“Fans of the sport may enjoy the representation which they can experience and appreciate what is on offer. Others may find that they do not find all of what they expect or are looking for.”
MX vs ATV Supercross is the newest instalment in the motorbike and quad bike racing enthusiasts answer to the FIFA franchise. Pitting Motorcross against All-Terrain Vehicle racing across some of the world’s greatest arenas for the sport, gamers can race with some of the sports’ most popular figures, or create a legacy of their own, kitting themselves out with the industry’s top vehicles and racing gear as they go. Any fans out there who want to experience all of the action without leaving their sofa, this is probably one which you have been waiting for. Anyone else who is interested, read on to learn more too!
The game has a style a little bit like Tony Hawks crossed with something like Forza. You can create a character of your own, customising your vehicle, racing gear and even the name on your back and the colour of your skin to make the experience your own. Or, if you prefer, you can play as one of your favourite icons from the racing worlds and see them through to success instead; and there are plenty to choose from! The kit in the game has been produced under the banners of many of the top, real-world brands too, and with loads of customisations to choose from it is easy to create a unique avatar with the best frills money can buy. And then, you can race!
The variety of kit and racers is matched by the variety of race courses and competitions to enter into as well. Fans of this form of wild racing will be thrilled at the level of content which the game offers – that much is absolutely certain! The courses and the arenas are designed on a big scale too, so atmosphere comes in no shortage in MX vs ATV Supercross. Every course is designed very differently, creating a very different racing experience and challenge with each stage of a competition. It would be difficult to say the game is repetitive, but is that enough to make it good?
The gameplay itself has some oddities. For one, you can’t drive into other racers to knock them out of the race. This is certainly not the point of the sport for sure, but the fact they simply go “ugh!” if you hit them at speed just seems to take out some of the game’s potential realism. Pulling off tricks is very difficult too, or at least landing them is. This is where the Tony Hawks-style elements of the game end then, as this really takes some skill, but sadly maybe too much. Disappointingly, you can’t really pull off an amazing stunt on every jump, which again whilst it may not be the sports’ real point, it would certainly make the game that bit cooler. Otherwise, the random resets and increases in the ability of your opponents can throw you during play, especially if you have a strong lead until lap 3 and then suddenly someone overtakes you and drives off into the distance out of nowhere.
The racing is fun enough, and does have a challenging element to it however. Landing jumps over hills, making sharp turns, and even staying on the course are just some of the factors you have to master in order to make it through to victory, which very much do represent the sport and make the game worthwhile and interesting. So while the racing has some elements of realism, what it really lacks is the awe to run alongside this and the atmosphere which it creates. Some elements have been taken too seriously, and others aren’t realistic enough, and so a balance is not quite successfully struck to make the racing the experience it has the potential to be.
There is one other thing which lets the game down too, and that is a lack of substance. The career mode consists only of a number of different competitions to enter, and there is little sense of achievement at the end of these or at the end of a race, other than the unlockable customisation you can gain from them. It doesn’t feel at the end of one of these races of competitions then that you have really achieved all that much, and so it is hard to keep up your enthusiasm while you play…
MX vs ATV Supercross makes an atmosphere, creates a challenge and simulates much of its target sport successfully, but is in a number of ways lacking. There is some realism left out, and some level of awe which is simply missing. There is also a level of achievement which the game does not give you when you a victorious too, which leaves you feeling somewhat unfulfilled by the experience. On the other hand, customisation is done fantastically in the game, and the racing is challenging and does draw you in too. A mixed game then, with clear pros and cons to be considered before buying. Fans of the sport may enjoy the representation which they can experience and appreciate what is on offer. Others may find that they do not find all of what they expect or are looking for. As a whole, there is still some level of work to be put towards nailing the MX vs ATV gaming experience.
The Good:
- A challenging racing experience.
- No shortage of atmosphere and variety in the design of arenas.
- Masses of vehicles, drivers and gear from top brands to choose from.
- A huge level of customisation to create your own racing champion!
The Bad:
- A lack of awe to fit the level of atmosphere in gameplay.
- Some realism has been left out, and some elements have also been created to seriously.
- Seemingly random resets and difficulty changes during races…
- There is little sense of achievement with your victories.
- The career mode is disappointing, offering only a series of competitions.
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
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