Just about every year, one developer or another releases a bike-racing game that claims to be "the greatest, most complete bike-racing game ever". And because every year there are updated stats, player details and so on, it can, to an extent, be true. But only until the next one comes along, and new for 2004 is Activision's Left Field-developed MTX Mototrax on Xbox.

Comprehensive is perhaps the best way to describe this game, at least in terms on content. This latest racer boasts a pletho ... more >>

Just about every year, one developer or another releases a bike-racing game that claims to be "the greatest, most complete bike-racing game ever". And because every year there are updated stats, player details and so on, it can, to an extent, be true. But only until the next one comes along, and new for 2004 is Activision's Left Field-developed MTX Mototrax on Xbox.

Comprehensive is perhaps the best way to describe this game, at least in terms on content. This latest racer boasts a plethora of new and refined playing elements that include Freestyle events, a track designer, and the option to partake in a career mode that sees players earning cash, buying upgrades and keeping sponsors happy. This level of interactivity and realism is something always welcome in racing, and here it helps to immerse players into a deep game that's good for a lot more than just a quick thrash.

Rider customisation, upgrades, known bikes and gear from Yamaha and Suzuki, and a cameo appearance from Travis Pastrana serve to make the game feel as believeable as possible. But most of all, it's the racing on the track, the handling, the competition and convincing graphics that make MTX faithful to the real-life sport. The game looks great, boasting a large selection of detailed racing locales, and the movement and animation of the bikes and their riders is also commendable. Competition is tough, and the gamer's own skills plays the bigger part in MTX as opposed to luck.

But the real crème de la crème comes in the game's online play. Here, gameplay is made much more competitive as players hook up to the net with up to seven others for a genuinely thrilling human vs human race. This makes racing more exciting and a lot more unpredictable.

The best motocross game yet? Perhaps... for now. << less