Motocross Madness Hits Xbox and PS2 – “MTX: Mototrax” is Here!

by Louis Bedigian

Motocross racing, Activision-style.  ‘Nuff said.

Activision has always been a great game developer, and Tony Hawk has always been a great skater.  But it wasn’t until the two of them teamed up for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater that they became household names.

With ongoing success that shows no signs of slowing down (and will definitely NOT slow down as long as the games continue to rock), the Tony Hawk series is comprised of the most popular extreme sports games in the world.  It’s no surprise that Activision has spun off the Tony Hawk series with several other sports, including wakeboarding (my fave), snowboarding, and BMX biking.

Now they’re unleashing a spin-off that’s a bit different – MTX: Mototrax.  It looks cool, it sounds cool, and knowing Activision’s history it’s bound to be cool.  But what exactly can extreme sports fans expect from this stunt racer?

Most of Activision's extreme sports game have Tony Hawk-style mechanics but follow their own unique path.  Is that the case with MTX: Mototrax?  Or is it entirely different from the Tony Hawk games?

Kragen Lum, Associate Producer: MTX: Mototrax is definitely the furthest step away from previous action sports games released by Activision.  The game has a different approach as it contains racing, freestyle tricks and objective based goals.  It’s almost like having three complete games in one.  The racing element alone makes MTX stand out on its own.

Which does the game focus on the most: winning races or scoring points?

KL: MTX is about 60 percent racing, so it leans heavily towards winning races.  Since the game runs at 60fps, the racing is fast paced and with eight riders on the screen at once, there’s plenty of action.  Scoring points in the freestyle competitions allows the player to win the competitions and unlock other freestyle and free ride levels.  The same is true for earning MTX experience points in the free ride levels.  The great thing about the MTX Career mode is that it allows the player to choose what events they want to compete in, whether it’s racing, freestyle or free ride.  Because of this, the game focus is entirely in the hands of the player.

Nice view.

How big is the trick system?  Roughly how many tricks are there?

KL: The trick system in MTX: Mototrax is huge.  We have over 100 real freestyle motocross tricks including everything from the old school to the newer backflip variations and some tricks that have been attempted but not successfully landed.  The way that the trick system is designed, you can do in-air combos of tricks and even do landers. 

Tell us about the course environments and how the various terrain and real-world physics affect the gameplay.

 

KL: All of the levels in MTX are beautiful and full of detail.  There are outdoor race tracks, stadium based race tracks, freestyle arenas and wide open free ride levels to explore.  The race tracks are rutted out and bumpy in sections, which will definitely keep the player on his/her toes.  The freestyle arenas, like the X Games level, are modeled after real jump layouts to give the player a realistic course to pull off incredible trick runs.  The free ride levels are some of the largest levels seen in a game of this type and they look fantastic.  The physics allow the player to fully control the bike, whether it’s in the air or on the ground.  Having the ability to shift your weight on the bike when you’re in the air really adds to the gameplay so that jumps can be timed and executed to perfection.  Anything that can be done on a real motocross bike can be done in MTX.  From jumping 200 foot gaps to pulling wheelies and donuts, it's all there.

Striving for first.

MTX: Mototrax rewards players with virtual cash for winning races.  What kinds of things can be purchased with it?

 

KL: In MTX, players can earn cash by winning races, earning sponsors, wearing sponsor gear and racing for a team.  This cash can then be used to purchase a never ending supply of gear and clothing.  Bike upgrades are earned by impressing manufacturer sponsors during the races as well.  Experience points are also earned by completing objectives in the free ride levels, allowing the player to unlock other free ride levels and freestyle competitions. 

How much freedom do players have over their riders and the way that they are customized?

KL: Players have lot of freedom with creating a Custom Rider in MTX.  For starters, you have a racing outfit and a street outfit, so you can choose different clothing for racing and freestyle/free ride levels.  Players can change the face of their rider, the helmet, goggles, gear, gloves, boots and pads on their rider.  Gear and clothing from all of the top motocross brands, as well as clothing from Puma, can be unlocked for use on the Custom Rider.  We have over 50 real motocross companies available as sponsors, so the sheer amount of options in MTX is staggering.

Catching some air under the setting sun.

Are the bikes customizable as well?

KL: When you create your Custom Rider in MTX and give your rider a number, that number also goes on the bike.  New bikes can also be unlocked by changing teams and accepting sponsorships.  The bike color is determined by the team that’s chosen and the bike manufacturer.  We have bikes from Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki in the game.  Bikes can be upgraded by earning sponsors in the MTX Career mode. 

The online multiplayer mode is a big part of MTX: Mototrax.  We already know that eight players can race simultaneously in one of more than 25 different tracks.  Now the big question is: what are the tracks like?  How varied are the locations?

KL: The online multiplayer mode in MTX is truly competitive and addicting.  We have outdoor and stadium based race tracks from all over the world with different weather conditions and visuals that make each stand out from the others.  Locations include cities all across the U.S., plus Europe and Australia.  The development team at Left Field Productions was careful to give each level it’s own look and feel for maximum variety.  The detail level in all of the environments is incredible, especially considering that the game runs at a constant 60fps.

Are there any chat features in the game?  Any way for players to communicate before, after, or during a race?

KL: Online players can chat in the lobby before or after a race in both the PS2 and Xbox versions of MTX: Mototrax.  Xbox Live users can also communicate during the race with the Xbox Communicator headset.

The rearview looks very exciting.

What other exciting things does the game have to offer?  Are there any game modes I have not asked about?

KL: MTX also features the Dirt Wurx Track Editor that allows the user to make their own race track.  Players can pick from a huge amount of pieces and make a track in any shape that they choose.  Hay bales can be added to pieces, under/over bridges can be used, and different sizes and shapes of berms on the turns are available.  The track editor, along with split-screen multiplayer and online multiplayer modes, give MTX: Mototrax unlimited replay value.

Thank you for your time.