Product Description
-------------------
If you like mud, dirt, high speeds and serious attitude all on
two wheels, MX Unleashed is for you! Features an extensive career
mode through the Supercross and Outdoor National series with over
100 true-to-life riders. Take your skills into the vast Freeworld
mode where you can ride treacherous terrain to your heart's
content. Realistic physics engine, incredible sound, 40 insane
tracks to race and intense multiplayer put MX Unleashed over the
top!
From the Manufacturer
---------------------
Rainbow Studios, the masters of off road racing games, returns
to their heritage to bring the definitive next generation MX game
to life. Challenge yourself in the ultimate off-road playground,
a never before seen freeworld mode filled with treacherous
terrain, mini games, and machine races. Go bar to bar against the
top champions in the world through the season long Supercross and
Outdoor National series in an extensive career mode. Prepare
yourself for mud, dirt, high speeds, and serious attitude.
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Review
------
Motocross games are an evolutionary step behind the rest of the
extreme sports genre. I don't say that because I think it's an
inferior sport or because I think that you have to be inherently
devoid of brains to do some of the stupid, tricks they
perform. I say this only because Rainbow Studios and THQ have
teamed up to finally give the rest of us a motocross game that
tries to update the sport. When I say "us," I mean anybody who
doesn't break limbs for a living on 250cc monsters tearing
through the sky.
MX Unleashed combines a lengthy career mode with Freestyle worlds
whose layouts play more like a Tony Hawk game. This isn't a
reinvention of the wheel by any means, it's just that its
execution meant that I actually gave a damn about a motocross
game for more than ten minutes. Run around in the environments
and you'll encounter challenges like racing against a monster
truck and other vehicles (which you then earn if you win), stunt
competitions, and both Hit and Run activities. Runs are a series
of jumps you have to perform in a row, while Hits are a series of
runs that have to be done before competing riders finish theirs.
Hits and Runs were my favorite Freestyle activities because you
really had to nail your timing well and having to do all the
jumps in succession was a cool challenge. A close second was
earning the vehicles like the plane and buzzing around the worlds
in those. This sounds stupid as hell, but I couldn't help
smiling. One of the other small joys of Freestyle was the ambient
life. Whether it was the riders or the trucks (with jumps on
their flatbeds!), there was always something going on.
Rainbow is mainly known as a developer with great physics, and
here they don't disappoint. I can say that this is the first
motocross game whose trick system didn't piss me off. I also like
that you really have to think when you go out on the demanding
courses. You can't just pre-load to the max all the time – you
have to know the layout of the tracks and use your clutch and
pre-load at varying strengths to keep your momentum out there.
Finally, I should fault the game for having inconsistent
collision, but it was just forgiving enough that it kept the fun
rolling.
Motocross has had an inglorious history of false starts, lots of
franchises without enough distinction between them, and just
mediocrity. This newest partnership is a good one, with the only
problem being that it wasn't seized upon sooner. More straight-up
innovation is needed next time, but until then, we've got a good
solid game on our hands.
The Edge
ive the edge without a doubt to the Xbox version. The graphics
are simply crisper - something you instantly notice when flying
20 feet in the air with five other riders while your pulling off
a Saran Wrap. Oh yeah, you'll also take note of it when the dirt
particles fly as you eat it trying to land. The only
disappointing note on this front is that the Xbox cannot get rid
of the fogging problem in the Freestyle worlds. Other than that,
I suggest you re- the Thrill camera onto a trigger button. It
sounds totally trivial - until you see yourself stylin' high in
teh sky, and then you can't stop using it.
Concept:
Open up the motocross world with Tony Hawk-inspired Freestyle
courses
Graphics:
There are some nice textures and dirt particles on the tracks,
but too much fogging in Freestyle
Sound:
The whining of the bikes is drowned out only by the smattering of
small-time bands
Playability:
The clutch will take some practice, but the trick controls are
responsive
Entertainment:
The game's structure is nothing new, but it's a good first step
in getting the sport into everyone's hands
Replay:
Moderately High
Rated: 8 out of 10
Editor: Matthew Kato
Issue: March 2004
2nd Opinion:
I wouldn't be surprised if I was the first person in the history
of video games to say that an MX title blew me away. As we all
know, this genre has been running on two flat tires since its
inception. With Rainbow Studios on the scene, this is all about
to change. Offering a better understanding of vehicular physics
than any other developer, Rainbow Studios has created the
ultimate gameplay package. Squaring up turns, preloading jumps,
stringing together trick combos, it's all here. While the silky
smooth handling steals the show, this title also boasts great
depth and ingenuity in its selection of modes. You'll even find
yourself squaring off against a monster truck. You can't help but
applaud the little things as well such as the ease of play from
the first-person helmet cam. Even without online play, MX
Unleashed soars high above the competition and is just as fun as
Rainbow's previous works.
Rated: 8.5 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
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- Try your luck in Career Mode, complete with 15 intense rounds -- or go for Supercross, Freestyle or Nationals mode.
- Race on huge, dangerous outdoor motocross tracks -- filled with obstacles and realistic weather effects like fog, rain, and snow.
- Players can unlock amazing game secrets by pulling off stunts and trick combos - race in(or against) monster trucks, biplanes and more.
- Multiple classes of bikes to choose from - newly-added 50cc bikes, to 125cc, 250cc, and 500cc bikes.
- See if you can make a tremendous jump into a floating hot-air balloon for massive points -- just one of the crazy stunts waiting for you in MX Unleashed!.