MX vs ATV: Alive
THQ is trying something new with MX vs ATV: Alive that they haven’t done before. They’re pricing the game pretty cheap at only £29.99 in hopes of drawing the attention of more fans who may not traditionally buy this type of game. Then, they’re offering a ton of DLC so you can purchase additional bikes, gear and tracks online when you desire. So, does this mean that the game will be so horrible that you have to spend extra money just to make it worth playing or will it be so exceptional that you’ll want to dip into your pockets to take your game to the next level?
Storyline
In MX vs ATV: Alive you’ll wrestle for position to own the competition. Yes, that’s about it. You want to race, you came to the right place! If you are looking for role-playing, puzzle-solving or some meaningful storyline, you won’t find it here.
Gameplay
First of all, you should know that a traditional career mode is nowhere to be found in MX vs ATV: Alive. THQ is actually allowing you to use your creative mind, develop a personalized character and then gain experience through single player races as well as online multiplayer competition. When you level up you earn tracks, bikes and gear. Don’t worry though because even if you come in dead last, you still earn something.
Bike and character collision is a huge focus in this installment. Even if you’re a newcomer to the game and find yourself trailing behind a lot, there are enough bumps and other surprises that if you time them just right, you could just end up at the front of the pack.
The environments are hostile with an exhausting amount of hairpins and sharp turns so letting your guard down even for a second is not recommended unless you want to quickly lose your ranking. Oh, and if you find yourself lost, not quite sure which path to take, watch for fresh tracks in the mud to see where another racer went before you. Of course, this could also lead you to a dead end!
Gamers are promised tight controls in this installment. This means more realistic movement and now the consequences of your actions will happen more instantaneously, not on a brief delay. Also, you don’t wreck automatically when you hit another racer like you did previously so you can withstand a few bumps and get a little rough in the mud if you want and still hold your position.
Graphics
All the kinks you complained about in Reflex should be nicely addressed in MX vs ATV: Alive, not only when it comes to controls but the graphics as well. In fact, the graphics are probably the highlight of the game.
There’s new terrain rendering and improved lighting which really adds to the gaming experience. Desert sand dunes, swamp marshes and raging rivers are plentiful. Basically, once you see the graphics of the game, you’re definitely going to want to play. It will make the average person who’s not really familiar with the sport, James Stewart or any other racer, quickly become a fan.
Conclusion
James Stewart being involved and acting as an inspiration for MX vs ATV: Alive is a huge plus considering he is deemed the fastest man on the planet and has clocked speeds at 180. THQ couldn’t have picked a better muse! You’re going to get a full racing game with a lot of downloadable content so it’s pretty safe to say that this is one you will get your money’s worth out of.