Freekstyle

"Get yo' freek on!"

Ah, freekstyle... 'Tis fun for many hours, which is more than I can say for a few sports games (I won't mention any names here). While it may seem a little cartoony, cliche and commercial at first, you'll soon be making the ''Brrrrr-aaaaap!'' noises with the rest of us.

Pros: Easy to use, very easy to learn. A newbie could pick up a controller and become a pro within minutes. It's lots of fun. The freek-out meter is cool, and the 360-degree camera angle effect when you ''get yo' freek on!'' (as I like to put it) is a very nice touch. More codes and cheats than meets the eye, and a whole slew of unlockables can keep you coming back for more!!! (And so can some of those chicks. I know they're just computer generated, but...) The load time is minimal, which is good when you're in a hurry to kick your best friend's rear end in the monumental motoplex. The game can be for everybody - kids and adults alike could pick up the game and have a blast.

Cons: Well, there's the multiplayer option, if you can call it that. While I'm not neccesarily a fan of my tv being split up four ways, it'd be nice to at least have that option. Plus, where's the crazy 360 freekout in a two player game? Also, it can be hard to achieve the needed air to pull off the tricks in some levels. The music can get repetitive, as can the announcer, and it'd sure help to have a few more freestyle arenas to tool around in. If they'd thrown it on a DVD instead of a CD-ROM, they coulda packed in alot more cool stuff, like a hot soundtrack, a few more levels, and/or a couple of hidden chracters. Plus, it'd be nice to have a good book of combos and tricks to go with the game, if only to keep track of them all.

Bottom line: While the cons might outweigh the pros, I think everyone should take a good look at this game. It's gold, and deserving of a head nod or two. I've had the game for a week, already I'm an addict. So don't say it's merely SSX on a bike, like I know you're dying to. Just crank up your XXX soundtrack on your stereo, lie back and let Freekstyle entice you.

Now, if you'll excuse me, me and the M-E-T-Z gotta fly. Brrrrr-aaaaap! Brrrrr-aaaaap!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/19/02, Updated 08/19/02