Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX: Maximum Remix Hands-On

Hoping to capitalize on the enthusiasm surrounding last year's Dave Mirra's Freestyle BMX, Acclaim is putting out something of an addendum to the game. Titled Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX: Maximum Remix, the updated version of the game will add a bunch of new levels to the game and a couple of new riders, as well as a handful of minor gameplay and statistical elements. The bulk of the game hasn't changed much, though--the gameplay is identical to Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX, if a tad touchier in the controls.

Eight new levels have been added to Dave Mirra, six of which are Carnival, Jiffy Market, High School, White Alpine Resort, City Square, and Freeway Off Ramp. Two others remain locked within the game's pro-quest mode. Objectives in these new stages are of the same cut as what the series has seen before. At the outset, you're presented with a set of amateur challenges, which you must complete to unlock the next stage. Apparently in keeping with the previous installment, the amateur-level objectives we've seen are fairly simple to complete: They involve things like tricking off of simple structures, bumping into stationary objects, achieving modest point totals, and the like. After you've completed the amateur challenges, you can either run through the same course again--this time to complete pro challenges--or you can hit the next stage's entry-level objectives. In this manner, the game lets you access new areas relatively quickly, which can keep the experience fresh, at least at the outset. Amateur-level challenges do get a bit more daunting as the game progresses, but anyone weathered by Tony Hawk 2's demanding objectives will still find them a relative walk in the park. Despite the game's brilliant map designs and gameplay mechanics, however, many found THPS2 to be a tad inaccessible, in terms of difficulty level. If that's the case, then perhaps Acclaim's approach with Dave Mirra makes sense.

With regard to gameplay, not much has changed. It's still absurdly easy to grind, and the game is very lenient when it comes to bailing. Movement seems a bit more loose and touchy. Hopefully, that's just a symptom of Z-Axis' tinkering with the control scheme, rather than an actual quirk in this new version. Aside from that, though, the standard Dave Mirra control scheme (which maps jump, trick, and modifier actions to the face buttons) is fully intact, which should serve as good news for enough people--the original game sold phenomenally.

Graphically, the game has its share of quirks, at this stage. Some of the new stages exhibit moderate amounts of warping, and some of the level geometry and textures seem to be placeholders. There are some instances where we've encountered some remarkably clean textures, however, so we suspect that many of the visual blotches marring the game are merely temporary. All in all, the game runs at a decent rate, though some jerky animations are still present here and there. Z-Axis has until May to polish the game up, though, so it's likely that Maximum Remix could be a very polished product, given the clearance.

You'll get to listen to a whole bunch of Epitaph punk rock bands while playing Dave Mirra: Maximum Remix--Rancid, Social Distortion, Pennywise, and the Deviates, among others. The game will also include a separate CD with the soundtrack on it, in case actual BMX riders want to take their boom box to the track with them.

Fans of the original Dave Mirra game will definitely want to check out Maximum Remix. Acclaim is making this very easy to do so--the company is offering a $15 mail-in rebate to those willing to send in proof of purchase, along with their old game disc. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX: Maximum Remix is set for release in May, just in time to butt heads with Neversoft's Mat Hoffman.