Sony Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 PS2

Description: Fans of extreme-sports games looking for a diversion from Tony Hawk will want to sign up for the road trip in Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2, in which you'll join 11 other riders on a tricked-out tear across the U.S.--from Oklahoma City to Hawaii. But befor.... Read More

Description: Fans of extreme-sports games looking for a diversion from Tony Hawk will want to sign up for the road trip in Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2, in which you'll join 11 other riders on a tricked-out tear across the U.S.--from Oklahoma City to Hawaii. But before you can hang with the likes of Mat "The Condor" Hoffman or Ruben "Pollo" Alcantara, it's advisable to practice your chops on the Free Ride or Session modes, especially if you're a newcomer to tricks-based sports games. We spent a good amount of time on Free Ride's open-ended play time to master the complicated sets of controller taps needed to achieve trick points. The levels that you can ride in either Session or Free Ride depend on what you've unlocked in Road Trip. To get to the next destination, you'll need to complete a set of four challenges not once, but three times (in rookie, semipro, and pro). That can be a daunting challenge, especially for beginners, and for more experienced players it can get a little tedious as you search for the final trick that will push you to the next level. That said, after building some new calluses, we found a satisfying BMX groove and zoomed along on our road trip. The game also includes several multiplayer options, including HORSE, Tag, Halfpipe Hell, Graffiti War, and Push, where you try to out trick your opponent and make his side of the screen smaller by increasing your side of the screen. Graphically, the game detail is superb--from the bikes and riders to the glitzy lights of the Las Vegas background. Our one major technical beef came from not being able to use our own soundtrack, but the game is populated with some fine tunes, ranging from LL Cool J to Iggy Pop. --Agen Schmitz Pros: As tricky and fun to master as Tony Hawk Fantastic graphics--from backgrounds to riders Numerous multi Minimize