MX vs. ATV Untamed

Shoddy production values and a complete lack of structure cripple this game right out the gate.

I feel I should make a few disclaimers for MX vs. ATV Untamed. Clearly this game was not designed for newcomers to motocross racing/stunt games, as there is no tutorial included, or even an option screen for viewing or changing the controls. Neither is this game for gear heads interested in tuning their off-road racing vehicle of choice, as customization is limited to one of several unlockable paint jobs. In fact, even if you don't find yourself in either of those groups there are plenty of other shortcomings that will keep you from enjoying Untamed.

Sometimes Tamed is Better

Beyond not including a tutorial or any kind of in game controls reference, Untamed further strives to confuse you by way of its disjointed sandbox style levels. The idea is to drive around pulling off cool tricks until you feel like engaging in an official race or stunt event, marked by shiny beacons scattered around the game's 8 unlockable maps. The first problem is that the environments aren't particularly interesting or conducive for pulling off stunts. Long fences block off significant sections of real estate in some levels, making the generally large maps seem much smaller. Then there are the dense patches of crash-inducing debris that make setting up a jump or just getting around a chore. And while there is a menu option that allows you to clip through said debris, it's a pretty lousy and cheap solution to an overall design problem.

The problems don't end when you begin a race or stunt event. The tilting mechanics involved in making jumps, a critical part of both racing and performing stunts, are fairly involved and will likely take quite some time to learn for newcomers to the MX vs. ATV series given the aforementioned lack of a tutorial. Racing against some of the sport's biggest stars such as Motocross champion Ricky Carmichael in this format is so out of context it does nothing to enhance the experience. Mix in graphics only a designer's mother could love, spotty collision detection, and downright buggy respawning issues after you crash and you get the impression more attention was paid to the game's licensed soundtrack than anything else.

One of the lone bright spots includes a milestones system that keeps track of total time spent airborne, stunt points accrued, and a bevy of other statistics. Additionally there's a decent amount of unlockable content, including paint jobs, driver costumes, and whacky vehicles such as the monster truck. In the end these features do little to salvage an otherwise dismal game. It probably would have been best if the PSP version of Untamed were kept in its cage.

-Pros:
* Good amount of content
* Decent stat tracking system
-Cons:
* Cluttered, uninspired maps
* No tutorial or in game control reference
* Unpolished gameplay

Comments [0]

post a comment

Post a Comment