The motocross circuit has always been home to jaw-dropping displays of gravity denial, and Rainbow Studios has steadily chronicled the sport in their Motocross Madness series. Shifting from publisher Microsoft to THQ, its new MX Unleashed preserves the old (including backwoods tracks and trailer parks) but spices it up with a few new elements to create a challenging, occasionally maddening, motocross stew. This is a broad title, with 50 tracks split into over 10 racing and freestyle leagues, capturing the full spectrum of motocross. The supercross tracks are hardcore indoor races full of tight turns and ramp layouts that demand not only precision turning, but solid jump skills. National races are slightly more forgiving, taking place on less constrained outdoor routes, while the freestyle courses are huge, open outdoor areas with more hills than Tennessee and an emphasis on precise tricks. The attention to detail is commendable, but the sheer scope may be a point of frustration for some, especially those who come from the Tony Hawk school. The supercross races are so exacting that progression without dedication is impossible. Fail to manage the suspension compression just before a long speed-bump set and you can expect a pack of seven to blow right by. Still, the satisfaction from mastering each course is great. As in the real world, most people will come for the freestyle events. In a way, freestyle is the most demanding aspect of motocross, requiring unerringly accurate placement rather than simple speed. The stunts use a decent trick book, replicating the insane head over handlebars visuals seen on "When Good Bikes Go Bad!" Elsewhere, though, the challenge increases, as riders must approach specific jump pads and land in marked areas. Brute force rarely works; instead you'll have to hit each jump a few times to figure the proper speed and angle. The "runs" challenges ask riders to nail several hits in a row with no misses -- these are the controller-throwing times, when a single run drives you to dementia and the gamepad into the ceiling. Much of that difficulty is the result of the physics and control models, which are inexorably linked. Rainbow prides itself on realistic physics, and in many ways its latest effort is up to standard. But light bikes fishtail like a Buick on ice, and nailing tightly placed ramps can be a huge pain. MX Unleashed rarely feels cheap, except when you've just lightly slid across the whole track while trying to make a damn turn. In other aspects, though, the control is fantastic. Rainbow has provided a simple clutch control that puts insane turns and bursts of speed within reach, and adds a pleasing level of command to every bike. Strategically popping the clutch is absolutely key to winning any race -- the only complaint is the utter lack of in-game explanation for the inexperienced. Overall the responsiveness is very high, but the analog stick is sometimes too touchy. As if the three main leagues and play types wasn't too much already, MX Unleashed has also thrown in a handful of other vehicles to drive, which can be unlocked by racing them in the freestyle areas. A monster truck, helicopter, dune buggy, and biplane can be useful stress relief when the difficulty of pounding that last run threatens the safety of another controller. Adding to the unrealistic fun is the ability to jump and land on tractor-trailers, hot air balloons, and other Jackass-worthy targets. In a way, it would have been nice if Rainbow had concentrated on developing one area of the game exclusively, but value hounds can't argue with the "something for everyone" approach. Visually, MX Unleashed is mostly satisfying, with a few caveats. Men and bikes alike are all impeccable, with licensed leathers, customizable riders and enough machinery to keep gearheads in an unlocking frenzy for weeks. The terrain is expansive and, in freestyle courses, seemingly unending. The various buildings all look great, and the game as a whole shines in high-definition modes. But we can't help feeling that every course looks a bit sparse, despite the presence of movable track markers (hay bales, foam barriers, etc.), buildings, moving cars, and all the expected supercross ephemera. Perhaps it's a lack of foliage, which makes collision free freestyle possible, or a lack of depth in many textures. The bikes sound fine, though, as do crashes and other effects. THQ has aped EA, handing over command of the music playlist for both Xbox and PS2 owners. Of course, if you're not a fan of baseline metal/punk crossover crunch, it's time to look elsewhere for aural pleasure. At times, MX Unleashed feels like two different titles glued together; sometimes the approach works, and other times the seams really show (and the frustration mounts). For the MX fanatics, no other game competes with the feature list found here, and even Sunday riders will find a few things to make the trip worthwhile.
Mx Unleashed is a sick game.This is one of my favorite games of all time.The Supercross is 24 real tracks from around the U.S. and the Nationals are pretty much the same the same but there 22 track.Freestyle is my favori... Read Full Review
Growing up when I was younger I've always dreamed of being a motorcyclist. Not exactly street-bike wise, but kind of like the gritty, gravel-paved and adrenaline-inducing Motocross racing trend. And guess what? It was al... Read Full Review
