MX vs. ATV Unleashed Updated Hands-On

Currently scheduled for release in March, MX vs. ATV Unleashed is an off-road racer that will essentially signify the merging of Rainbow Studios' popular ATV Offroad Fury (now in the hands of Climax) and MX Unleashed series. We got some hands-on time with both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox versions of the game during a recent visit to the developer's office, and we are pleased to report that it's looking promising.

As its title suggests, MX vs. ATV Unleashed will allow you to race both motocross bikes and four-wheeled ATVs, but the vehicle roster doesn't end there--not by a long stretch. The versions of the game that we played also featured sandrail buggies, for example, and the trailer for the game that we were shown clearly featured many more vehicles, including customized 4x4 golf carts, Baja trucks, monster trucks, dune buggies, helicopters, and airplanes. All of these vehicles will be playable in MX vs. ATV Unleashed, although the Rainbow Studios representatives on hand were quick to point out that none of them will be mandatory during the game's career mode. So, if all you're interested in is riding a dirt bike and attempting to prove that two wheels are better than four, there's no reason why you can't do just that.

Details on the game's career mode are scarce at present, but Rainbow Studios and THQ have been much more forthcoming about the numerous other modes that will appear in MX vs. ATV Unleashed. In addition to stadium-based supercross events, you'll be able to compete in outdoor national events (incorporating short tracks, hill climbs, open-class races, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater-style gap jump challenges), freestyle events (including challenges relating to big air, combos, high scores, and stunt lists), and machine challenges (including air and land races, monster jam events, and a number of different minigames). MX vs. ATV Unleashed will feature environments and courses that are specifically designed for certain types of vehicles (with the exception of the air courses that'll see you flying through rings and such), and you'll be able to attempt them driving anything you wish. Because air courses will invariably be situated in the skies above land courses, you'll even be able to pit your Spitfire or biplane against your friend's golf cart or monster truck if you wish, though your actual interaction with each other will, we suspect, be somewhat limited.

The helicopters and planes appearing in MX vs. ATV Unleashed will be the only vehicles not available for use in online games, in which Rainbow hopes that players with a strong affinity for a particular type of vehicle will be as eager to participate in open-class races as they will be in events where vehicle choices are limited. Both the PS2 and Xbox versions of the game will feature headset support and will allow up to eight players to race against each other. Split-screen races for two players will also be available in both games. Intriguingly, Rainbow has decided not to handicap vehicles with vastly different capabilities when they're pitted against each other, so if you're brave enough to go up against a sandrail buggy in a golf cart, for example, you'll find that you're outgunned as far as top speed is concerned and you'll just have to get on with it. In the few multiplayer races that we enjoyed during our time at Rainbow, incidentally, we found that having a more powerful vehicle did improve our chances of winning (surprise!), but that it was far from guaranteed since some of the courses definitely lend themselves to certain vehicles.

Although the handling and physics in MX vs. ATV Unleashed feel realistic, all of the vehicles that we've had a chance to take control of have been easy to get to grips with and relatively forgiving when it comes to crashes and such. After the accelerator, brake, and steering controls, the most important button for you to remember will be your clutch, which when used correctly will allow you to get faster starts and improved acceleration on hills. As in previous MX and ATV titles, you'll also have to master the art of "preloading" before jumps by pulling down on the left analog stick (or directional pad) as you approach the jump and then pushing up as you reach the top of it. Preloading will see you getting a lot more air from ramps, which not only makes you quicker in most situations (provided you land well), but also affords you a great opportunity to show off with some of the numerous tricks at your disposal.

In terms of gameplay, the PS2 and Xbox versions of MX vs. ATV Unleashed appear to be identical. The Xbox game's visuals are a little easier on the eyes at this point, but there's certainly nothing wrong with the PS2 graphics. One area in which MX vs. ATV Unleashed looks (or should that be sounds?) certain to impress is with its audio. In addition to realistic engine sounds, crowd noise, and such, the game will feature no less than 20 licensed music tracks from such bands as Nickelback, Black Eyed Peas, Papa Roach, Rise Against, Skindred, Authority Zero, Unwritten Law, and Powerman 5000. We'll bring you more information on MX vs. ATV Unleashed as its early March release date closes in.