Many a day has
this reviewer spent playing Excitebike on his Nintendo Entertainment
System back in the day while dreaming of a new age in gaming when motocross
racing games looked a lot like they did in real life? Oh, how neat it would be
to play a game where you can get some big air and pull of neat tricks just like
they do in actual motocross events. Well, the years have passed and not only has
this dream been realized but now I can take a game much like the one I dreamed
about in my pocket. MX vs. ATV: On the Edge for the PSP is a portable
version of THQ’s motocross meets ATV arcade-racing game that hit the consoles a
while back and boy, is this motocross racing at its most fun.
If you’re not
familiar with the series, the premise is simple. You can choose to jump onto the
seat of a motocross bike or then again, if you’re a four-wheeled kind of gamer
you can climb up on an ATV instead. The best part, though, is that you can race
your MX bike against an ATV or vice versa. Add monster trucks, trophy trucks,
buggies and modified golf carts to the mix and you have an interesting race on
your hands. Really, what more can an off-road racing fan ask for in a game? To
top it all off, the game plays just as good as it does on the PS2.
The
single-player mode is separated in various racing challenges that also include a
Free Ride mode (for when you just want to tear through a track without having to
deal with opponents are race times) and a Practice mode (to get the feel of a
track or to perfect your trick combos). The bulk of the single-player race types
come in the form of the super cross, nationals, short track, open class, hill
climbs and supermoto. There’s even a Ghost Racing, a mode that has you racing
against a “ghost” that represents your best racing time. You can even customize
your rider (giving him a name, number and what time of gear he will wear during
races) as well as the vehicle itself. The problem, despite the fact that these
game modes are actually fun to play, is that On the Edge lacks a Career
or Championship mode. Expect no career building mode that has you climbing the
off-road racing ladder or building a reputation for your customized rider.
The most fun
part of the single-player game modes, though, comes in the form of Freestyle
mode. It is here that you will find challenges that are more geared towards
performing tricks than winning the race. There is High Score Challenge, a mode
that has you going against opponents to see how many trick combos you can pull
off before the time runs out while Combo Challenge has you attempting to pull
off the highest combo total. Follow The Leader has you attempting to pull off a
number of tricks listed on the lower left side of the screen before your
opponents do while also attempting to beat the clock. Finally, there’s Big Air
Challenge, a mode that has you searching through the terrain for a massive hill
to hit for the longest hang time possible. The best part about this is that you
can also play these Freestyle game modes with up to three other friends through
Ad Hoc but sadly enough; an Infrastructure online mode is a no-show here.
As far as the
gameplay is concerned, On the Edge is pure arcade-styled motocross racing
made simplistic and easy to pick up and play. Much like the console games, the
control scheme, even on the PSP, is designed well enough that controlling each
vehicle type feels different yet easy enough to manage. The game also handles
the vehicles physics right, allowing you to achieve big air without seeming
unrealistic. Depending on speed and angle, you can land some great jumps or eat
dirt. You can even accidentally collide with other racers! The button scheme is
perfect and by using the trigger buttons, you can modify a trick to unleash
different combos when you get some big air. Even steering your monster or ATV
feels right at home.
Another great
aspect of the game is its various terrains that offer unique racing challenges.
The track design is what makes each race such a treat and you’ll find that
you’ll enjoy the huge difference between each track whether you’re racing in New
Orleans or Las Vegas. Even the computer-controlled opponents make races unique
seeing as they race realistically. My biggest gripe, though, comes in the form
of the game’s load times. Not only are they lengthy but there are certainly many
of them and they become a real pain as you wait for the next race to begin.
Visually, the
game looks just as good as the console game, and with different vehicles and
environments you’ll be thankful for that. Not only do the riders and vehicles
look sharp and beautifully rendered, they look good in action as you jump and
pull off tricks. There are some classic PlayStation jaggies when you’re looking
at close up shots of your rider or the barriers that separate the crowds from
the track. For the most part, though, it’s a joy to see the rag-doll effects
during bad landings or when you collide with other racers. You’ll see these
wheels kicking up a lot of dirt as well so take that Excitebike.
On the sound
front, everything you would expect from a racing game featuring MX bikes, ATVs
and monster trucks is present when it comes to engine sounds. The loud buzz-saw
sound of motocross bikes sounds authentic but the best audio feature here comes
from the crowds that react to things a crowd filled with fans would react to,
like great trick combos and nasty spills. There’s a soundtrack filled to the
brim with heavy rocking tunes from the likes of the Kottonmouth Kings as well as
tunes from The Black Eyed Peas and Ozomatli.
MX vs. ATV:
On the Edge
for the PSP delivers a genuinely fun and solid arcade-styled racing game that
has its share of problems but makes for a great portable racer you’ll want to
take with you when you’re in the mood to kick up some dirt. While the
unfortunate lack of online play and load times that last longer than a Mountain
Dew commercial are the game’s weakest components, it’s hard not to dismiss this
game’s various great features that make this worth the purchase price.
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Gameplay: 9.2
Perfectly
suited for the PSP, the controls make On the Edge a solid racing game
that’s easy to get into and hard to put down. The trick modifier button allows
you to pull off some great trick combos and the various game modes and
racetracks are a real treat. While there are some minor issues that keep this
from being an off-road masterpiece, the long load times really become
bothersome.
Graphics: 8.5
The sharp
visuals look as good as the console version and with a variety of terrains to
rip through you’ll be happy to see how unique each track looks. The vehicles
look great in action and while there’s some nasty jaggies, it really doesn’t
take away from the overall beauty.
Sound: 7.5
The sound is
what you would expect from a racing game featuring dirt bikes, ATVs and monster
trucks. Yet aside from the revving of engines, you’ll hear the fans react to
fancy tricks and brutal landings. There’s also a healthy collection of tunes to
keep you company so if you like music from the likes of Unwritten Law or Papa
Roach you will not be disappointed.
Difficulty:
Easy
Even in a
harder difficulty setting this game isn’t incredibly hard. The
computer-controlled opponents race realistically, which means that they can make
the same mistakes you can during a race. The challenge comes from going up
against your “ghost” that represents your best lap time.
Concept: 8.0
The numerous
venues and the fun game modes (like Follow The Leader) will give fans plenty to
come back to even after they finish through most of the single-player races.
There are a large number of items to unlock and the best part is that the
biggest prizes are drivable vehicles like monster trucks, trophy trucks, buggies
and supped up golf carts.
Multiplayer:
7.5
The lack of
online play does hurt things considerably seeing as the great gameplay, numerous
racetracks and fun game modes that mix motocross bikes with ATVs would have made
a perfect online multiplayer game. The Ad Hoc fun is good enough to share with
three other friends, though.
Overall: 8.2
A solid
off-road racing game with a few minor flaws, MX vs. ATV: On the Edge is a
fun ride fans of this style of racing will certainly appreciate and enjoy. The
great controls, fun game modes, interesting track design and vehicle mixing make
this game a real treat. The really long load times, no major career mode and
lack of online play will make fans cry. All things considered, though, this is a
game you will want to add to your library.
