Want Want Want: Sledgehammer
UPDATE: Russian demo available here. Still downloading at the mo, impressions may follow later.
One reason GTA is quite so successful is because it fulfils the innate fantasies of modern existence - I would like to drive cars really fast wherever I wanted, I would like to kill people without moral, legal or awkward body-disposal consequence, and most of all I want to be the most baddass badass in all existence. Unfortunately, it neglects a very, very important part of that fantasy - controlling giant, jet-propelled, transforming trucks loaded with enough heavy weaponry to level a small farming town.
Introducing... Sledgehammer:
Crunchy thanks, Gametrailers.
18 Wheels of Steel + Carmageddon = Whee!
I'd be lying if I said the fact it looks like Optimus Prime has nothing to do with why I want to play it, and suspect that Russian developers Targem would be lying if they said the fact it looks like Optimus Prime is a coincidence.
The official website ain't got much as yet, save some screens that suggest a lick of graphical paint since the above, 2007 video, but here's the skinniest of skinnies:
The American highways are more dangerous than ever… it doesn’t matter if you drive a car, a bike or a truck, the chances of being shot, smashed, nailed and/or crushed are of 9 out of 10. Consequently, only the craziest or those with enough weapon dare to hit the road.
Sledgehammer is a pure action game on wheels, and a festival of demolition and speed, all in one. Drive the most powerful truck and destroy every opponent that you’ll find on the road or go to the multiplayer mode and decide who is the king of the highway, among your friends.
* Hours of gameplay in the main campaign and 6 minigames in the single player mode;
* Multiplayer for up to 8 players simultaneously in cooperative and deathmatch mode. Destroy huge trucks joining forces with your friends or become the best truck driver in a fight to death;
* Upgrade your truck using the money you get from successful deals. Melee, light and heavy weapon, armor, engines, nitro… make your truck an unstoppable machine of destruction.
It's out 'Q1 2008', apparently. Which is kinda now, so let's say 'Summer', eh?
Thanks to the goodly men of PC Format for the tip-off.