MX 2002 Featuring Ricky Carmichael

"It's like when Carmichael became champ, but better."

MX 2002 is the best MX game out there. It combines good graphics with awesome gameplay, along with a couple of Can-Cans and wheelies thrown in. It combines great race technique with a great freestyle mode where you can get mad air and pull off huge tricks like Carey Hart.

GRAPHICS:
The graphics in MX 2002 are great. The tracks look totally realistic, along with the dirt particles. The riders and bikes look great, too. The only problem I had was that they seem way too thin. Do MX riders fast? They GO fast, but I don't think they actually fast. Besides that, they look good.

GAMEPLAY:
The most realistic game out there. If you position yourself correctly, you'll clear a jump more smoothly. The turning was sort of choppy at times, but it's OK. The only problem I have with gameplay is that when you land on the wrong side of a hill, it's impossible to get up. I usually end up crashing myself. Other than that, it's great. I just wish you could smash people off the roads. ^_~

SOUND:
The engine sound is pretty cool, but the soundtrack gets annoying. You listen to 6 songs, over and over. And they completely mutilated Fat Lip! Come on! I would suggest turning the songs off and popping in a Sum 41 or Linkin Park CD. It does better.

CREATIVITY:
This game gets pretty creative. You can make your own rider and use him in 2 Player, Exhibition, and Freestyle modes. You can mix backflips, spins, and tricks together in mad combos. I'll admit, you'll crash a lot the first few times, but when you get the hang of it, you'll be pulling off moves that'll make Travis Pastrana cry ''Mercy!''.

MULTIPLAYER:
There's really not much to say here. It's the same as 1 player, but with 2 players. It's pretty cool testing your skills against someone besides the computer, but the split screen, like in all other games, is a nuisance.

REALITY CHECK:
Well, the riders and outfits are real.....the tracks are real....and most of the bikes are real. The ''Most'' comes from Team PCPL and Team THQ. Now, my question is: Why didn't Honda and Yamaha sign with THQ? If they had, the game would've been more realistic. For now, Team PCPL acts as Yamaha and Team THQ acts as Honda, until the two companies get some sense and sign with THQ for MX 2003.

OVERALL RATING: 9 out of 10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/27/02, Updated 05/27/02