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I have to congratulate Acclaim’s AKA Acclaim label for publishing this game. They knew what kind of media mess they were going to get themselves into but they went on with the game anyway. From the trailers, to the game’s website, to the game’s opening video, BMX XXX screams media mess. Last year, Grand Theft Auto 3 took the most controversial game of the year. This year its sequel, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, would have easily taken it again, with its excessive violence, and Sopranos-like game play.
AKA Acclaim took what would have been the next entry in the Dave Mirra BMX series and wrapped it up in a much more controversial package. It would have been Dave Mirra BXX XXX, but Mr. Mirra didn’t approve of the game so the license was dropped. With no license holding it back, Z-Axis went all out into making this game. Behind all the glitter is actually a surprisingly good BMX game. Once the shock and excitement (not that kind, you pervert) of seeing polygonal boobies, strippers, pimp and inappropriate-animal actions wears off a bit (it never goes away totally, just went you think you saw it all, you see something even more bizarre), you’ll find that the actual BMX game play is very solid.
If it weren’t for the package, this would have been the next Dave Mirra game. It is very similar to Activision’s Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4. It is even more similar to Activision’s BMX title, Matt Hoffman’s Pro BMX. The missions and environments are almost identical. You skate around freely, until you find someone who is willing to give you a mission. The environments are large and free to explore. Instead of typical goals however, you have to move hookers around and encourage dogs to ‘copulate’ in the streets. The actual mission is received through real-time cut scenes with more four letter words than a rap song. Your overall goal is to make it into a Scores strip club as VIP. None of the game is extremely shocking, but it depends on the person.
The trick engine is an updated version of what was found in earlier Mirra titles and anyone who has played any recent BMX games will be able to pull off great tricks right away since most of the tricks can be pulled off with minimal stress. The environments were made with a BMX game in mind, and you’ll notice that since there are plenty of areas to score tricks off. Z-Axis knows how to make a great BMX title.
The Xbox version of BMX XXX is not very hard behind Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 in terms of visuals and level design. It is just a bit better than Activision’s Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX. The environments aren’t very serious and slip to the cartoonish side, though. The frame rate never stutters and runs at a constant 60FPS. The textures are crisp and sharp and the lighting is superb. For the most part the animation is good, but you’ll notice some robotic looking animations sometimes. The female and male bikers are designed solidly as well.
The game’s create-a-rider mode is pretty deep. You’ll find plenty of clothes and looks for your riders, and it is possible to create riders which are half naked from the beginning. This goes both ways, as you can do that for both sexes. Later on you have even more options, in the form of topless females (that option isn’t available in the PS2 version but is surprisingly also included in the Gamecube one). The game looks much better than what was shown in screenshots.
The music does a decent job at keeping the game at pace. There is plenty of licensed music but more than likely, you’ve heard it before. The background music… is well kept in the background as the sound effects and humorous voices take center stage.
The camera is a bit too sensitive and you’ll most likely use the far away “chase mode” more than the default setting. In default camera, it sways too much and you’ll have a headache before long. No online play is included in any of games.
BMX XXX doesn’t make new leaps and bounds for future BMX games, but it is enjoyable. There isn’t a whole lot of modes, but there is enough. The Hardcore Mode (Career mode) has enough missions to keep you busy for quite a while. It’s understandable why AKA Acclaim and Z-Axis made BMX XXX the way they did, ‘action-sports’ are starting to look too similar. I’m pretty sure you won’t confuse this game with other BMX games. The change of pace is much appreciated. Acclaim is pushing the ESRB ratings to the limit. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Nov 28, 2002
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