18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker

18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)	Sega AM2[a]
Publisher(s)	Sega[b]
Director(s)	Keiichi Matsunami
Producer(s)	Yu Suzuki
Composer(s)	Keisuke Tsukahara Tomoya Koga
Platform(s)	Arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, GameCube
Release	Arcade JP: December 1999[2] NA: November 9, 2000[1] Dreamcast JP: October 12, 2000 NA: May 22, 2001 EU: June 1, 2001[3] PlayStation 2 NA: November 13, 2001[4] EU: November 23, 2001 JP: December 5, 2002 GameCube NA: February 20, 2002[5] EU: May 31, 2002 JP: September 12, 2002
Genre(s)	Vehicle simulation, action
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade system	Sega NAOMI

18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker, known in Japan as 18 Wheeler (エイティーン･ホイーラー, Eitīn Hoīrā), is an arcade game developed by Sega AM2 and distributed by Sega. The game was released in arcades in 1999 and ported to the Dreamcast in 2000. It was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2001 and GameCube in 2002 by Acclaim Entertainment. Sega followed up on the success of 18 Wheeler with a sequel, The King of Route 66, which was released in the arcades in 2002 and ported to the PlayStation 2. This was one of the final arcade games to be ported to the Dreamcast after its discontinuation, before Sega became a third-party developer.

Gameplay

Players start the game going from New York City, New York to Key West, Florida (shown here) driving a tank truck.

The main purpose of the game is to make it to the finish line with the truck's cargo. Players are given a set amount of time, but can ram into special vans that will add three seconds to the timer. There are several characters to choose from, each with a unique truck and attributes.

The game starts out in New York City, New York and players travel across the United States of America, ending in San Francisco, California. After Stage 1, the game gives the player a choice of trailer. One trailer is harder to haul, but provides a bigger payoff while the other choice is easier to haul but provides a smaller payoff. Money is deducted from the total when the trailer is hit. Players can sound the truck's horn to make other cars on the road yield and slipstream behind large vehicles to gain a momentary speed boost.

In addition to the time limit, players also compete with a rival trucker named Lizard Tail. Crossing the finish line before Lizard Tail yields additional money. In between levels, players can park the truck in a minigame to earn more cash and upgrades for their truck, such as an improved horn.

Ports

The first port of the game was released on the Dreamcast. Released by Sega, it is faithful to its arcade counterpart, but the voice actors for the characters were changed and it lacks the arcade's cross-country map loading screens. One of the selectable truckers in the arcade version, Nippon Maru, was now made available as an unlockable character. A split screen multiplayer mode was added, allowing two players to race against each other. The game was released by Acclaim Entertainment (who also released Sega's Ferrari F355 Challenge on the Dreamcast) on the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube after Sega stopped making consoles and became a software based company.

Reception

Reception

Aggregate score

Aggregator	Score
	Dreamcast	GC	PS2
Metacritic	67/100[6]	52/100[7]	61/100[8]

Review scores

Publication	Score
	Dreamcast	GC	PS2
Edge	6/10[9]	N/A	N/A
Electronic Gaming Monthly	6.33/10[10][c]	5.5/10[11]	N/A
EP Daily	7/10[12]	N/A	N/A
Famitsu	29/40[13]	N/A	N/A
Game Informer	8.5/10[14]	6/10[15]	7.25/10[16]
GameRevolution	C[17]	N/A	N/A
GameSpot	6.5/10[18]	4.6/10[19]	6.3/10[20]
GameSpy	6.5/10[21]	68%[22]	N/A
GameZone	N/A	4.5/10[23]	6/10[24]
IGN	7.8/10[25]	5/10[26]	5.5/10[27]
Next Generation	[28]	N/A	N/A
Nintendo Power	N/A	2.8/5[29]	N/A
Nintendo World Report	N/A	4/10[30]	N/A
Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine	N/A	N/A	[31]
BBC Sport	N/A	N/A	72%[32]
Maxim	6/10[33]	N/A	N/A

The home versions of the game received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.^[6][7][8] Jake The Snake of GamePro's July 2001 issue said of the Dreamcast version, "Your rig handles well, taking into account the weight of your load, and the driving action is great, with lots of mayhem as you run through cars and buildings. But while four levels were plenty for the quarter-munching arcade version of the game, they go by pretty fast at home; the four Score Attack courses and variable difficulty modes don't add much replay. So it'd be a good idea to rent this gem first to see if you'll still want to play after beating it."^[34][d] Ten issues later, however, Pong Sifu said of the GameCube version, "Is 18 Wheeler worth renting or playing at a friend's house? Sure. Does it warrant a $50 price tag? No way."^[35][e] Rob Smolka of NextGen said that the former console version was "definitely worth a weekend rental, but its lack of online play and limited number of stages in the arcade game flatten its tires."^[28] In Japan, Famitsu gave the same console version 29 out of 40.^[13]

Also in Japan, Game Machine listed the arcade version in their March 15, 2000 issue as the second most-successful dedicated arcade game of the month.^[36] Jon Thompson of AllGame gave the same arcade version three stars out of five and wrote that it "does have a fairly thorough scoring system that some will take to, but it lacks the gameplay that great arcade titles such as Crazy Taxi possess. That isn't to say it's a bad game: it's beautiful to behold and [it] will give you short term thrills, but it isn't one that you'll find yourself coming back to again and again after you've thrown down a couple of dollars playing it. In the end, it's a fun but short ride."^[37] He later gave the Dreamcast version two stars out of five, saying, "The game's graphics are crisp, although not as impressive as the arcade version. The music is fun, and the voices that come over the 'CB radio' are fairly entertaining. Still, the decent aural and visual package have little to do with the gameplay, and become dressing on a title with limited entertainment value. It is hard to even recommend this title for a rental -- those who wish to try it out are advised to find it at a local arcade instead."^[38] Scott Alan Marriott gave the GameCube version a similar score of two stars out of five, saying, "Without at least ten more routes in the main game, additional modes of play, bonus vehicles, or incentive to attain high scores other than for posterity, 18 Wheeler cannot be recommended for a purchase. The simple, straightforward nature of gameplay is over far too quickly and the appealing aspect of smashing into buildings and cars is largely neglected. In the end, this payload is too basic to keep players occupied for the long haul."^[39]

