IGN: Baja Hands-on

The Baja 1000 is a yearly race that takes place along the Gulf of California in Mexico. Participants include trucks, buggies, motorcycles (the usual winner) and ATVs. The virtual iteration of the popular race allows players to hop around 95 different tracks across numerous sweltering locations. With upgradeable parts, over 100 destructible pieces of equipment per vehicle and the perils of the rough desert terrain to deal with, Baja from 2XL Games and THQ hopes to bring the depth and competitive spirit of Gran Turismo to the dirty and grimy world of Mexican rally racing.

As with any rally racing game, your main competition in Baja aren't just the opposing cars on the dirt-filled track. Instead, the course itself presents much of the challenge as you make your way across the rough terrain. Speed, while essential to victory, needs to be kept in check to maintain control. Hit one bump or take the wrong angle into a hairpin turn and you could very easily send your truck or buggy off the edge and plummeting hundreds of feet down.