Interface and Sound

I Wanna Fly Away

The controls in MCM2 are extremely simple and a pleasure to use. You have the accelerator, brake, clutch, lean forward, lean back, and turn buttons. Then there are two stunt buttons which will do a certain stunt depending on your situation - how you are leaning and the like. The controls could scarcely get simpler.

The 840th Airborne takes off!

*Brrr* cold

For kicks, we even tried keyboard controls and found them remarkably satisfying. They were as good as the Gravis Xterminator gamepad used in all situations but delicate turning, where the gamepad's analog controller dominated. The customizability of the keyboard layout and the ease of pressing several buttons at once made even the keyboard a viable controller.

That tree ahead - yeah, we're gonna meet

Buses don't love me as much as trees

The front end was as easy to use as can be, but all is not happy in interface land. You see, it's quickly become apparent that standard Microsoft operating procedure is to force you to stare at a non-escapable Microsoft logo for 5-10 seconds, just to make sure you know who's behind the game. Then you get another 5-10 seconds of staring at the Rainbow Studios logo, to make sure you know who developed the game. To whatever 'brilliant' marketing exec thought this up - it's irritating. People want to play the game, not be subjected to crappy marketing tactics. In fact, I personally get irritated at developer and publisher for their insipid vanity, since all I want to do is get on my bike and play.

Learning to Fly

These jumps always mess me up

Superman's Dead - The Sound of Flight

MCM2's sounds are about as real as you can get. Engines are crisp and satisfying, but this in itself is a bit disappointing. Crashes make soft, weak, realistic sounds - nothing over-the-top. In fact they're quite underwhelming with but a little "oomph" and "clang". There are a few other sounds that seem to be missing - while bikes visibly kick up dirt (and lots of it at that), there are no gravel-kicking sounds. There's no rough crashing of rocks on ground or ripping up grass - not that you can hear, anyway. The lack of this effect is rather apparent when you slide in a turn and cut the throttle - any masking effect that the engine might have on terrain sounds is now gone, yet you still can't hear any road noise.

There are other sounds that seem to be missing as well. You're biking through a vast expanse of wilderness... but where are the animals? If you can't see them you could at least hear them whenever you stop. The effect is subtle, but it would add greatly to atmosphere. Within a stadium, at least, the crowds do react in realistic fashion. A stunt or a spill will draw a reaction - they are, of course, what people go to see.