See also

• Big Mutha Truckers
• 18 Wheels of Steel
• American Truck Simulator
• Crazy Taxi (video game)

Notes

1. Ported to PlayStation 2 and GameCube by Acclaim Studios Cheltenham.
2. The PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions were published by Acclaim Entertainment.
3. Two critics of Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Dreamcast version each a score of 6.5/10, and the other gave it 6/10.
4. GamePro gave the Dreamcast version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and control, and two 4/5 scores for sound and fun factor.
5. GamePro gave the GameCube version two 2/5 scores for graphics and fun factor, 3.5/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 for control.

References

1. Gerstmann, Jeff (November 9, 2000). "Sega Gamer's Day 2000: Sega Announces US Release of 18 Wheeler". GameSpot. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
2. "18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker". Sega R&D 2 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 16, 2000. Retrieved May 31, 2024. 1999年 12月 発売 [Released in December 1999]
3. "June releases". Sega Europe. Archived from the original on June 19, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
4. "ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT, INC. HAULS HOME NEXT-GEN HOLIDAY FUN WITH '18 WHEELER AMERICAN PRO TRUCKER(TM)'". Acclaim Entertainment. November 13, 2001. Archived from the original on August 25, 2004.
5. "ACCLAIM ENTERTAINMENT, INC. HAULS HOME ARCADE ACTION WITH '18 WHEELER AMERICAN PRO TRUCKER(TM)' FOR NINTENDO GAMECUBE(TM)". Acclaim Entertainment. February 20, 2002. Archived from the original on August 17, 2004.
6. "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker critic reviews (DC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
7. "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker critic reviews (GC)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
8. "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker critic reviews (PS2)". Metacritic. Fandom. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
9. Edge staff (Christmas 2000). "18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker (DC)" (PDF). Edge. No. 92. Future Publishing. p. 100. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
10. Mielke, James "Milkman"; Hager, Dean; Sewart, Greg (July 2001). "18 Wheeler [American Pro Trucker] (DC)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 144. Ziff Davis. p. 107. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 19, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
11. Sewart, Greg (May 2002). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (GC)" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 154. Ziff Davis. p. 112. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
12. Tilley, Steve (June 19, 2001). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (DC)". The Electric Playground. Greedy Productions Ltd. Archived from the original on July 15, 2003. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
13. "18WHEELER （エイティーン･ホイーラー） [ドリームキャスト]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
14. "18 Wheeler [American Pro Trucker] (DC)". Game Informer. No. 98. FuncoLand. June 2001.
15. Leeper, Justin (April 2002). "18 Wheeler [American Pro Trucker] (GC)". Game Informer. No. 108. FuncoLand. p. 79. Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
16. "18 Wheeler [American Pro Trucker] (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 104. FuncoLand. December 2001. p. 95.
17. Chris G. (June 2001). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker Review (DC)". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on October 12, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
18. Shoemaker, Brad (June 25, 2001). "18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker Review (DC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
19. Davis, Ryan (February 21, 2002). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker Review (GC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
20. Ahmed, Shahed (November 15, 2001). "18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker Review (GC)". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
21. Vash T. Stampede (June 13, 2001). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 24, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
22. Suciu, Peter (March 8, 2002). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (GCN)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 16, 2005. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
23. Surette, Tim (April 4, 2002). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker Review - GameCube [score mislabeled as "4/10"]". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
24. Krause, Kevin (December 17, 2001). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker Review - PlayStation 2". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
25. Chau, Anthony (May 31, 2001). "18-Wheeler American Pro Trucker (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
26. Casamassina, Matt (March 5, 2002). "18-Wheeler American Pro Trucker Review (GCN)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
27. Perry, Douglass C. (November 14, 2001). "18-Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
28. Smolka, Rob (July 2001). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker". NextGen. No. 79. Imagine Media. p. 84. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
29. "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker". Nintendo Power. Vol. 154. Nintendo of America. March 2002. p. 133.
30. Rodriguez, Steven (June 3, 2002). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
31. Kennedy, Sam (January 2002). "18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 52. Ziff Davis. p. 125. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
32. Gibbon, David (August 21, 2001). "Let's play: 18 Wheeler (PS2)". BBC Sport. BBC. Archived from the original on February 16, 2003. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
33. Porter, Alex (March 13, 2001). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (DC)". Maxim. MaximNet, Inc. Archived from the original on 26 June 2001. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
34. Jake The Snake (July 2001). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (DC)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 154. IDG. p. 94. Archived from the original on December 27, 2004. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
35. Pong Sifu (May 2002). "18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (GC)" (PDF). GamePro. No. 164. IDG. p. 97. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
36. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - 完成品夕イプのTVゲーム機 (Dedicated Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 606. Amusement Press, Inc. March 15, 2000. p. 17.
37. Thompson, Jon. "18-Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (ARC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
38. Thompson, Jon. "18-Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
39. Marriott, Scott Alan. "18-Wheeler: American Pro Trucker (GC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.

• "System 16: Naomi hardware". Archived from the original on May 8, 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2006.

External links

• Official website (archived)
• 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker at the Killer List of Videogames
• 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker at MobyGames