Tony Hawk's Pro Biker (Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX (PC))

Member Name: martial_loh

Product:	Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX (PC)
Date:	16/09/01 (548 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun to play, Funny stunts

Disadvantages: Graphics.....ugh..., Maybe a little too much like Tony Hawks?

When I first saw this game on the Playstation, I thought it was just a cheap Tony Hawk-on a bike game...
And I was right. BUT......remember, Tony Hawks is a very good game and so is Dave Mirra.
The graphics aren't very special, since this title is a direct port from the console version. The trees and surroundings are very blatantly textured (and these textures are not that pretty either!) and the shading of areas is sometimes misleading (i.e. the flatness of a wall/ramp).
However, the music is off good quality - its kinda heavy rock/grind type stuff. Not my cup of tea, but it is good quality. The sound effects are decent, but not brilliant, although you probably wont notice them when you are playing.
The gameplay is lots of fun. In someways it is better than that of Tony Hawk. Because you are on a bike, the gameplay immediately feels more similar to other bike-racing games (particularly No Fear Downhill). There are 6 buttons used to do tricks with. The D Pad steers your chosen rider on his bike. There is a jump button, a trick button, a "mod" button (does the more daring tricks like no-hands, or handle twists, a grind button (i never knew a bike could grind....) and two spin buttons (one left, one right).

The control is responsive, although the jump button does annoyingly slow you down....Performing a long grind length is very satisfying, as is the odd complex trick or two. Some of the tricks are very difficult to do, if you are new to the genre, and it is this challenge that will bring me back to play this game again and again for at least another month. There are a large variety of different scenarios to do tricks in. These range from a swimming pool area, to an abandoned missile silo. I preferred the in door arenas, as there were more ramps and pipes closer to each other. Some of the outdoor places got on my nerves - especially the muddy and sandy ones.

Another feature I liked about this game was the sheer size of e
ach level. You really have to play each level at least 20 times before you can know it inside out - and because they are mostly very well designed, it is a joy to play them.
I know it might seem unrealistic, but I would liked to have seen more of a difference in performance to be seen when using different bikes. To be honest, nothing really changes when you change bikes - except maybe their colours. However, if they did put too much detail into bike customisation, it would get boring (for some).
The only thing that lets this title down for me, is the graphics. I know that looks shouldn't be the main feature of a game, but it just annoys me that this game could have looked a lot better.....Tony Hawks 2 looks brilliant and really outshines this title in terms of graphics. If the makers didnt want to remodel the areas and characters, at least they could have re-textured them! With the capabilities of most PCs these days, some nice bump-mapping and reflections would have lifted this game!
Also I'd like to see more camera options in the future - 3 just isnt enough. I know I must seem like a real moaner, but I'd also want to see a better physics engine (not necessarily for the way the biker can fly around, but for the way he interacts with the area). For instance, in the sand arenas, particles should fly around more. IN the garden, leaves could lie around, and the rider could brush past them... Maybe we'll see this on the X BOX... eh?
I'd better leave it there, for the complaining is overwhelming!
Still, if you like these types of extreme "radical" sports, then you should buy this! If you want realism however, steer clear!

Summary: