Mr. Kenickie's Motocross Madness 2 Review
posted at 2:47 AM on Thursday, July 13, 2000
Introduction
| Publisher: |
| Microsoft |
| |
| System Requirements: |
Pentium II 300
Windows 95
64MB RAM
200MB Hard Drive Space
4X CD-ROM
|
| |
| Reviewed Using: |
Pentium III 550
Windows 98
64MB RAM
48X CD-ROM
TnT2 Ultra 32 MB
Sound Blaster LIVE! Platinum
|
Microsoft, the evil empire of all software companies, has been a long time thorn in our sides ever since the wonderful days of DOS and good ol' cd, run, edit, arp, and my favorite: deltree. Next in Microsoft's line of "Let's Take Over the World" software came Windows 3.1, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0, and it soon became clear that we were living in a plutocracy governed by Microsoft. In fact, this review is being written in Microsoft Word 97 while doing research with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 and running on Microsoft Windows 98. Yeah, you can pretty much say that Microsft 0wnz3rs j00.
Well, in the past seven years, what have we learned about Microsoft? We know that Bill Gates has been participating in some unethical business practices that got the Department of Justice's attention. We know that Microsoft Office is the most used business suite in the corporate world for many unknown reasons despite the superiority of Lotus and Corel. We also know that both MSIE and Windows love to do one thing in particular on a daily basis which we have grown to accept and deal with: crash. Boy, do they love to crash, and Bill Gates knows this well.
Do you think it's a coincidence then that Motocross Madness 2, one of the best titles in Microsoft's gaming department, not only shines, but is exceptionally well done in the crashing department? After years of experience and fine tuning, I truly believe that Microsoft has taken crashing to the level of an art. You don't honestly believe that Microsoft's programmers are so inept and untrained that they can't keep the bugs out of their software, do you? One of the first things Microsoft looks at when they hire someone is their expertise in crashing programs--they thrive on that stuff! With so much practice under their belt, it's no wonder that Motocross Madness 2 excels in the area of crashing.
Motocross Madness 2, simply put, is about controlling a dirt-biker through various terrains and trying to crash as often as you can into trains, trees, buildings, and even ziggurats! This game even goes so far as to offer you six different methods to go about your crashing:
Baja - You can race in vast terrains, crashing through icy mountain roads, dusty deserts, and lush farmlands filled with a living environment.
Stunt Quarry - This event type allows you to rack up points by performing a plethora of stunts right before you go crashing into the ground.
Enduro - A crasher's paradise! You are given control in richly populated areas such as South American jungles and working airports to crash into more objects than you can ever dream of.
Nationals - You're sure to crash your bike many times as you twist and turn through these tight, curvy tracks designed to test your torque.
Supercross - Listen to the roar of the crowd as you crash into five other bikers in these indoor crashing arenas. This is one you won't want to miss!
Pro-Circuit - You get to create a character and work your way up to ranks from measly street kid to a crashing legend. This event isn't suggested for expert crashers, though, because you're forced to pay medical bills as you injure yourself.
As you can see, Microsoft cut no corners when designing different ways for you to enjoy your crashing fun.
(Getting tired of the "crashing" joke? Read on!)
the game
Gameplay was surprisingly smooth and exciting as I crashed my way through the countless levels and terrains. This was one of the few games that has actually grabbed my attention enough for me to completely lose track of time, and that's a rarity for me. There are simply so many different tracks that it'd be impossible to "memorize" the game and become an expert—never mind the fact that they completely randomize the locations of all the checkpoints within a board, making it a different experience every time it's loaded. Motocross Madness 2 has a nearly limitless replay value, and that's an incredible feat for a racing game. I'm very impressed.
As for controls, I have no complaints. Then again, it is a racing game, so the controls can't be all that complicated. You've got throttle, brake, left and right--that's it. You can also engage the clutch, but I couldn't figure out the use for that since I couldn't find a bike with gears. That's okay, though. It's much easier to crash into pillars when you don't need to worry about shifting.
Speaking of various bikes, you've got upwards of twenty different bikes to choose from, each of which has its own special set of attributes designed to optimize your crashing experience. Granted I don't know much about dirt bikes (okay, I know nothing), but I was able to tell the difference in both sound and feel of the different bikes. As an added bonus, the game allows you to customize your bike's and clothing's color--along with giving you the ability to set your identification number. Though it has no effect on your ability to crash into objects, it's a nice bonus that adds to the atmosphere of the game.
If I had one bone to pick with Microsoft, I would say that they should be donating money to the Mr. Kenickie fund. If I had a second bone to pick with Microsoft, it would be that the computer was too difficult to beat in the earlier levels. When you're crashing into things with your crappy tricycle while wearing street clothes, the competition is expertly flying around the course, knowing exactly where the next hidden checkpoint is at. Yeah, it's a small complaint considering it only affects you while playing the Pro-Circuit, but it's enough to take away from the fun.
aesthetics
The landscapes in this game are simply breathtaking. They're so good that it actually makes you want to stay on your bike for half a second to get a glimpse of your surroundings before going head-first into an oncoming train. Microsoft has done a splendid job, and I can honestly say that these graphics are the best I've ever seen in a racing game--heck, it's some of the best I've ever seen, period. You even have the option of going up to 2048x1536 resolution, not that any sub-$500 card can support that. Still, the option is there!
I was also highly impressed by the particle effects with dust and smoke--they were incredibly realistic, and when your ass goes skidding across the desert for fifty feet, you leave a nice trail of dirt in the air behind you. It's nifty.
sound
The sound effects weren't the greatest, but they got the job done. What they had there were actually pretty good, but the problem was that there wasn't enough sound. Sure, when you're riding around on a dirt bike, the only thing you hear is the buzzing of the engine, but can't we suspend reality for a bit? Some ambient sound effects would've really added to the atmosphere, making them even more immersive than they already were. It wouldn't have broken their arm to get a little more creative.
One other thing, too. There was no music whatsoever. That was fairly disappointing, but it's something that I can live without in a racing game.
value
At thirty-five bucks, Motocross Madness 2 isn't the cheapest game out there, but it certainly won't empty your wallet. For the amount of replayability, though, it's quite a steal, and this is the type of game you could whip out in three years and still enjoy. It's a high quality game with long-lasting entertainment value, and the price is fair. What more could you ask for?
conclusion
If you're a racing fan, this game is a must-have to your collection. Seriously. If I go over to your house and you say, "Hey, Mr. Kenickie, I like racing games," the first thing I will say is, "Show me Motocross Madness 2." If you fail to do so, I will then commence the beating, and things won't get pretty.
Oh yeah, even if you don't like racing games, you should still buy it and stuff. Motocross Madness 2 is a great game!
the game 5/5
Excellent replayability, simple controls, good game.
aesthetics 5/5
Some of the best damned stuff available, and I'm not talking about that bag of hash.
sound 4/5
I wasn't annoyed by the sound! Woohoo!
value 5/5
Great price for what you're getting. Microsoft can do that since they own the world.
the verdict 5/5
Get this game right now. No, you're still sitting there--get up and buy it. Go!
|
