McGrath Pastrana Freestyle Motocross Hands-On

After bringing Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX to the extreme sports table, Acclaim is again adding to the pile with Motocross: McGrath vs. Pastrana, a dirt-bike game that uses Z-Axis's successful "skeletal dynamics system."

The game boasts a number of features, such as five game modes (single race, time attack, practice, championship series, and multiplayer) and nine levels including Loch Ness, Tombstone, Yosemite, and the Arctic. As the locations suggest, each level has a different type of terrain, such as ice, sand, and the eternally popular dirt. The tracks also have different routes that you can take, some of which are more difficult to access and require some freestyle trickery to get to. Using these tracks gives you a sizeable advantage over other competitors, as the alternate routes are usually either loaded with mounds and precipices that just beg to be taken advantage of or are plain and simple shortcuts.

There are over 30 tricks available - many of which will be familiar to Dave Mirra players - and a number of new tricks that will take advantage of the size and weight of a dirt bike. The control scheme is rather simple, and it allows you to sit down and play it reasonably well almost immediately. The triangle and circle buttons are used for tricks, X acts as the throttle, the square holds the brake role, and the R1 and L1 buttons are used for sliding.

There are four bike classes available: 125cc, 250cc, and 250cc custom and open. The bikes are also customizable, allowing you to tweak the exhaust and tires, which in turn improves the bike's acceleration, top speed, grip, and handling.

The game also adds an interesting twist with card collecting. Each track has a card with a feat to accomplish in order to unlock extra features. These features include hidden tracks, special bikes, and game modes.