VIDEOGAME REVIEW: Wild motorcycle racing game for PS2

Monday, July 8, 2002 | 11:41 a.m.

There are two kinds of videogame racing fans.

There's the purist, who loves realistic competition in such games as "Gran Turismo 3," which features dozens of real cars which react much as real cars do.

Then there's the speed nut. He doesn't care if the game is realistic, he just wants to go really fast. Throw some tricks in and the speed nut is in heaven.

It's my guess that second group will be lined up, crumpled bills clutched in their sweaty hands, to snap up a copy of "Freekstyle," a new motocross-style racing game from EA Sports Big and Page 44 Studios.

In "Freekstyle," you get no real motorcycles. The bikes, which have never seen the inside of a Yamaha or Suzuki dealership, vary in a variety of important characteristics, such as speed and handling.

You do get nine zany tracks, eight wacky riders based on real wacky riders, more than 100 incredible tricks and one amazingly exciting game.

The tracks feature alternative routes where you have to smash things to gain points, flaming hoops to jump through, floating platforms, huge ramps for soaring through space, breaking glass and enough obstacles to give your thumb cramps.

The game features the Freekout meter. You fill it by pulling off tricks as you race. It provides a super burst of speed to propel you higher off ramps or shove you past other racers as you roar toward the finish line.

Hit the boost button and your rider blurs as he or she surges ahead. Hit the button during a trick to tweek the stunt and make it even more impressive.

The game is exciting enough when you play alone. Add a live friend in split-screen mode and you'll need to be resuscitated after each race.

There's a solid variety of modes to keep you busy, from Single Race and Freestyle to the Circuit mode, which forces you to master six tracks. After you've finished the races in the required positions, you unlock new tracks and get to play in Freestyle competition.

In Freestyle, your aim is to collect at least the minimum number of points performing tricks. If you do that, you move on to Freekstyle. Here, it's back to racing, but you have to win every race and collect minimum points to win.

Even in the easiest setting, this is a backbreaker which will keep you busy for weeks. If I'd been designing the game, I'd have cut the difficulty factor a bit; it's almost impossible to advance in the later stages, especially in rounds where you have to win to move on.

Graphics get a B. The tracks are spectacular, smoothly designed with plenty to do and see. The tribal tattoos which indicate the fast line around are a nice touch. Crashing isn't as exciting as it could be.

Control gets a B. Calling up the legion of tricks keeps your fingers busy, but controlling the bike around the track is easy, even at the normally frantic pace.

Sound gets another B. The pounding metal soundtrack is perfect. I didn't recognize any of the groups playing, but they must have played the game while writing the music. It rocks. The bikes sound realistic, with a characteristic two-stroke drone.

"Freekstyle" gets a solid B. It's an excellent choice to feed your need for speed, and the difficulty factor will keep you busy for the rest of the summer.

"Freekstyle" is rated E, for ages 6 and up.

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On The Net:

www.easports.com

www.page44.com