Jet X2O

Written by Dan Clarke on 11/10/2002 for PS2  

Sony and KillerGame have released Jet X20, “The Wildest Ride On Water.” With other games such as Splashdown already available on the PS2 should you buy this one? Read on.

Part ‘trick’ game and part ‘race’ game, Jet X20 sounds great on paper. You can perform more than 30 tricks and race in eight large worlds – and they do mean large. You’ll have ten watercrafts to choose from in order to race as well.

At the outset of the game, you’ll have three options: single event, World Tour (three difficulty levels), or Big Wave (more like a practice mode). When you choose a single race, you’ll have to pick the kind of mode: combo (race and trick to score points), trick mode (getting the most points wins), or straight out race mode (duh).

Once you’re out on the track, get ready for some very difficult, Wave Race like physics and controls. They may be more realistic, but they also aren’t very fun—it’s very difficult to get around with your craft in this game. You do eventually adapt, but it’s pretty hard to pick up and play.

As far as the track layouts go, this is probably the best part of the game. There are various ramps and shortcuts and most tracks always have more than one way to go in order to win, upping the game’s replay value.

In addition to jumps, the tracks are populated by slalom like gates that will increase your turbo if you pass through them. Yes, there is turbo in this game and you’ll need it in order to win.

As far as graphics go, they’re good. Of course you get a lot of water in this game and it’s very pretty to look at, and the crafts are all rendered decently enough. Nothing jaw droopingly good, but nothing ugly either.

Sound is there—the waves ripple and the soundtrack is typical for the genre. Again, nothing to write home about – but serves the purpose well.

The world circuit is enjoyable and the tricks that you perform all have different combos (all the shoulder buttons give you combos). You can also barrel roll under water.

Overall, the game is about as exciting as this review – nothing that new to the genre, fun if you like water race games, but not a must buy…. definitely worth a rental and maybe a purchase.