FUEL is an action-packed racing game that is immediate fun. It allows you to drive several types of vehicles, ranging from a dirt bike to a jeep, and ATV vehicles. Unlike other racing games, FUEL does not intend to be a simulation experience. On the contrary, it uses camera and graphic effects to make this game as arcade-like as it can be. At times, you will see how the camera shift moves from your vehicle to the outer edge of a turn, to give a sense of speed and urgency. The tracks are almost always in dirt, so you can expect a lot of mud to get sprayed into the camera when you turn or crash.
The full game is big on multiplayer, and races are quite messy, with several players crashing into each other at times, but it is fun nonetheless. The demo experience, however, didn't quite live up to what I had expected. It features only two racing modes. One is the usual racing experience: get from A to B before your opponents do (the twist is that you can take several routes to get there). The second mode is a sort of time trial, where you lose if you don't make it to a certain checkpoint in time. When I played the demo, when it was first released, I just didn't feel it. But having played the full version of the game, I have to say that it proves quite fun, though it is not a deep racing game. It is a game that anyone can play without much training.
Graphically, the game is full of eye-candy at every turn you make. From the vehicles to the maps, to lightning effects, everything is rendered in full detail. You can't expect less from Codemasters.
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