Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2

"The Miracle Boy isn't the Birdman. Good."

The game I'm reviewing is called Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2. It is the second edition of Acclaim's Tony Hawk series. The rules are simple. Grind, manual, and trick your way to the top of the BMX rankings. Do you have what it takes?

Graphics 7/10

The biggest thing lacking from this category is detail. The graphics in Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 are very plain. There isn't a lot of detail to be found. Unlike the clothes found in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, the clothes the riders wear don't have much texture to them. You can see that the developer didn't put too much effort into the riders because they all look plain without any detail. The best part of the riders are the faces. They are really well done. The levels are also not the prettiest things. If you look at the grass the only color you'll see is green unlike in THPS3 where there were brown patches of soil here and there. On the plus side, the frame rate is always steady without any slow downs and the levels are HUGE, you can literally see for miles!

Sound 9/10

While there aren't as many songs to choose from in Dave Mirra 2 as there were in THPS3, what is there is good. There are songs from Godsmack, Sum 41, Gang Starr, Rage Against the Machine, and Ozzy Osbourne just to name a few. Sound effects are also pretty well down. From the grinding of a metal peg against a rail to the spin of the bike wheel it's all there, but in some levels the sound effects are pretty loud to start off and even louder than the music! So turn the sound effects down a little and turn the music up.

Gameplay 8/10

The game controls wonderfully. The trick buttons are pretty much the same as THPS3's. ''A'' is for ollies. ''B'' is for grabs. ''Y'' is for grinds, and ''X'' is for ''on bike tricks'' like bar spins. ''R'' and ''L'' are for spinning in the air. But here lies the problem. While doing tricks the controls become somewhat of a problem. Some tricks demand really awkward direction and button combinations to pull off. When trying to pull of an air trick, the controls seem not to be as sharp and responsive as when you are on the ground. You press up, left on the control stick and it sometimes think your pressing up or left and does a whole different trick. Also try to get use to using the D-Pad. It's small and uncomfortable to use at first, but it is more precise.

Modes 8/10

The modes in this game are the same with any extreme sport game. There is a ProQuest Mode which is basically a career mode where you try to gain respect of your fellow riders and sponsors. There is the multi player mode which is filled to the brim with different games. This multi player beats THPS3's hands down. Then there is the Park Editor where you can create your own dream park.

Features 8/10

-14 different riders and 2 secret riders
-13 different multi player games
-10 huge levels
-one of the best park editors ever created
-tons of tricks

Replay Value and Lasting Appeal 9/10

As with all titles of this type replay value is high. This game is also pretty difficult, yet addictive so you never want to stop. The multi player mode is what this game is all about. There are so many different games to choose from that you and a friend will be glued to the tube for hours. Finally, there is the park editor where you can make your own parks after you've grown bored of the pre-made ones. The possibilities are endless!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/06/02, Updated 08/06/02