Freestyle Metal X Preview

What do you get when you combine the "live fast, die young" lifestyles of both motocross racing and heavy-metal music? More than likely, something that closely resembles Midway's current extreme sports project, Freestyle Metal X, a game that features nine professional motocross riders, massive environments, loads of insane stunts, and more grinding guitars than you can shake a stick at. We recently got to take a look at a previewable build of the PlayStation 2 version of the game, and though it has a few rough spots, Freestyle Metal X is shaping up to be a promising title.

Freestyle Metal X features a variety of locales to race in.

In the current build, Freestyle Metal X features four gameplay modes, but its primary focus is its career mode. You'll start your career by selecting one of seven of the game's original riders, including such colorful characters as the Jamaican-inspired Bob Gnarly, the mullet-headed Wheels, and the ninja assassin Jien Yong. Riders have their own varying levels of strength, style, balance, and airtime, and these attributes can be bulked up by advancing through the career mode. You can also choose from a list of several different motocross bikes. Though each rider has one bike specifically designed for him or her, you can use any of the bikes in the game, and all the bikes are customizable both cosmetically and performance-wise. You'll also be able to customize a rider's name, trick list, and gear.

The progression of the career mode is similar to that of many other entries in the extreme sports genre, but with a few interesting twists. You start with one main area unlocked and a set of challenges for that area. These challenges range from performing tricks using specific ramps and obstacles to collecting a series of items or destroying a certain number of objects throughout the level. Cindy, a bubbly blonde who hangs around the levels, assigns you your objectives. Beyond a few goals that must be completed in a set amount of time, there are no real time limits in the game, leaving you with a lot of open time to explore the massive environments and figure out exactly how you want to attack them. You also have the ability to leave the level you're in and head to another one without having to quit out--all the areas in the game are connected, so if you find an exit that leads to another level you've unlocked, you can head on over there at your convenience.

The game's environments are absolutely massive.

Every level in the game also has its own set of competitions. Here, you compete against other characters in specific contests such as big-air contests, freestyle rides, and races. Winning these competitions earns you cash to purchase upgrades for your bike. Additionally, each level has a boss racer that you must defeat to complete it. These bosses are the game's nine real-life motocross racers, including such well-known riders as Jeff Tilton, Ronnie Faisst, Clifford Adoptante, Nate Adams, Kris Rourke, and Mike Jones. Defeating these riders in competition unlocks them in the rest of the game.

Freestyle Metal X's other modes are all fairly standard for extreme sports games. Quick play is like a practice or single-player mode, where you can race through any of the game's unlocked levels and hone your skills. Party mode is a multiplayer affair, where up to nine players can compete against one another in any of the game's competitions. The game also features a level editor that allows you to design your own environment, placing everything from ramps, jumps, and street obstacles wherever you like.