Friday, July 11

Freestyle MetalX: Bikes, Babes and a B+

By Scott Steinberg
EXPN.com

Buckle up, virtual sports fans ... it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Freestyle MetalX, Midway's new motocross title for GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox delivers the action of FMX right to your living room. By improving on the free-range, frenetic play of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater and fusing it with an exhaust-friendly heavy metal soundtrack, MetalX serves a surefire symphony for your button-mashing destruction.

"This is the first all-freestyle game done with pro riders," says virtual and real-life athlete Ronnie Faisst. "You can do tricks off anything. There's absolutely no sense of confinement. It's crazy!"

Authentic stunts, real pro riders and cool course sites make Freestyle MetalX well worth smashing your piggy bank for.

Faisst is joined by eight pro riders including Clifford "The Flyin' Hawaiian" Adoptante, "Mad" Mike Jones, Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg and seven pretend peers, including ninja Jien Yong and Rasta reject Bob Gnarly. "Funny, I didn't see any of the computer crazies at the motion-capture session," Faisst laughs.

Their mission: Shred eight massive levels replete with ramps, pipes, cattle pens and casinos. Naturally, MetalX trades realism for rambunctious romping, a strategy supported by its dizzying arsenal of gravity-defying stunts and rockstar attitude.

Driving around an open environment, you begin by speaking with 'Infochicks.' Besides providing ample eye candy, these lovely ladies assign challenges such as jumping over a barn or tricking off a massive mountain. Complete enough, and you'll move on to additional events, including stunt competitions, head-to-head challenges and races with area champs who serve as end-level bosses.

Grounded in a genre that's desperate for innovation, players will welcome the changes this game brings. While a comprehensive level editor, instant action and tournament-style party mode options are available, it's career mode that'll really have your two-stroke thrumming. During "career" play, drivers work to earn cash, upgrade their bike and unlock freebies ranging from hidden videos to babe posters and cheat codes.

With an old-school soundtrack, big-city backdrops and tons of hidden freebies, plan to lose much sleep with this sure-to-be-addicting title.

"The mission goals are nuts," says Faisst, the game's coverboy. "You can rip anywhere, trick any lip, chase down old ladies ... I'm down with that. Not in real life, you know, but still," he says, admitting even the trickiest tasks can become repetitive.

Luckily, superb bike handling dulls the pain a bit. Wheelies, nac nacs, cliffhangers, barneys and powerslides all are easily executed. Comfortable controls even allow for burnouts and donuts, which quickly transform into knuckle-whitening speed bursts. While largely an arcade-style affair, real-world concerns such as weight transfer and braking do play a role, MetalX strikes a nice balance between absurd fun and authentic athleticism.

Don't mistake it for the real deal, though. Says Faisst: "The game'll get you in the right mindset for professional competition, but I wouldn't try this stuff at home. Not everyone can do what we do ... or afford our hospital bills."

Nevertheless, you'll find Freestyle MetalX an irresistible combination. Pairing throw-back rock hits from Motley Crue, Megadeth and Twisted Sister with sparkling visuals and frenetic play, it's one wild ride. Loud and ludicrous, Midway's stab at sports simulation takes home high, if not record-breaking marks in the action sports category.

Game Grades

Overall: B+

Gameplay: A-

Graphics: B

Soundtrack: B+