have content that can only be unlocked through data transfer. In order to sample the now-classic tracks from previous Offroad Fury titles in this new game (preferably with the title's new vehicle classes), players will need to swap some data with Offroad Fury Pro. Likewise, in order to unlock the handheld versions of the Rings of Fire minigame, PSP owners will have to swap info with the PS2 game.

ATV Offroad Fury has always been a series that was known for its online play; in fact, Sony event went so far as to package online-ready PS2 models with Offroad Fury 2 some three years ago. This new title is no exception. Again, the experience is intertwined with the PSP game so that both share servers and message boards, but the PS2 game will definitely have its own standout qualities, including the ability to create full-on tournaments against other racers. Also, the number of online players has been upped from six in previous titles to eight.

All around, ATV Offroad Fury 4 looks much, much better than it did when we tried it out for the first time in April. The graphics are greatly improved, and seeing the new vehicle classes in action gives us some confidence that the title should satisfy fans of previous games in the series. Whether or not it draws new fans into the fold is questionable, but it undeniable that the game is going to move leaps and bounds past the prior titles in the series. Throw in some cross-compatibility action that really shows off how extensive PS2-PSP crosstalk can get, and you've got an offroading winner that should make a great swan song if Climax decides to take the fifth title to next-gen.