Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 PS2 and Xbox Review

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2-PS2 & XBox

Game Review

OK then, we have all been wondering what to expect from this game, actually we where very pleasantly surprised. If level size and a wicked sound track makes for the best game in the universe then Dave Mirra BMX Pro 2 is well on it's way to world domination.
The main part of the game is based on the career mode. The focus is in the game's eight levels, where you will complete a variety of level challenges along the way. The basic goals remain the same as last time, with the standard high-score, long-grind, and big-air challenges making a return. Each level has other BMX pro riders milling around, who lay down more complex and difficult tricks, which must be completed to advance. This enables you to become fully immersed in the game.
At the end of the day, these tricks did exist in the previous version, so the riders in the levels are basically there to dress things up. Saying that, the levels are absolute whoppers and feature a high standard of graphical detail, this is one of the main areas where the PS2 improves things no end. Did I mention the music? Ozzy Osbourne, A Tribe Called Quest and Rage Against the Machine. It's all pretty standard stuff for this genre of game but we still love it, and it gets your pulse racing. The two-player mode offers many different options. For example there is a section where the object is basically to crash and burn in the best way possible (we liked this). The other sections are as follows, high score challenge, HORSE (Similar to THPS) and a level editor. This is also similar to THPS, you have several options on the theme, a very large space and loads of different objects. Although this is a bit laborious hard-core bikers, with a lot of time and patience will be able to build their own dream park. Unfortunately it's not all-good news, our version of the game did have some glitches. Firstly there are occasional problems with gravity. You can find yourself floating on water and hovering in the sky. Although these glitches aren't massive ones, and only occur sometimes they can be annoying at times. Secondly, this is not really a glitch but a minor moan; the controls seem to be kind of inaccurate. Even though things have come a long way since version 1 there still is room for improvement on the next version. Finally the camera work can seem a bit awkward at times. You occasionally see yourself riding off in to the distance until the camera has actually caught up with you.
All in all this game is a good romp with decent looks, animation and a pumping soundtrack. There are a couple of small question marks over the playability at times, but if you're mad about BMX games it's a "must buy". 7.5 (all screen shots taken from X-Box version)