MX vs. ATV Unleashed

Not since those lanky Rastafarian Predators fought HR Giger's horrific Aliens have we been made privy to such a monumental match up. Tonight's bout: MX vs. ATV. Both corners are fighting for the unified heavyweight championship of the world. Ironically enough, both contenders are probably going to win it.

Not since those lanky Rastafarian Predators fought HR Giger's horrific Aliens have we been made privy to such a monumental match up. Tonight's bout: MX vs. ATV. Both corners are fighting for the unified heavyweight championship of the world. Ironically enough, both contenders are probably going to win it.

Overall, Rainbow Studios took a great game (MX Unleashed) and improved on pretty much all the weak areas (lack of online play, longer game length and the need for more vehicles) with the creation of MX vs. ATV Unleashed. Almost every vehicle you can want is offered (screw cars, go play Project Gotham 2) and you can challenge just about any vehicle you want. Golf cart versus monster truck…you’d be surprised who wins that match up. The amount of game play is unreal when you break down all the stuff required to reach 100% game completion (after like twenty five hours of game play, I’m only at 21.7%). With both racing and stunt courses offered, MotoGP 2 fans and Tony Hawk fans can finally sit around a common game and be happy. Thank you Rob Baumsteiger and the fine people of Rainbow Studios for again allowing me to live out my extreme sports fantasies without the fear of breaking my neck.

The game is clean looking without too much superfluous detail. It's better to be less busy than cluttered and Rainbow knows that, especially when designing for the PS2. The graphics could have been significantly upgraded for the Xbox. Technically there is nary a glitch to be had. I can't say this is the best game ever made but as far as the arcade racing genre is concerned it would be difficult to imagine how to improve on it.

The argument that humanity is consumed with confrontation has been fueled in the past years with the release of such movies as Freddy vs. Jason and Alien vs. Predator. Despite the fact that those two movies not only betrayed the licenses that made them famous, but were also real stinkers at the box office, the market still craves the classic standoff of two of our favorite icons going head-to-head.

If you’ve played the rest you aren’t going to find anything here that will reinvent the genre. Aside from some finely tuned physics and a library of new tracks, this is not much more than an expansion pack and definitely a step backward in game design. I can’t fault Rainbow for giving the public what they want, especially when I was the one screaming for online play last year, but MX vs. ATV Unleashed sacrifices too much in its single-player game. The removal of the Free World mode is criminal and I can’t think of a single reason why it logistically had to be removed.

Doch fangen wir vorne an: Vor den eigentlichen Spielspass setzt der Herr die Qual der Wahl. Als erstes wählt ihr euch ein virtuelles Alter Ego, das ihr mit einer passenden Kluft ausstattet. Anschließend geht es um euren fahrbaren Untersatz. Bei den Dirt Bikes - den Crossrädern, gibt es die Möglichkeit sich für 50cc, 125cc, 250cc und die Königsklasse 500cc zu entscheiden. Natürlich fahren alle Maschinen in ihren eigenen Ligen, damit es nicht allzu unfair wird. Ein- und Zweizylinder gibt es in den jeweiligen Klassen natürlich auch. Wie in allen Kategorien, bietet THQ original lizensierte Maschinen, die ihren Vorbildern optisch recht nah kommen. So sind unter anderem Suzuki und Yamaha vertreten. Wer genügend Punkte auf seinem Konto hat, kann sich später über einige „alternative“ Maschinen freuen. Mehr sei an dieser Stelle nicht verraten.

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.

Rainbow Studios has built a fairly strong reputation in the field of offroad racing games. Their games include Motocross Madness, ATV Offroad Fury, MX Unleashed, and now MX vs. ATV Unleashed. If you've liked the series in the past, you'll most likely enjoy this iteration, although it feels a bit like "been there, done that" at times. For racing fans that haven't picked up one of Rainbow's offroad racing games, Vs. is the one to own, because it combines all of the great aspects of their past efforts onto one disc.

MTX vs. ATV Unleashed is the ultimate off-road racing title. Rainbow Studios has done an excellent job, making THQ one of the best game companies for all of your non-automobile racing needs. They already have the top motorcycle game on the market (Moto GP 3), along with this ultimate off-road title. It would be an excellent motocross game, but throw in ATV’s, and a bunch of other vehicles that you can whip around on insane trails and jumps and you have an even better title. MX vs. ATV Unleashed is an excellent choice for a different racing game compared to what else is available in the current market. If you are an MX or ATV, or any other off-road fan, this is one game to check out.

In the end analysis, MX vs. ATV Unleashed is a game with some great gameplay and enough variety to make most gamers happy. The elements of the gameplay that are sub-par are not really that important to the player’s enjoyment. The whole presentation package is not equal to the best Xbox has to offer, but is a respectable effort that does not significantly hamper the player’s experience. I look forward to MX vs. ATV Unleashed returning on the next generation of consoles and showing us what a leap in technology can do for the franchise.

I will not claim to be a die-hard fan of off road racers or freestyle trick based games (Tony Hawk et. al.) nor do I claim a working knowledge of off road sports or an internal encyclopedia of tricks. I have no expert opinion when it comes to this particular subject matter, but I do know a thing or two about physics. Apparently so do the developers of MX Vs. ATV Unleashed because this game handles like an absolute dream. Or is it an absolute reality?

You know, there's a tactic used often in the gaming industry. It's a common procedure recognized as undergoing the whole rinse, wash, and repeat of milking a brand name. Companies find the makings of milking a franchise useful to be progressive, rich, and ultimately lazy. THQ is one of the many publishers to bombard gamers year after year with the same standard franchises that further build upon the namesake of a label. With their wrestling and with their off-road racing subjects, THQ is known for their particular niches. Last year for the first time, THQ published a game from Rainbow Studios, the original development team behind Sony's popular ATV Offroad games. This was an odd play for them to do this then, since Rainbow Studios was picked up by THQ two years earlier.

Spijtig genoeg heeft MX vs. ATV nog af en toe last van een paar bugs, waardoor soms crasht. Al bij al is het echter een prima game. De offroad freaks zouden nu al op weg naar de winkel moeten zijn!

To be honest, MX Vs. ATV Unleashed isn't entirely new, it's just a remix of last year's successful game with new implemented items and bumped up features to really focus on what made the last one so great. Fans of this kind of riding will want to pick up immediately, as it carries on the trend with flying colors, only faulting in a couple of slight areas that may frustrate those who were so dedicated to the first game. Others may want to rent first and see if the new digs are worth the fifty bones...although you probably won't need much convincing. This is, after all, a Rainbow Studios product.

Ultimately, what matters most of all is that MX Vs. ATV Unleashed is fun to play and packed with content. There's something innately wonderful about a game that lets you take a dirt bike onto a track and perform stunts, while simultaneously trying to win a race against an ATV, a monster truck, and a golf cart. Furthermore, between buying extra outfits and vehicles from the in-game store and unlocking all of the new tracks and events in the single race events, it'll take most players a good 30 hours to unlock everything that the game has to offer. When add up all those plusses, the minuses really don't matter all that much.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed plays much like any other motocross racing game (or any other “structured” racing genre for that matter) – pick a rider, pick a bike, pick a racing series, pick a track, then race. Racing series’ circuits consist of sixteen races each, and take place on either outdoor nationals tracks, or indoor supercross tracks. This is all standard for motocross games. Well, except for the whole vehicle thing, that is. You see, MX vs. ATV Unleashed also has you picking the type of vehicle to race as well; four-wheelers, motocross motorcycles – even sand rail dune buggies can be raced (not in a series, however).

I loved MX Unleashed, which was the first land-locked union between THQ and Rainbow Studios. To put that into perspective, the only other MX game I ever loved was Excitebike on the NES. Now, ATVs -- which Rainbow is familiar with from developing the first two ATV Offroad Fury titles -- get added to the mix in an attempt to wrangle every off-road-savvy gamer out there, no matter how many wheels they prefer to roll on. It's again a great title, but misses one of the biggest draws from the predecessor.

If there is one thing that we gamers are always on the lookout for it is a thrill that's bigger then the last. We want to do more insane stunts, perform that impossible trick shot, fight in melees of hundreds and still come out on top and, often most of all, drive at insanely high speeds. I like this as much as the next guy, which is why I'll be reviewing THQ's and Rainbow Studios MX vs ATV Unleashed. Take your seats, ladies and gentlemen, get your keyboard ready, and prepare to race.

As we are now deep into the dog days of video game releases, any game that comes out is probably over scrutinized by us folks in the reviewing business. Not only because we have less games to review (and therefore more time to look at the little things), but because we all got new nifty presents like graphics cards and speakers. So what better way to test these new accouterments out then to pop in a snazzy little title like MX vs. ATV.

I loved MX Unleashed, which was the first land-locked union between THQ and Rainbow Studios. To put that into perspective, the only other MX game I ever loved was Excitebike on the NES. Now, ATVs -- which Rainbow is familiar with from developing the first two ATV Offroad Fury titles -- get added to the mix in an attempt to wrangle every off-road-savvy gamer out there, no matter how many wheels they prefer to roll on. It's again a great title, but misses one of the biggest draws from the predecessor.

As long as you stick with MX's and racing, you'll find this game a decent distraction (especially for fans of the genre). Stumble into some of the other modes and vehicles, however, and the flaws of this game will stand out a little more.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed is a game that gives fans of off-road racing practically everything they could want in a two- or four-wheel dirt-racing game...and more. The "more" part of the equation, however, doesn't always ring true to the arcade racing series that has built a reputation for itself with a blend of fast action and responsive control.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed found success on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 last year with a fast-paced and approachable style of dirt racing that had you piloting everything from MX bikes to souped-up golf carts. Now, MX vs. ATV has been "unleashed" onto PCs and, because it's a fairly literal port of the console game, the same sense of control and amenable fun is left well intact, along with a few PC-only extras.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed is a game that gives fans of off-road racing practically everything they could want in a two- or four-wheel dirt-racing game...and more. The "more" part of the equation, however, doesn't always ring true to the arcade racing series that has built a reputation for itself with a blend of fast action and responsive control.

Not since those lanky Rastafarian Predators fought HR Giger's horrific Aliens have we been made privy to such a monumental match up. Tonight's bout: MX vs. ATV. Both corners are fighting for the unified heavyweight championship of the world. Ironically enough, both contenders are probably going to win it.

Matsch und Motoren - Ersteres spritzt, wenn Letzteres heult, zumindest im Rennspiel MX vs. ATV Unleashed. Der Titel verrät: Im Mittelpunkt der Fun-Raserei stehen Motocross- Motorräder und so genannte All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs oder Quads). Im Challenge- Modus schalten Sie in später kniffligen Einzelrennen zudem Fahrzeuge wie Monster Trucks, Strandbuggys, Allrad-Golfwagen oder gar Helikopter frei, die sich alle angenehm unterschiedlich steuern. Allerdings bleiben die Vehikel meist in der Garage, für die Karriere brauchen Sie nur die namensgebenden Knatterkisten.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed sieht teilweise fast so alt aus wie Mutter Beimer, ist schmutziger als Gina Wild in ihren besten Filmen und umfangreicher als Reiner Calmund -was will man mehr? Vielleicht endlich mal einen würdigen Nachfolger des Offroad-Klassikers Motocross Madness? THQ's Drecksschleuder-Rennen macht dank witzigem Fuhrpark, vielen Spiel-modi und praktischem Editor dennoch Laune. Simulationsfreaks greifen aber besser nicht zu: Das Fahrverhalten der Trucks und Buggys ist in etwa so realistisch wie ein WM-Sieg Togos.

MX vs. ATV Unleashed isn't a stunning game, but it is more than adequate. The environments are large and the game runs at a consistent frame rate throughout. At the peak of a large jump you can see vast amounts of the track around you and when switching to the 'Thrill cam' the racing is faster and even more intense. The game's muddy, blurry look and some uninspired textures hurt the overall appearance, but this is by no means an ugly game. Matching the game's rough feel is a soundtrack with artists such as Papa Roach, and Phunk Junkeez. It's not my usual taste in music, but it fits well, as do the minimal environmental sounds heard when racing outdoors.

