MX vs. ATV Alive Critic Reviews

MX vs. ATV Alive is one of the best racing games I've played in a while, and is actually a racing game I'm somewhat decent at. The Rider Reflex System didn't take that long to get used to and if you have issues controlling the vehicle, you can always go into a free roam area to practice (and get some small XP). The only thing that makes me rate this game the way I did was the unlock system. If it was based on race performance and not ludicrous amounts of XP, I'd definitely rate the game higher.

This review might feel like a complaint towards THQ. It is but not entirely. Truth is: MX vs ATV Alive isn't only fun but also addictive and well-worth the $40 price of entrance. However, those who have been enjoying the heck out of Reflex will feel like someone punch them in the gut.

True to the game's title, MX vs. ATV Alive is a game competing against itself. On one hand, you've got an amazing experience that any racing fan should check out -- it's truly the realization of a series that has been refined to near-perfection over the last half-dozen years. On the other hand, the game's pricing strategy has created a bit of an uneven value in which the available content is too lean for beginners to keep racing, especially if they're unable to go online. Fortunately, the game's positives are currently outpacing the negatives, and THQ's ability to create constant, quality DLC at a fair price can only widen the gap even further.

MX vs. ATV Alive is a pretty good experience. Well many people out there may slam THQ for trying to offer a somewhat stripped down experience for a cheaper price in an effort to sell more DLC, I have to applaud them as they have indeed tried to make this a very customizable experience.

MX vs. ATV Alive is a blast to play. The controls are perfect, the gameplay is engaging thanks to the collision system, and the vehicles, riders, and tracks all look great – not to mention one of the best online racing experiences this year. It's a shame that these elements are packaged into such a bare-bones game. For $40, I can definitely recommend it to fans of the series. In the future, however, here's to hoping that THQ will take these same gameplay mechanics and build around them a full-fledged racing career experience.

MX Vs. ATV Alive doesn't raise the bar when it comes to racing action, as its over comprehensive controls and familiar presentation won't wow everyone. But for fans of motocross and previous examples of Rainbow Studios' work, it's definitely worth taking a ride with.

On the positive side, the game features a strong racing engine, good graphics, and competent AI racers, and the multiplayer races are exciting. On the negative, the presentation is pretty basic, the event selection is limited, severely so for a while into the game, and the DLC available at the time of this writing is a bit on the sparse side. With more content it would be a stellar game, but for now it's more for fans of the sport than anyone else.

In conclusion, this game is a double edge sword. If you are buying MVA at forty dollars and not really expecting much out of it, then fine. I've so far gotten myself to level 17 and I need to get to level 25 to unlock everything. Do I have a desire to keep going? Sadly, no.

A noteworthy MX simulator which will entertain those who are not even fans of motorcycles, thanks to its thrilling and challenging races, although a bit short in content.

A bit hamstrung by its need to tease.

It's a shame that the career structure isn't better considering I like the new XP format and the fact that your rider unlocks skills as you go. You can select two skills at any one time, and they include helpful boosts like increased clutch effectiveness or faster crash recovery time. THQ is promising additional DLC through its MotoClub Depot, but enough has been taken out of the game in the first place that I don't think you can gain it all back simply by adding some new gear.

The whole game screams rough diamond. The racing is fast frantic and surprisingly deep, but everything that surrounds it feels like it has potential, but never quite lives up to what it promises. It is a solid base to build on though and if the risk they have taken to deliver mainly though digital distribution in-game works out, then there is a bright future ahead. At the low price point it has been released at and for just how well done the actual racing is, then this is a game well worth your time.

MX vs. ATV Alive is a pretty good experience. It's fun and addictive and well-worth the low price of entrance.

If you're a fan of the mud-flinging franchise, you'll probably want to take Alive for a spin. Its fresh gameplay tweaks generally outshine its shortcomings, and plenty of throttle-twisting thrills await those willing to master the controls and progress their character. Just be prepared to re-up your entry fee once you reach the finish line.

For all that's good about this game, the way the content is locked down and cut down (from the previous version) hurts the end product, and the unique pricing structure makes it all too easy to be cynical about it all. That said, if you want to enjoy good motocross racing (and especially if you're a fan of the sport) this is probably your best bet. At the least, it's a relatively cheap option.

MX vs. ATV Alive is a decent racing game that has excellent controls and a ton of customizable options. It's too bad that there just aren't that many circuits and the lack of a tutorial might put off people that are new to the franchise.

The quality and low price and make this game worthy of at least a rental, if not a purchase, but if you're expecting more from your off-road racing title, go with MX vs. ATV Reflex for now and wait to see if there's enough content for this game to warrant a look.

Sporting loads of depth at some levels, yet lacking greatly at others, MX vs ATV Alive will likely have a narrow appeal.

With nothing really new to add, Rainbow Studios published a game that is fun, but can't really deliver anything memorable. It's ideal mostly for newcomers to the franchise.

As a racing game, MX vs. ATV Alive is fantastic. The controls are near perfect, the action is always intense, and it's just a fun game to play. Unfortunately, a bad system for unlocking new stuff and a severe lack of content really hold Alive back from reaching its full potential. Hopefully THQ delivers some quality downloadable content in the coming months, because if any game deserves it, it's MX vs. ATV Alive.