MX vs ATV Reflex is the latest off road racer from THQ, and seems to be squarely aimed at taking on both the PURE and FUEL game franchises, and to be honest, it fairs pretty well when stacked up against both. The main nuts and bolts to this game are the MX sections, and this is where you’ll have most of your fun. You get to compete in point to point races, traditional lap races, motocross, tricks and mixed vehicle races. From the onset, you can see that the career spans a lot of different race options, ensuring you never get bored.
The main addition to MX vs ATV Reflex is the addition of using the rider to help control your bike or ATV. In theory, you can use the right analog stick to lean your rider into turns, balance him over bumpy sections, and of course initiate your tricks. Now, to be honest this took a while to get used to, but once I did I found myself carving up corners like Sunday lunch, so much so I rarely used the brake at all. The motion is fluid and natural and the amount of control it gives is fantastic. But being a fan of traditional racers the transition was a bit unnerving at first, but it certainly works.
Another aspect of using the right analog stick for controlling your rider is when you lose your balance, you get a quick prompt to make a corrective movement before your rider falls off. A green arrow indicating the direction needed will pop up on screen so you can save the day. This really helps you learn the bounds of possibility when you push your rider to the maximum, and is a nice change to the instant crash you get with most other 2 wheel racers.
Another area where the game certainly stands out is the track design, be it in point to point races or super motocross, the detail is impeccable. It kind makes you wonder what it would have been like to have this much detail in FUEL. Racing point to point, never feels boring, the environment is detailed and varied enough to keep you on your toes, and the same can be said with the exploration sections. Instead of just rendering a few square miles with hills in the distance and a few trees and shrubbery thrown in for good measure, it feels as though every square inch has been though out for the maximum enjoyment. This is your playground, go ahead and enjoy it.
If the MX and ATV sections are where the game shines, unfortunately the bigger vehicles are where the game seems a little let down. I found that the buggies didn’t handle as good as they should have and they are just so much more powerful than anything else. When you race in a multi vehicle competition, you end up squashing the opposition and that’s never much fun.
If you stick to racing the MX and ATV classes, you’re in for one hell of a ride. The races are fun and frantic, and on enjoyable but technical tracks. There is a long career to keep you entertained, so you get plenty of enjoyment for your money.
