Overview

Developer: Rainbow Studios
Publisher: Microsoft
Motocross Madness 2 official page: http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/

Dirt Bikes

There's a dirt bike racer in all of us - maybe you just don't know it yet. At least for the male half of our species, there's just something really appealing about jumping off large mounds of earth and getting some really big air. Every young boy at one time or another takes his BMX over to the nearest dirt lot and starts riding around it like a big obstacle course. Professional motocross races are merely the "adult's" version of that past time with motorized bikes (instead of BMX), and bigger mounds of dirt in huge stadiums.

Tweak your bike

The opening screen

The OG version

The original Motocross Madness was one of Microsoft's first hit games. With tons of play modes like Supercross racing in stadiums, stunt competitions on other special tracks, and simple exploration of vast outdoor terrain, the game had something for everyone. It also ran fairly decently on the 3D hardware of the time, and its multiplayer code made racing over LAN or the Zone equally fun.

Choose your bike and rider

The ski lodge

Don't fix it what isn't broken...

Motocross Madness 2 looks to improve on everything that made the original so great, with evolutionary changes that don't radically alter the great formula of the MM1. Look for new racing modes, including a "Pro Circuit" career. This mode is similar to the style of play that made Playstation's Gran Turismo so popular. You start off as a rookie with a regular bike, and gradually work your way up the ranks, earning prize money, sponsorship deals, and better bikes in order to become a Supercross superstar. The Enduro racing mode is a series of outdoor racing events set in free-er outdoor environments. There are no set tracks, just a series of checkpoints that you have to hit in order to win the race.

Other features

MM2 also includes licensed bike equipment from manufacturers like Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda. Multiplayer racing over the zone will be enhanced as well, with ladders, team racing, and tournaments. The top 100 online players will be ranked, and receive specially numbered bike plates. When you get on the Zone to play Motocross Madness 2, you'll be able to glance over at the next player in a race and check if he/she is one of the 100 hotshots!

Microsoft recently sent us a preview beta of the game, and we were able to try out some races.