Tosende Arenen und matschige Querfeldeinpisten - der neue Arcade-Flitzer bietet alles, was die Offroad-Welt hergibt. Im Gegensatz zum Konsolenmarkt ist das Motocross-Genre für den PC eine sehr übersichtliche Angelegenheit. Jetzt versuchen die Entwickler der Rainbow Studios mit MX vs. ATV Unleashed die verwaiste Nische auf Vordermann zu bringen. Bedenkt man, dass die Spieleschmiede 1998 das Startsignal für Motocross Madness gab, verwundert die frappierende Ähnlichkeit zwischen dem Kulttitel und MX vs. ATV Unleashed nicht.

There are a number of other problems that start to grate after a while, such as the excruciatingly long load times and the need to perform tricks to earn points needed to buy new tracks, riders and other things from the store. All problems aside, MX vs. ATV Unleashed is an enjoyable game. It takes a while to get into the groove, but many of the outdoor tracks are rather thrilling to race on. You have to wonder why all the other vehicles were included as they really don't add anything to the game. If you stick to the ground vehicles there is a lot to enjoy.

Eine Weile kann ich über fehlende Abwechslung und mangelnden Detailreichtum hinwegsehen. Doch die maue Gegner-KI, die sich wiederholenden Strecken und der eintönige Spielablauf reichen mir einfach nicht. Auch das anfangs ungewohnte Verlagern des Gewichts für Sprünge hatte ich schnell raus. Immerhin, der Streckeneditor beschäftigt mich länger und rettet die Wertung knapp über den Durchschnitt. Das Bauen eigener Kurse geht nämlich schnell, das Probefahren macht Spaß. Ein paar Stunden zumindest.

MX Vs. ATV Unleashed is the fourth game in THQ's MX series, and the first to get a PC iteration. The PC port feels excellent; however, the game suffers critically from feature creep to the extreme, with the onslaught of apparently new features causing no single new feature to be excellently implemented. The end effect is a title that drops itself from "awesome" to "okay" in fairly short order.

Petite déception après des épisodes séparées intéressants, le cross-over que voici reprend certes les qualités de ses géniteurs, mais ajoute un nombre de défauts assez malvenus. Entre des soucis de collisions, une maniabilité déséquilibrée et un challenge pas toujours digne de confiance, le soft de THQ peine un tantinet à se justifier. Néanmoins si vous cherchez un petit terrain de jeu agréable sans trop de fioritures, vous pourrez aisément vous laisser tenter... en occasion.

Petite déception après des épisodes séparées intéressants, le cross-over que voici reprend certes les qualités de ses géniteurs, mais ajoute un nombre de défauts assez malvenus. Entre des soucis de collisions, une maniabilité déséquilibrée et un challenge pas toujours digne de confiance, le soft de THQ peine un tantinet à se justifier. Néanmoins si vous cherchez un petit terrain de jeu agréable sans trop de fioritures, vous pourrez aisément vous laisser tenter... en occasion.

Fruit de l'union entre deux titres issus du passé, MX Unleashed et ATV Off-Road, tous deux consacrés aux sports moteurs dits "alternatifs", MX vs ATV Unleashed propose comme principal atout une grande diversité.

Gaming is a world where character and personality mean everything. There are just too many generic shooters and dreary strategy games to merit even a mild glance at anything that does not sparkle with life. Originality, shine and creativity identify the games that have true individuality; the ones that scream out to us offering bounteous gaming treats that have not been spat out of an industrial mouth several million times already.

If you like off-road racing, and love that whole "need for speed" feeling, even if it is of the dirty kind... Unleashed is right up your alley. This is a solid game with a multitude of different racing modes (online and off) that will have even the heartiest of crotch dirt-rocket lovers gleefully grabbing their gamepads for hours on end!

There’s no shortage of off-road racing games out on the market today. There is, however, a shortage of off-road games that feature biplanes and golf carts. After years and years of angry emails from golf cart fanatics, THQ has finally answered their prayers. Sarcasm aside, MX vs ATV Unleashed is a decent game for fans of the genre, and will certainly give them plenty to do.

There's only so much you can do with racing. At the end of the story, it's always the same intrinsic elements: going fast by whatever means, in an attempt to reach the other end before the other racers or within a certain time limit. Even when you tack on gimmicks like weird vehicles, a space setting, power-ups, or whatever, it's still the same basic concept underneath it all. MX vs. ATV: Unleashed hits that rule head on and gets concussed for the effort.