Motocross videogames haven’t been blessed with the greatest commercial success on the current-generation formats. THQ’s first stab with the hugely popular MX Vs. ATV series moved away from it’s surreal collection of golf carts and lawnmowers and far too close to simulation for many, while their latest more accessible design proved to be the death knell for the franchise. Failure to perform for Disney Interactive’s PURE sparked the publisher’s rather public decision to move away from designing videogames for the core audience, and Techland’s nail’d struggled against the preconceptions of mediocrity. Hopes are high that Black Bean can change the state of affairs however, with the release of Milestone’s MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship.
Developed by the same studio responsible for the well received WRC 2 – the Official Game, MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship walks the thin line between simulation and arcade handling. Much like Codemasters’ hugely popular DiRT series, MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship eschews the strict tightness of simulation
titles while also not becoming so relaxed that the player can compete without any real thought. It’s accessible for the sake of enjoyment, not casual gamers; punishing for the sake of challenge, not simply because it can be.
For many gamers the MUD World Tour gameplay mode will be the most engrossing gameplay experience MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship offers. A typical career style progression is complimented by a couple of original ideas, for example winning events earns cash which can then be spent on new events, event tiers, riders, equipment or ability upgrades. The decision of which to purchase depends greatly on the gamer’s play style: here in the Electronic Theatre office one player would opt for the new events every time, progressing through the videogame quickly, while another would choose to upgrade their rider making each new challenge a more comfortable one.
Throughout the duration of the MUD World Tour mode the player will take part in a variety of events, from basic races and endurance cups to check point races (wherein the player must pass through as many gates as possible within a time limit) and the widely publicised Trick Battle. This latter mode seems somewhat restrictive compared
to PURE’s aerial acrobatics, but this is reflective of MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship’s decision to stay grounded in reality. It’s still perfectly enjoyable, but the real meat of the videogame is in its many race challenges.
There are fifteen tiers of events to unlock in the MUD World Tour mode, each event playable with all four of the available riders, often offering different rewards, and thus a genuine reason to complete previous events with new riders. There’s no possible way to suggest that MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship is a slouch when it comes to content, and this is even before we’ve got to the Official Mode and multiplayer gameplay.
The Official Mode is a more basic set-up, wherein the player can opt for a one-off race or customise a short tournament. There’s still plenty of challenge to be had here as well as the ability to tinker with the ruleset to your
own preferences and your chosen level of difficulty. What’s more, Official Mode uses all the licensed tracks, riders and bikes of the MX1 and MX2 championships, allowing players to race against their heroes.
The multiplayer gameplay provides a similar set-up to the Official Mode, with customisable one-off events being the principle offering. Players can create lobbies and entertain repeated matches against the same opponents without needing to cycle through the matchmaking process again, as well as setting their own preferences for AI, lap numbers and other basic rules. The network code appears to be well developed also: in the races Electronic Theatre witnessed for this review, no lag of connection issues were experienced whatsoever.
The technical quality of MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship is impressive, though slightly flawed. Milestone has delivered a welcome rendition of the original MotorStorm’s track deformation 
mechanic when racing on such malleable terrain, and it genuinely has an affect on the handling. However, in this aspect alone the draw distance is a little lacking, occasionally resulting in a poor choice of driving line not through your own doing. Aside from this unfortunate flaw, MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship is very well presented, with detailed backdrops and clothing that flutters vigorously from the constant rush of air. The menu system is also presented in a unique and interesting fashion, perfectly suited to the theme of the videogame. The soundtrack is also suitably vicious, with guitar lead modern rock complimenting the aggressive nature of the adrenaline-pumping races.
As an attempt to bridge the gap between motocross and videogame fans, MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship is certainly better placed than any other title on current-generation hardware. Packing plenty of content, varied delivery and an unique visual design, there are few flaws that could be presented as reason enough to ignore the videogame. There may be a comparatively limited audience waiting for the release of a new dirt bike videogame, but those who are will find MUD – FIM Motocross World Championship delivers the finest motocross experience available on current-generation hardware.
In-depth Reviews Score Interpretation
-END-
Loading ...
Gaming News 24/7
