MX Superfly
Score: 95% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: THQ Developer: Pacific Coast Power and Light Media: GCD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Racing
Graphics & Sound: Until now, MX games have not been very good to the Cube. Take last year's mini-Frisbee Supercross World. Poor controls, bad graphics - it was a blueprint on how not to do things. Thank the maker that the guys at THQ don't know how to read instructions. From the start, MX Superfly shows how MX games should look and sound. Everything, from the riders to the tracks have an extremely clean look to them, which is kind of a funny statement when you think about it since you're racing through dirt - but anyway, I'm getting off track. Animations are top notch and smoother than a bald Billy Dee Williams in a malt liquor commercial. The amount of detail in each of the riders is amazing - shadows, realistic looking light effects, dirt and smoke flying everywhere. What's not to like? The game's soundtrack simply rocks -so much so that I actually considered making myself a copy of it. Highlighted by bands like Hoobastank, Hotwire, and Funky Homosapien, the soundtrack goes a long way towards getting you ready to race. Of course, there are the requisite cheers and engine sounds which can drag the sound quality down just a bit (mostly because they have a very generic feel to them), but it is nothing that detracts from the presentation.
Gameplay: To be honest with you, the extent of my MX knowledge comes from having seen Motocrossed on the Disney Channel about ten times, so if you're looking for an expert's view of the game, you won't find it here. Anyone looking for a 'Is this game worth it?' view, then you've come to the right place. While more of a simulator when compared to games like Freekstyle, MX Superfly does tend to lean a little more towards the arcade style of things. The big selling point of the game is the massive amount of air that you can get from tricks. There is still a viable racing system in the game, but when it's all said and done, the air is where all of the fun sits and where most of the game's rewards are. Playing in Freestyle mode, there are even some fun hidden areas to explore - but only if you can get enough air to hit some really out of the way jumps. The main thrust of MX Superfly is the Career mode. After selecting one of 26 riders (14 of which are real pro-riders), players advance through 22 indoor and outdoor circuits (in both 125cc and 250cc ranks) as they progress though the game. Simple, huh? When racing gets old, MX Superfly also offers 11 mini-games to keep players busy, including a game of horse or target practice. If that wasn't enough, there is also a create-a-rider option. This is not a short or shallow game.
Difficulty: If MX Superfly has any faults, it is that the game is a little too hard. Even in the first few circuits, I had problems placing against the computer's racers. However, as hard as the game is, there is that little something that makes you want to go back and try again until you beat it - which is entirely possible, despite what I screamed the first twenty times I lost.
Game Mechanics: MX Superfly is a dream to control and provides the functionality to allow beginners to play, and enough flexibility to give advanced players freedom. For example, pressing B will put on the brakes - a function that will be very useful to beginning riders. However, once players become better versed in the nuances of the controls scheme, they will learn that tapping B produces a nice powerslide that slows you down enough to help you out, but still keeps you in the race. For really sharp turns, pressing the Z-trigger puts you in an all-out powerslide. As previously mentioned, the game is all about big air. Before hitting a jump, holding the R shoulder button preps your rider. The longer you hold the button, the more air you'll get - provided you time the release correctly. While in the air, certain button combinations will cause your rider to pull of some sick tricks such as the Rock Solid, Disco Can and other trademark MX moves. There is little else to say about MX Superfly other than it is a racing title that will appeal to both that hardcore speed freaks and stunt junkies.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
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