Activision O2 is making
quite a name for itself in the extreme sports genre, and if you’re a fan like
me, the more titles they release the better. So when a sequel to Mat Hoffman’s
Pro BMX was announced (and for the Xbox too), this extreme sports gamer couldn’t
help but smile.
The Mat Hoffman series
draws its inspiration from the Tony Hawk series and this sequel comes close to
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 in most aspects. The playing world, for instance, is
massive and is filled with many things to interact with as well as hidden items
to uncover. Completing a set of challenges opens new challenges that gamers
need to complete before moving on to the next location.
Four playing modes make up
the Mat Hoffman experience: Road Trip, Session, Free Ride and Multiplayer
mode. Session is basically a single level ride that gives you a timer option
(choose from two, five or ten minutes) and allows you to beat the best time
before the timer runs out. Free Ride is a good way to get to know the controls
and the various tricks before attempting the main mode, Road Trip.
Road Trip has you choosing
any of the twelve riders–all of them, like legends Mat Hoffman or Kevin
Robinson, are well-known in the Pro BMX circuit–and taking them through a set
of challenges in the starting location until you earn enough Road Trip Points to
move on to another city. And there are nine cities in total (from Oklahoma City
to Las Vegas), all of them with their own unique challenges and charming points
of interest . . . and you are the one who decides which one to unlock next!
The final playing mode is
the Multiplayer mode, which offers a number of two player games such as Graffiti
War, Trick Attack, Tag, Horse, Push, Free Ride, Treasure Hunt and Halfpipe
Hell. With so many choices you can’t help invite a number of friends over since
both Horse and Halfpipe Hell can allow up to eight players in a take-your-turn
kind of deal.
Mat Hoffman’s controls
can be a bit tricky at first but it’s nothing a quick review of the instruction
manual and few times around Free Ride couldn’t correct. There are a number of
new tricks in the long mix of grinds, rocket airs and grabs. There’s even a
trick that has you standing on your bike’s seat. While the tricks are great,
this game is about challenges and the challenges range from knocking down
storage bins to making X amount of points.
Graphics-wise, Mat
Hoffman is a really good-looking game and it does make full use of the Xbox’s
graphics abilities. Each environment is filled with so many things to interact
with–although, sadly enough, it doesn’t get as detailed as Aggressive Inline.
There are certain spots in the game that are empty and will leave gamers
thinking there should be something here . . . anything . . . even a simple ramp
would do. But thankfully the characters look amazing and even more so as they
perform their daring yet incredible feats.
The music in the game is a
mixed bag of several different musical genres such as hip-hop, alternative, old
school rap and some heavy rock tunes. Some gamers might find it unusual to find
Iggy Pop’s “The Passenger” followed by Ice-T’s “Reckless” all in the same
soundtrack. And while the tunes are great at getting you into the game, the
choice to add your own song would have been greatly appreciated.
If you’re a die-hard fan
of extreme sports then this is a solid investment for you Xbox owners, although
there was still more room for improvement. I suggest gamers rent this one before
thinking about buying it.
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#Reviewer’s |
Gameplay: 7.8
The controls can be a bit difficult
to manage, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to concentrate on
performing the more complicated tricks. Just like David Mirra BMX Racing 2, you
can perform tricks (such as one-handed no-footers) and control direction of the
landing. Yet troubling is the fact that landing isn’t as easy as looks thanks
to the camera. Other flaws in the game is the fact that you can get stuck in a
narrow corner (you’ll know you’re stuck when your rider’s head vanishes into the
wall).
Graphics: 8.1
Mat Hoffman’s graphics are also an
improvement from the original game and while there are a lot of vacant areas in
each environment, the overall surroundings are just large and heavy on the
details. Casinos in Las Vegas are alive with flashing lights and all the glitz
and glamour you’d expect from the street of the Sunset Strip. The textures in
buildings and vehicles are some of the best seen in a Xbox game.
Character models are also
excellently down and their realistic movements are truly amazing . . . amazing
enough that when you see a rider fly off his bike and slam against a surface
(let the bloodletting begin), you won’t help but wince at the awful aftermath.
Also, if you’re familiar with each Pro, you’ll be impressed how close to the
real thing each rider has been rendered. Mat Hoffman really looks like Mat
Hoffman.
Sound: 7.8
There is quite an interesting mix of
tunes that make up the game’s soundtrack but the diversity of the playlist might
not sit well with others that feel LL Cool J and Suicidal Tendencies should not
be seen together let alone share a soundtrack. If you can overlook the crossing
of musical genres, the songs are actually pretty good. There are no big sound
effects to speak since all you can hear is heavy pedaling and the occasional
grunt when your rider falls.
Difficulty: Medium
It’s easy pulling off basic tricks
such as some flatland tricks, grinds and air tricks, but it’s the landings that
can be frustrating–especially when performing air tricks. Leveling the bike in
mid-air isn’t as easy as it looks and neither is performing the trickier
manuals.
However, the difficulty
isn’t in being able to successfully land an especially elaborate trick but
successfully meeting each challenge. Some challenges have you collecting five
floating gas canisters or looking for the keys to the van. In order to complete
each challenge, you must either search the environment thoroughly or perform
extreme tricks. You start at the amateur level and work your way to a Pro level
where the challenges become increasingly difficult to complete.
Concept: 8.0
The improvements are undeniably
noticeable from its predecessor in the hundreds of new tricks that look
spectacular when you happen to pull them off successfully and the various new
locales. And exclusive to the Xbox is an all-new location and an extra hidden
rider gamers get to unlock. Oh the thrill of finding exclusive hidden treasures!
There are also quite an
extensive amount of video clips for each Pro that are worth unlocking if you’re
interested in the lives and insight of pros like Mike “Rooftop” Escamilla. And,
of course, there is the Create A Park option that has enough goodies to create a
worthy park for you to practice on.
Multiplayer: 8.0
There are seven multiplayer modes
that two players can happily jump into split-screen style. Many of them have
been seen and done before in the Tony Hawk series while others are original.
For instance, the Push game has you playing against a friend, pulling off as
many tricks as possible until your opponent’s screen becomes small enough that
the winner fills the entire screen. And then there’s Halfpipe Hell where you
make your way up a mountain of vert ramps until you reach the top without
falling into the lake of fire.
Overall: 7.7
Mat Hoffman Pro BMX 2 is a worthy
sequel and a ride worth taking if you’re a devoted extreme sports gamer. There
are plenty of challenges, huge playing environments and highflying tricks to
give extreme sports gamers their money’s worth, but there are also a few flaws
that can’t be ignored.
