The perfect dirt-bike game for the casual gamer.
The graphics are very impressive, especially considering that this is one of the older games for the PS2. Characters and bikes all stand out, and the little details and visual touches added to the numerous tracks set this title apart. Everything in this game is larger than life and completely unrealistic, but the graphics make it all seem plausible.
All sound effects are well synched and voice acting is better than in many sports titles. The music may not be what most of us would listen to in our cars on the way to work, but the high-energy speed metal and punk do an excellent job of setting the tone and feel.
Control, which is often the downfall of many racing titles, is also excellent in Freekstyle. The stunts are insane, but the well-engineered physics engine makes them feel realistic. Responsive control and accurate physics really set this title apart.
The game offers multiple riders to choose from with hundreds of unlockable tricks, tracks, outfits, and bikes. This vast amount of total content, along with multiple game modes, gives the title a lot of replay value.
The most important thing about Freekstyle is that it is fun to play. Purists who love the sport of motocross will probably find all kinds of flaws that gamers who don’t follow the sport would never notice. This is the type of game that I would’ve spent hours pumping quarters into in an arcade when I was growing up, and it puts Excitebike (which I loved as a kid) to shame. This is the kind of title that reminds me how far console gaming has come since I first became part of it in the 1980’s.
This game is incredibly easy to pick up and play and is perfect for playing with friends who either aren’t good at video games or haven’t played one in awhile. You can have as much fun with this title if you are just racing around the track or if you are attempting to pull off every stunt in the book. While this game won’t be permanently residing in my PSs2’s disk tray, it will be in my collection for years to come. I plan to be constantly popping this one into my system any time I have a few spare minutes and crave some high-speed excitement.