Video Game Review: MX vs. ATV Supercross Encore Edition

Developer Rainbow Studios
Publisher Nordic Games
Distributor Apex Interactive
Where we got our copy Apex Interactive
Genre Racing
Game modes Single Player, Multiplayer
Players 1-12
Reviewed on

Available on

MJ Khan

Published November 16, 2015

The MX vs ATV series was not always last to get picked for the cricket team. The franchise has been around for a decade, spanning 7 titles across 13 platforms, hitting its fair share of sixes (my favourite being 2007’s MX vs ATV: untamed). That’s enough backstory – let’s get into this one.

MX vs ATV Supercross Encore is a remaster of last year’s MX vs ATV Supercross, a somewhat underwhelming PS3 game that didn’t perform too well in the ratings. I found the decision to release a remaster strange (typically only games that performed well, like The Last of Us or GTA 5, would be remastered, but then again, someone decided to remaster Highlander 2 for Blu-Ray so what do I know).

For newcomers to the series, MX stands for motocross (off-road motorcycles) and ATV (all-terrain vehicles), or as we know it in South Africa – BMX vs Quads. The remaster has quite a few additions to the original, including outdoor tracks to supplement the indoor stadium options as well as a few more game modes.

Having played previous titles in the franchise, I jumped into career mode expecting to make good progress on the lower tiers, maybe maxing out towards the middle (I don’t play games like Dark Souls because I know my limits). The first thing that hit me was how unresponsive the controls were. Often I would stray off track despite my best efforts, losing valuable seconds and positions each time. Attempting to do tricks was also fruitless as they offered no discernable reward. The animations seemed limited and unrealistic; with my racer being stiff regardless of what I was doing (I’ve seen enough YouTube Fail videos to know what it’s like when you land poorly). Tuning my bike did little to address this. I’m not sure whether racing games like Grid and Dirt 3 spoiled me, but I expect more of career modes these days, a hook or some sense of progression that goes further than ‘here’s a some tracks to clear.’

The graphics are quite poor, resembling a PS2 remaster instead of a PS3. Textures are muddy and frame-rate choppy (especially in local two-player multiplayer). Usually this can be overlooked if the gameplay is solid (think minecraft or fez), but in a game where you expect mud to fly all over the place, you tend to question why it doesn’t look as good as 2008’s Pure (a really fun quad-bike game on PS3 and Xbox 360).

The feeling of being dated perhaps has less to do with the game and more with how the world has moved on. I can’t help but feel that for casual fans (let’s face it, this isn’t Fifa), they can easily get their MX or ATV fix by playing GTA 5, and I would argue that GTA provides better handling for this purpose. This isn’t something unique to this genre as GTA also gives tennis and golf games a run for their money (for the casual fan at least – those who are really into the sport still want to play as their real-life idols). Perhaps this is the challenge when a casual fan like myself reviews games like this. I read on the official website that the game boasts 60 real-life riders. Perhaps if I was a fan of the genre I would have enjoyed it more. My wife maintains that good games transcend genres and are fun regardless of your knowledge or affinity. What do you think?

When THQ filed for bankruptcy in December 2012, there was a feeding frenzy among developers for the lucrative franchises and licences. Evolve and WWE went to Take-Two, South Park went to Ubisoft and Saints Row went to Deep Silver. Nordic picked up MX vs ATV, which is like going to a sale, missing the good stuff and settling on something so that you don’t go home empty-handed. The MX vs ATV series was not always last to get picked for the cricket team. The franchise has been around for a decade, spanning 7 titles across 13 platforms, hitting its fair share of sixes (my favourite being 2007’s MX vs ATV: untamed). That’s enough backstory – let’s get into this one. MX vs ATV Supercross Encore is a remaster of last year’s MX vs ATV Supercross, a somewhat underwhelming PS3 game that didn’t perform too well in the ratings. I found the decision to release a remaster strange (typically only games that performed well, like The Last of Us or GTA 5, would be remastered, but then again, someone decided to remaster Highlander 2 for Blu-Ray so what do I know). For newcomers to the series, MX stands for motocross (off-road motorcycles) and ATV (all-terrain vehicles), or as we know it in South Africa – BMX vs Quads. The remaster has quite a few additions to the original, including outdoor tracks to supplement the indoor stadium options as well as a few more game modes. Having played previous titles in the franchise, I jumped into career mode expecting to make good progress on the lower tiers, maybe maxing out towards the middle (I don’t play games like Dark Souls because I know my limits). The first thing that hit me was how unresponsive the controls were. Often I would stray off track despite my best efforts, losing valuable seconds and positions each time. Attempting to do tricks was also fruitless as they offered no discernable reward. The animations seemed limited and unrealistic; with my racer being stiff regardless of what I was doing (I’ve seen enough YouTube Fail videos to know what it’s like when you land poorly). Tuning my bike did little to address this. I’m not sure whether racing games like Grid and Dirt 3 spoiled me, but I expect more of career modes these days, a hook or some sense of progression that goes further than ‘here’s a some tracks to clear.’ The graphics are quite poor, resembling a PS2 remaster instead of a PS3. Textures are muddy and frame-rate choppy (especially in local two-player multiplayer). Usually this can be overlooked if the gameplay is solid (think minecraft or fez), but in a game where you expect mud to fly all over the place, you tend to question why it doesn’t look as good as 2008’s Pure (a really fun quad-bike game on PS3 and Xbox 360). The feeling of being dated perhaps has less to do with the game and more with how the world has moved on. I can’t help but feel that for casual fans (let’s face it, this isn’t Fifa), they can easily get their MX or ATV fix by playing…

Video Game Review: MX vs. ATV Supercross Encore Edition

2015-11-16

MJ Khan

Total - 5

In closing I think MX vs ATV Supercross Encore will appeal to hardcore fans, but it might be best for casual fans to wait for an original PS4/ Xbox One game.

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Article Tags: mx vs atv · mx vs atv supercross encore edition · nordic games

Article Categories: Video Game Reviews