Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2

• Release Date: August 30, 2001
• Genre: Sports
• Style: BMX
• Similar Games: MTV Sports: T.J. Lavin's Ultimate BMX (PlayStation), Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX (PlayStation)

Game Description

In Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2's main mode, known as the Pro-Quest, players pick their riders and bikes and then assault eight different stages with all the tricks and spins they can crank out. Each level has five ranks for players to conquer: Rookie, Amateur, Pro, Hardcore, and Insane. The Rookie challenge is always a score test, and the next three levels each contain four challenges of increasing difficulty. Within the levels are other pro riders, and you will have to seek out a different rider for every level to receive his challenge. The Insane challenge is always a single trick with a very high degree of difficulty.

Finishing the difficulty levels on each stage will open new opportunities by giving you sponsorships, revealing special tricks, and opening up more stages to play. Finishing the Pro level will always open the next stage, and each challenge you complete will not only score you regular points in the level, but also add to something new toDave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2: respect points.

Respect points are entirely different from the regular points, as they are cumulative over the course of the entire game. You can earn up to 50,000 respect points, and there are plenty of different ways you can obtain them. This includes completing challenges, jumping all of the special gaps contained in a given stage, and placing within the Pro-Quest's competitions.

You won't be allowed to enter competitions right away -- you have to score at least 10,000 respect points first to show that you're worthy. After you do so, the first stage will be open to competition, and you'll have two runs to show off your skills. Placing first, second, or third will give you respect points and open the next stage up to competition. The judging becomes tougher as you go, however. To help players out, new bikes that increase a rider's stats are available at certain respect point levels.

Review: Overall

With its bevy of options and game modes, not to mention excellent control and fast-paced action, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 is a suitable challenger to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 for best extreme sports game on the PlayStation 2. While the original Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX was a fun retread, it's clear the developers have gone the extra mile to deliver a quality product with high replay value.

The trick system has been vastly improved over the previous game, and while it still does not feel quite as tight as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the different options it offers are impressive. Every trick, from the supermans and can-cans to grinds, manuals, wheelies, and wall rides, can be performed with one hand, no hands, or a number of other different ways, theoretically increasing the number of tricks into the thousands. It's also easier to chain tricks together by using grinding and manuals. And while the game still sports some problems with landing and clipping, it's not as severe as it was in the first title.

Another big change is the relative size of the levels. Thanks to the power of the PS2, the various stages are huge, so much so that it will often take many play-throughs to get the lay of the land. All types of terrain are introduced, from the dirty hills and detailed parks of Woodward Camp to the busy highways of a bustling interstate system. Even the desert is present, with high cliffs and dangerous passages just waiting to be conquered by brave players.

Another welcome feature in Freestyle BMX 2 is the "respect" point system. Respect points add an extra layer of challenge to the game, giving players an idea of how far along they actually are and another goal to attain besides completing challenges. There are a number of ways to score the points, and the rewards they offer, such as opening the challenge mode and bike upgrades, are strong enough to keep you coming back.

The learning curve is well balanced, with a continuation of the first game's increasingly difficult challenges in each stage. These challenges are nicely mixed, some requiring score, some chaining tricks, and some involving quota tasks such as knocking over signs or ladders. Once 10,000 respect points are earned, the competitions are opened, adding another dimension to the game.

Beyond the Pro-Quest mode, there is an assortment of extras offered, including a two-player mode that doesn't so much expand on the previous Dave Mirra game as refine it. Mini-games are included to give the game added multiplayer life, and a Park Editor allows players to design their own locales. Unfortunately, it's not possible to even come close to the detailed stages included within the game, but the Park Editor is still a worthwhile addition.

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 isn't perfect, and those who look forward to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 with drooling anticipation might not be fully satisfied with the results. Yet as an extreme sports game, it succeeds on many levels, and fans of the genre will find a lot of play value and excitement throughout the title.

Review: Enjoyment

With so many ways to modify tricks and such tremendous levels, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 has a lot to offer, and almost all of it is entertaining. The trick system, while still a little bit touchy, is great fun to play around with.

Review: Graphics

They aren't flashy, but the graphics and animation are crisp, and they get the job done in terms of complementing the gameplay.

Review: Sound

This game is laced with the predictable rock 'n' roll cuts that extreme sports titles are now loaded with; this particular crop is decent and fits the game well.

Review: Replay Value

The Pro-Quest mode is huge, and with the addition of the Respect points, plus tons of special moves, there's plenty of replay value in this game.

Review: Documentation

The manual does a very nice job laying out the way that all of the different tricks work, and although it is a little complicated-looking on the page, it still can help players learn the intricacies of the game.

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