Off-road racing games have been very popular for quite some time now. The first game of this nature that comes to my mind is Excitebike for the NES. A lot has changed since that game was released, including more realistic gameplay as well as other forms of off-road games (meaning different games based on certain vehicles). THQ has released a monster of an off-road game that goes by the name MX vs ATV Unleashed. This game has so many features it boggles the mind and becomes a game that will not leave your Playstation2 for a long time. Read on to find out why this is the case.

Over the years Rainbow Studios has made some fine off-road games including ATV’s and motocross. This year they have literally outdone themselves with their latest game MX vs ATV Unleashed because of the sheer number of different types of vehicles that you will be able to choose from to race. Not only are there motorcycles and ATV’s, but you will also be able to choose monster trucks, sand rails, helicopters, bi-planes, and many other vehicles. While this might sound like it might mess up the gameplay with all of the choices available, it does not because everything is integrated seamlessly.

One of the most talked-about features in this game is the MX vs ATV career mode. In this mode players will get to select what type of vehicle they want to drive and see if they have what it takes to win on all of the tracks. This mode really prepares you for the rest of the entire game. Besides the career mode there are some other modes that you will be able to play that will keep you entertained. There is a free ride, freestyle, challenges, and other racing events.

The physics for the vehicles in this game are really good. It will take players some time to learn how to correctly land their vehicles after they jump a hill; after they learn this, it will become second nature to them. One thing players will have to understand is the use of the clutch. The clutch is a very crucial part of this game because it will help them take hairpin turns among other things. Plus when players go over different bumps in the road, hills and other things, the vehicles react differently, which is a very good thing.

Multiplayer for this game is slightly disappointing. This game features so many different types of vehicles that it is a true shame that the developers at Rainbow Studios didn’t exploit this further and create some truly unique multiplayer modes. All players are left with is racing other characters online or via splitscreen. While it is still fun to take part in this, it would have been a lot better to have some truly innovative multiplayer modes.

There is only one slight problem with the controls for the vehicles. The Earth-bound vehicles (dirt bikes, ATV’s, golf carts) are a blast to control and super responsive. On the other end of the spectrum, all of the airborne vehicles are harder to get the hang of and are not as responsive as the Earth-bound ones. While this isn’t the worst thing in the world, it would have been nice if the airplane and helicopter were super responsive as well.

The graphics for MX vs ATV Unleashed are pretty good. All of the environments look pretty realistic and the textures are really nicely. The dirt textures are well done and look nice when a bike kicks up the dirt while you are on the track. The vehicles found in the game look really good, almost like their real-life counterparts. One of the best things about this game is the animations, especially when your player crashes. The bodies move in such a way that it seems like players are able to feel the pain that the digital racing guys are feeling.

The music for this game was pretty well done and has some big-name artists featured. While going though your laps you will be able to listen to Nickelback, Powerman 5000, Black Eyed Peas, Papa Roach and many more. While it might not seem like it would mesh well together, in this game it works out well. The sound effects for all of the engines are really well done and players will get the feeling that they are listening to the rumble of lots of off road vehicle engines.

If you enjoy unlocking items to use later on, then you will love MX vs ATV Unleashed. There are a ton of things that are unlockable in this game. Not only are there additional vehicles to unlock, but you will also be able to get your hands on new clothes for your riders and additional tracks to race upon. Another way to get additional items is to purchase them with the points that you will accumulate throughout the entire game. All of this gives better replay value for the game, and gives gamers further incentive to continue playing.

MX vs ATV Unleashed is rated E for Everyone . It will take up to 294 KB on your memory card for game saves. Up to six people can play online via broadband Internet.

Gameplay: 8.7
MX vs ATV Unleashed is a joy to play. There is a wide variety of modes that will keep gamers immersed for quite some time. The gameplay is really easy to pick up on, even for a first-time player.

Graphics: 8.7
The graphics for MX vs ATV Unleashed are pretty good. You will love the different animations for the crashes; they look so real that you can almost feel the pain when you crash.

Sound: 8.6
The soundtrack to this game is pretty robust and you will certainly find something you like in there. The sound effects are good as well.

Difficulty: Medium
While it will take a while to become extremely proficient at racing, players will be able to pick up the controller and get some enjoyment out of this game. The tutorial mode is really good and will have gamers playing better in no time.

Concept: 8.5
I really like that there is a wide variety of vehicles that you will be able to race during the game. This really helps give this game more variety and keep you entertained for a longer period of time.

Multiplayer: 8.5
The multiplayer isn’t as robust as it could be. It would have been better if there were a wider variety of modes to race in, or take more advantage of the different vehicle types. I guess that is what sequels are made for, which there should be in this case.

Overall 8.7
If you are a fan of off-road racing games then purchasing MX vs ATV Unleashed is a no brainer. This game has a plethora of options that will keep you entertained for hours on end.