The Monster Jam series has been a familiar presence on PlayStation with numerous entries. After Rainbow Studios developed the underwhelming MTX vs ATV Legends, the license moved to Milestone, known for creating the recent Hot Wheels Unleashed series. With Monster Jam Showdown, Milestone has brought its racing expertise to the franchise, delivering a more engaging set of events and a stylish presentation.
The game’s primary career mode, Showdown Tour, takes place across various environments, offering a range of courses and tracks to race on. From the obstacle-laden woods of Colorado to the frozen lakes of Alaska, each location presents unique challenges, such as icy tracks that can cause skidding and large jumps over canyons.
Moreover, weather changes can impact how your monster truck performs. A snowstorm might severely impair your visibility, while thunder and rain can make tight turns more difficult. This adds much-needed variety and excitement to the franchise, along with different event types like a knockout battle royale-style race, a head-to-head racing bracket with multiple rounds, and skill arenas that challenge you to complete a combo chain of skills without crashing to achieve a specific score.
The game features a robust collection of over 60 monster trucks to collect and upgrade, nearly 150 liveries to unlock, and a variety of challenges and objectives to complete both in your account and within the Showdown Tour. The only aspect we haven’t had the chance to test is the online multiplayer, but all race types are available for online play.
