If ever there were a gaming brand that established itself as a force to be reckoned with in a short period of time, it's EA Sports Big. Electronic Arts' extreme sports publishing arm burst on to the scene with the now-classic snowboarding game SSX and continued the momentum with solid games with a similar style, such as NBA Street and Sled Storm. With Freekstyle, it has taken its usual antics to the dirt for some over-the-top freestyle motocross action that offers plenty of high-speed thrills and some serious challenge. Featuring equal parts of racing and tricking, Freekstyle proves that the apple never falls far from the tree, but it also shows that straying too far from what works can sometimes backfire.

There are plenty of real motocross stars in the game.

The foundation of Freekstyle is undeniably forged from the SSX formula. The first time through the game's single-player circuit mode is all about racing, but you'll have to do more than crank on the throttle to take the checkered flag. Just like in SSX, by inputting different combinations of the shoulder buttons, you make your biker perform tricks. However, to get maximum air, you also must pull back on the analog stick as you take flight. Pressing several shoulder buttons at once while pulling back on the analog stick and stretching your thumb to hit turbo at the same time takes some dexterity, but you'll eventually learn to grasp the controls. Also like in SSX, as you land tricks, a turbo meter gradually builds, and you can use the extra speed at your whim. At the same time, a "freekout" meter also builds with each landed trick. Once this meter hits its maximum, you can perform your rider's signature freekout trick, complete with a Matrix-style presentation that freezes the action and sends the camera panning around your rider. Once a freekout has been landed, you'll have a scant few seconds to perform another one. Advanced players who know the tracks especially well will be able to keep the string of freekouts going indefinitely.

There are eight real-world riders in the game, including stars of the sport such as Brian Deegan from the Metal Mulisha, Greg Albertyn, and Mike Metzger. The former host of Bluetorch TV, Leann Tweeden, has been included due to her ties to the sport, in addition to several lesser-known riders. Each rider is rated in a number of categories and has four different bikes that can be unlocked for use. As you complete the circuit mode, you'll be able to increase whatever attributes you choose to tailor your rider's abilities to your particular playing style.

It's no SSX on dirt.

There are just six tracks in the circuit mode, and as crazy as they are, a few more would have been welcomed. Still, the tracks are about as wacky as possible, and you'll be racing through insane environments, like a huge hedge maze or a network of rocket launch pads. There's even one course that has huge boulders rolling across it. But the course designs themselves are sometimes self-defeating. The game encourages you to find new paths and shortcuts, yet some invisible barriers will prevent you from exploring some areas that seem like they should be accessible. This will cause you to hesitate when considering whether or not to head off track, which makes finding all the shortcuts a somewhat annoying endeavor. The game also encourages you to catch huge air, yet at far too many points in the tracks, there are girders or other objects hanging in midair that will cause your rider to crash if he or she comes into contact with them. This contradictory design runs throughout the entire game--it would have been better if Freekstyle's tracks were consistent one way or the other.

Several key elements found in the SSX games have been removed from Freekstyle, making the game much more simple to play overall. While riders will taunt each other before and during races, the rival and friend system from SSX Tricky is nowhere to be found. Despite the aggressive nature of the sport and the over-the-top aesthetics of the game, there's also no ability to knock other riders off their bikes (not even by ramming into them) or otherwise engage in combat. There are also fewer tricks in Freekstyle, compared with the number in SSX, though the tricks that are there are quite imaginative. Still, spins and flips have also been removed from the trick book, which cuts considerably into the number of maneuvers available.