First off, the graphics in 18 Wheeler are even tighter than those in Crazy Taxi. What clipping there was in Crazy Taxi has been almost completely removed from this title. The trucks are rendered beautifully. It's a treat to watch them bounce and sway as they change lanes and roll over obstacles. Your even treated to the billow of smoke from their exhaust pipes as they change gears. Watching the horizon, there are some instances of pop-up but hardly enough for you to be distracted. Sega polished 18 wheeler up a bit before hitting the Dreamcast scene and it shows.

Sound-wise, there is nothing really to talk about. There are a few uninteresting country tunes that play while you drive, and most of the other sound effects are not that noticeable. The only sounds that stick in your head is the rumble of the engine and the "chuff" you get when first taking off. Otherwise, 18 Wheeler does not aim to please in the audio department.

18 Wheeler is as simple as games get. Simply tow your cargo to your destination within the time limit without damaging it too much and you move on to the next stage. Adding to the seemingly boring concept of racing a Semi against the clock, you must also take on a rival who attempts to ram you off the road at every turn. However, there really isn't much variety within the game; there are only 5 stages lasting 4-5 minutes at the most. With only two routes to choose from in each stage, the game can become tedious after only an hour of play. Those of you looking for something to satisfy your lack of a Crazy Taxi sequel should definitely look elsewhere.

The game does supports different play modes such as arcade, versus, and parking. Arcade is a direct translation of the Naomi version, while versus mode adds a little spice by allowing you to compete against a friend. Sadly there is no 4 player action to speak of, but Sega did throw us a bone in the form of the new parking mode. The parking mode stems from the bonus levels between stages in the arcade where you race against the clock to navigate your metal beast around sharp turns while avoiding parked cars and other items before stopping in the classic green box ala Crazy Taxi. In the end, the parking mode turned out to be the most enjoyable portion of the disc. I spent much more time parking than I did actually driving.

If you've always loved the Smokey and the Bandit movies, 18 Wheeler American Pro Trucker might be right down your alley. Otherwise, save up your credits for the arcade version. While the game holds true in graphics and gameplay it still suffers from a deadly case of "port-itis." The game relies to heavily upon the novelty of the giant steering wheel and large screen. The home version just winds up being another arcade port that can't live up to the same standards on your home TV.