Hands-On: MX Vs. ATV Reflex

I meant to do this.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  That’s the mantra that Rainbow Studios has been following since it made ATV Offroad Fury all those years ago for the PlayStation 2.  Since then, the development team has been specializing in off-road affairs, lately picking up on THQ’s MX Vs. ATV series.  Untamed was a good entry, but you can tell that some people were looking for Rainbow to take it to the next level.  They’ve got their wish with the upcoming MX Vs. ATV Reflex, which is set to ship next month for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Rainbow recently hosted a hands-on event in Las Vegas, to give us an idea of what to expect from this forthcoming game.  Like previous efforts, you’ll be able to tear it up on a number of road and dirt tracks, tooling around the mountains in one section and hitting the snowy terrain in another.  You’ll still be able to perform stunts like crazy, kicking up your heels in a handstand or going some small kicks off the bike while trying to avoid a crash.  This trick system has been improved, utilizing the analog stick and button presses almost perfectly.  If you feel like hot dogging, Reflex will give you the opportunity.

There are some changes, however.  First and foremost, Rainbow introduces a new gameplay dynamic with rider control.  For the first time in the series, you’re not just controlling the bike.  The left analog stick still handles your bike’s movement, but now you can use the right analog stick to lean your rider.  Lean him (or her) left or right, and they’ll be able to take sharper turns.  Flick them back before a jump and they’ll preload to get higher air.  They can also kick up wheelies and nose stands, although you’ll need to keep your balance to avoid biting the dust.

Rider control is also crucial when it comes to landings.  If you come off a huge jump wrong, an arrow will flash on the screen, indicating that your rider is about to fall off.  You’ll need to hold down the analog stick in the direction of the arrow, or suffer an embarrassing dismount.  Although these controls may seem complicated at first, they’re really second-nature after a few laps, and you’ll get into them more over the course of the game.  Furthermore, you’ll be able to pull off some nasty show-off donuts by leaning both sticks to the left or the right and slamming on the gas.

Visually, MX Vs. ATV has stepped up with Reflex.  The environments look a lot better this time around, and there’s bigger areas to explore all over the world.  Furthermore, Rainbow has taken the time to make every inch of the terrain affected by deformation.  That means if you run over a muddy track over the course of the race, the tire print will stay in the track the next time you run by it.  When you’ve got several players on a course, this means a lot of tracks to avoid, and possible hazards getting between you and a first place victory.  We haven’t seen track deformation this good since Sega did it a couple of years ago with Sega Rally Revo.  Glad to see it’s back.

We're gonna get dirty.

Along with new gameplay quirks and a stunning new graphic engine, MX Vs. ATV Reflex features many events.  You can tear up any of the tracks in Free Ride any time you like, exploring the terrain and getting a feel for what you’re about to race on.  There are also numerous race challenges and events using a number of vehicles, including MX bikes and ATV’s, as well as off-road trucks and other goodies.  You’ll be able to unlock a number of excellent modes of transportation over the course of the game, along with new areas to take them into.  Just make sure you don’t jump head first into an icy lake.  Brrr, it’s cold.

We like the look and feel of MX Vs. ATV Reflex so far.  It’s a fun game, and the new control system actually comes through in a positive way.  We’ll be popping plenty of wheelies with it when the retail version makes the rounds on December 1^st.  You ready for the Reflex?