Rainbow Studios – Nordic Games – PS3/Xbox 360 (version tested) – PC coming soon
The latest in the MX Vs ATV series (which is another in a series of games that was rescued from the ashes of THQ) is a very run of the mill game. While there are several tracks, all set in stadiums dotted around 17 US cities, and all with unforgiving motocross courses, the environments all feel completely the same. If it wasn’t for the shape of the courses being different, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re in the same place each time, which really brings the atmosphere down somewhat. The races are all at night too, making things look a bit duller. It would be nice for some more scenery other than these big city stadiums, as there’s nothing really aesthetically pleasing and you could be in Grimsby on a wet Wednesday for all it’s worth! However, there’s plenty of races to choose from, as career mode plays host to several events that are all unlocked by winning each event. The career mode takes you coast to coast, with there being an East and West tournament in each of the MX and ATV classes, as well as the mixed class races (hence the title). Beyond the dirt tracks, there’s loads of customisation options at your disposal. The majority of these are unlocked as you progress in Career mode. The more success, the more you unlock. Although all the customisation options are pre-set, there is quite a vast range to choose from, be it the colour of your vehicle, to the design of your outfit and the handle bars on your bike.
There’s a steep learning curve to the game, as there are two types of vehicles (obviously, again given away in the title), but both need mastering. Much like an FPS in some respects, the controls have you using both thumb sticks for directional controls, with the left stick being left/right and the right stick controlling the balance of the vehicle, assisting with tricks and tackling sharp turns, and controlling your landing as well. It’s unusual for a racing game to incorporate both sticks into the control scheme as well as the triggers for accelerate and brake etc, and it did take some getting used to, at first putting a bit of strain on my hand, but once I got used to this method it was no longer a problem. The MX bikes are very easy to get on with once you’ve got your head around the control scheme, and you don’t really need to let go of the accelerator. The ATV’s on the other hand are much more cumbersome and are more of a struggle. They bounce around each bump and it’s quite challenging adjusting the balance of the vehicle when you power through the courses, so you do need to hit the breaks when taking most corners, but you can more than compensate with great speed and acceleration from the vehicle.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k55yUwk39c[/youtube]
As negative as it’s sounding so far, there’s an excellent game in there somewhere, as it is genuinely exciting in places, with some big jumps and thrilling races and there are some great animations when the rider comes off the bike, particularly after bouncing around on an ATV. There’s an half decent soundtrack present, too. Although it does descend into generic metal videogame music from time to time, there’s a decent mix of metal, punk and industrial in keeping with the fast pace of the gameplay. The main issue with Supercross, is it gets very repetitive very quickly. If there was a bit more variety with the courses, and I know this is based on real life events and actual riders, it would more than likely add a bit more depth to proceedings. Fans of the series and motocross in general will probably be in for a treat, as the gameplay is there, but newcomers may be put off by the monotony of the courses available and strange controls. It’s great for a quick thrill, but anyone looking for some substance is probably better off looking elsewhere.
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