MX vs ATV Untamed is a strange mix of simulation and arcade racing, and that mix makes it difficult to really enjoy the game. Previous Rainbow games also married arcade and simulation, but it seemed to be done on purpose and for gameplay purposes. Untamed, however, doesn't balance the two well, and it feels like it was supposed to be either a sim game with arcade parts that should be taken out or vice-versa.

Graphically, MX vs ATV Untamed is a disappointment. Models are lackluster, textures are bland, and the whole package looks like it came from two years ago. Sound, however, is a different story. Vehicles sound appropriate, and the soundtrack - even if the individual songs are your personal favorites - feel at home in the multiple event types.

Event types and vehicle types are both varied and interesting. Some events happen inside a stadium and have you driving your dirt bike over tire-crested hills, man-made mud puddles, and random logs while other events have you driving your dune buggy from flag to flag in a true off-road race where you're racing just as much against the trees and other obstacles as your fellow racers. Unfortunately, the aforementioned arcade/simulation dichotomy rears its ugly head in the control scheme. You can still jump unrealistically high, but landing then has realism elements which causes you to crash 99 times out of 100. You can take a right-angle turn at full speed and be no worse for the wear, but nudging a rival racer is likely to send you careening off the race track. The whole thing just feels sloppy. Rainbow should have gone all-out arcade or all-out simulation, because this bizarre amalgamation of the two is difficult and frustrating to play. I'm all for difficulty in games, but I want to be battling racers, not the game engine.

Multiplayer split screen is available, and it's fun to compete with friends, but where the multiplayer really shines is the loading screen for a local two-player game. While MX vs ATV loads the track both racers are placed in an indoor arena with a couple of ramps and hills of various sizes. Playing tag in the loading area sandbox is much more fun that racing on the available tracks. This should come up in play testing. Attention developers: if the loading screen is ever more fun than the main attraction you've got more work to do.

There are better simulation racers (Forza 2, Test Drive Unlimited) and better arcade racers (Burnout Revenge / Paradise) available for the 360, and unless you desperately want to compete in Motocross and Endurocross events, I can't recommend MX vs ATV Untamed; it's just too inconsistent to be fun as more than a rental.

Feb 8, 2008 | 0 comments
Justin Last