Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2

"Unfortunately for Activision this is the biggest let down of their O2 range"

Basically to start I have to say something quite simple, I LOVE extreme sports games, I have a vast number of them. Put it this way I have 17 ps2 games and 12 are extreme sports titles and I have all the Activision ones currently available. That was until today. After about 3 hours of playing this game I was returning it to the store, and heres why...

Graphics:
Like evryone is saying, they are very nice, they suit the game well and the moves look well animated. It seems to flow smoothly and it really does look like a BMX and a rider. The graphics are realistic enough and basically make this visually a better game than Dave Mirra or the new Gravity games BMX rider game. However graphics do not make a game, they're just really important, if the game has a great playability then they aren't that important. However that last statement doesn't apply to Mat Hoffman 2.

Music:
Got to agree with everyone else here its awful! The unlocking of new tracks is a very nice new feature which before the game started had me interested. I find music in a game very important, I don't like to be able to predict the next song after having played the game 3 times. If this happens the music volume goes down on the options screen and on goes the CD player, basically the developers wasted their time putting music in this game. I didn't like the tracks and I didn't like the order, going from hip-hop to punk or metal isn't good for the soul!

Controls:
OK, I've been playing Aggressive Inline a LOT recently and I love the way that game handles, I also like to think that I'm pretty good at Tony Hawks 1000000 point scores and the rest leave me undefeated among friends. However this game just plain lacks in the control department. How the hell the characters mage to get their bike to speed up like that I don't know, hold down the jump button and you're instantly transported to lightspeed. I know other games get fast but not on the first level where you have little to know speed stats!
Why oh Why do you need to jump to be able to manual? The flatland tricks are a nice addition, but they don't do anything for me if they are too unresponsive. The first level has a challenge where you have to manual to eggbeater, it took me about 5 mins to get the bike to do this and its not because I was bad at the game it just kept doing nothing, when you are manualling you don't want to have to hold a direction to do a move if you then have to worry about being able to land it. Also what is the point in putting moves like the no hander one footer, why not have it as a combo? Speaking of which how on earth are you meant to pull off a serious point combo if the placement of moves make no sense?

Gameplay:
The worst part of the game so far. Lame objectives in a small amount of time, in small levels with no decent obstacles. The challenges were easy even with the bad controls. Everything seemed to be right where you left it, which gave the game very little challenge. I like the idea of having to do things, but at least give us something decent to do, something which will reward us with a nice cinematic which actually changes the course to give us something cool to do, rather than just opening another bad area.

Lastability:
About 3 hours for me. I'll admit I didn't complete it, but I unlocked all tracks bar one and I didn't like any of them, truly! I LIKE Dave Mirra, it had me going for ages but this game was the first game I have ever taken back the day I got it! It just didn't excite me. It started off frustrating me and then no matter how cool a trick I did I couldn't bare to keep it, luckily the guy at the store took pity on me! He'll have to enjoy it if he can! I will never ever think about getting this game to give it a second chance EVER!

Overview:
In MY opinion and at least one other persons I have read, do not touch this game with anything but a nuclear suit on. Its scrappy, slow and fast at the same time and the animation is the only saving grace, actually you can forget the saving part. This really is one of the WORST games I've ever played and that's not an exaggeration I truly am sorry its this bad cos I wanted it to be good, I really did.

It just isn't!

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 10/05/02, Updated 10/05/02