Motocross Madness 2
The box art displays a motocross rider performing a stunt
Developer(s)Rainbow Studios
Publisher(s)Microsoft Games
Designer(s)Robb Rinard
Stephane Roncada
Programmer(s)Mark DeSimone
Glenn O'Bannon
Artist(s)Brian Gillies
Kiki Wolfkill
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
Genre(s)Vehicle simulation, racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Motocross Madness 2 is a motocross racing video game that was developed by Rainbow Studios and published by Microsoft Games.

This sequel to 1998's Motocross Madness was released in May 2000 with improved graphics, which included better textures and many landscape objects like trees, road signs and caravans. It has over 40 tracks[3] in 6 event types, over 50,000 3D objects and a new career mode. Players as well as bikes are easily customized.[4] Motocross Madness also supports network play over a LAN environment[5] and, until June 19, 2006, multiplayer gameplay through the MSN Gaming Network.[6]

Gameplay

In MCM2, there are six types of racing: Stunts, Enduro, Baja, Supercross and Nationals, and the campaign-style Pro-Circuit Mode.

In Pro-Circuit mode, a single player follows a series of events and courses in an effort to win prize money and upgrade equipment. Unlike the single-player mode, the multiplayer mode is completely lacking in structure.[7] Players can race against each other on the same map, play tag and can choose from Supercross or Enduro. In either mode, players are not limited to track space, and are free to play amongst the terrain and inanimate objects[7] or moving features such as trains, cars and farm tractors.[8]

In Baja mode, the player races against other opponents to ride through checkpoints (called "gates") until all of the gates have been ridden through - this is one complete lap. The first player to complete a certain number of laps is the winner. Baja, unlike Nationals or Enduro, takes place in massive, open wilderness.

In Enduro mode, which is similar to baja, the player also races against other opponents to ride through gates, with the goal of being the first to complete a certain number of laps. Except, in this mode, the races take place in urban or rural maps, which is smaller and more variable than Baja.

In Nationals mode, the player is restricted to racing within a dirtbiking track against other opponents, with the goal of completing a certain number of laps first (there are no gates in this mode).

In Stunts mode, the player, in order to win, must accumulate the highest number of points by performing successful stunts. To perform a stunt, a rider must gain enough height in mid-air and then is able to perform any of the six stunts. A failed stunt results from the rider crashing while attempting to perform a stunt. In stunts, there is no restriction as to where the player may go, and so he may also roam freely across the map.

In Supercross mode, the player must race against other opponents within a dirtbiking track in a large stadium watched by an audience. It features an extreme sports-like atmosphere, with the crowd reacting to the player's performance. Supercross is similar to nationals, except for the location as well as nationals tracks are far broader and thinner, whereas Supercross tracks are large yet the track is compact.

While creating a custom game in single-player, players can select the number of computer opponents to compete against, which range from 0, the minimum, to 10 - the maximum number of opponents in a game (this makes a full race in MM2 eleven players maximum). They may also select the difficulty, which ranges from easy and normal to hard. They may then also select the map/track, game mode and toggle vegetation collision (whether players can crash into solid objects, such as trees or buildings) and whether they want to record a replay of the game they are about to play. Players can also select which bike they want to compete with as well as the appearance of the suit of their rider. Players can also select the style of the game they want to play: practice, single event, ghost or tournament. Practice games never end and no players can win. Single events finish right after all players complete the track. Ghost races allow players to race against their own times (how long it took them to finish the track). Tournaments are composed of various single events.

Customization

Unlike its predecessor, Motocross Madness 2 allows players to create terrains (referred to as 'maps' or 'tracks') using Adobe Photoshop and the Armadillo terrain editor.[9] These maps can be utilized by players who download them to their PCs. Players can create their own clothing and customize their motorcycles. Microsoft added to the realism of the game by securing licensed motorcycles from Yamaha, KTM, Suzuki, and Honda.[10][3]

Music

"New Skin", by the band Incubus, appeared in the opening segment of Motocross Madness 2. It was originally taken from their 1997 album S.C.I.E.N.C.E..[11] The end credits featured the song "Deville" from the band Strung Out. Most of the in-game sounds, such as the bikers crying out in pain when falling or radios playing in nearby caravans, were recorded from real-life sources. Music was not played during the in-game races.

Reception

Motocross Madness 2 received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[12]

Vincent Lopez of IGN said of the game: "it's about fun, and MM2 provides this in piles and piles. The crash animations never (and I mean never) stop being anything less than hilarious, and the action is always as a pretty relentless pace. The eye-candy is constantly impressive, the physics are crazy enough to be fun but real enough to look right, and the multiplayer game is a blast, especially if you've got devious friends."[7] Stephen Poole of GameSpot said that the game "isn't the most realistic motorcycle simulation you can buy, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable."[20] Jim Preston of NextGen said of the game: "Flying spread-eagle into a cactus never looked so good."[22]

The staff of Computer Gaming World named it the best racing game of 2000. They hailed it as "far and away the most viscerally pleasing and outright fun racing game we've played in a long time."[24] The game also won the Editor's Choice Award from PC Gamer, which called it "The PC's pre-eminent bike sim."[25] The staff of Computer Games Magazine nominated it for their 2000 "Racing Game of the Year" award, whose winner remains unknown.[26] During the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Motocross Madness 2 won the "PC Sports" award, which it shared with FIFA 2001,[27] and was a nominee for the "Visual Engineering" award, which ultimately went to SSX.[28]

References

  1. ↑ Fudge, James (May 25, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2 trickles into retail". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 25, 2003. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  2. ↑ "UK releases". Eurogamer.net. 2000-07-21. Archived from the original on 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  3. 1 2 "Microsoft "Motocross Madness 2" to Feature Honda Motorcycles". Microsoft. May 1, 2000. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Motocross Madness 2 (PC)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Interview with the Designer of Motocross Madness 2, Robb Rinard". ActiveWin.com. Active Network, Inc. Archived from the original on July 23, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  6. ↑ "CD-ROM Matchmaking Has Been Retired on MSN Games". MSN.com. Microsoft. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Lopez, Vincent (May 26, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Reed, Aaron (June 15, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2 Review - PC". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2008. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  9. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (July 7, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2 Terrain Editor Tutorials". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  10. ↑ Hinson, Byron. "Motocross Madness 2 - Review". ActiveWin.com. Active Network, Inc. Archived from the original on October 1, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Xbox Games | Xbox". www.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on October 4, 2005.
  12. 1 2 "Motocross Madness 2 for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  13. ↑ Kanarick, Mark. "Motocross Madness 2 - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  14. ↑ Goble, Gord (May 30, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2". Gamecenter. CNET. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  15. ↑ Bauman, Steve (June 7, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on May 3, 2003. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  16. ↑ Price, Tom (August 2000). "Berm Baby, Berm (Motocross Madness 2 Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 193. Ziff Davis. pp. 94–96. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ Taylor, Martin (July 28, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  18. ↑ Wright, Brian (May 25, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2 Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  19. ↑ Johnny B. (June 2000). "Motocross Madness Review". GameRevolution. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  20. 1 2 Poole, Stephen (May 31, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2 Review". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on January 8, 2005. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  21. ↑ Dominiguez, Humberto (May 30, 2000). "Motocross Madness 2". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 21, 2004. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  22. 1 2 Preston, Jim (September 2000). "Motocross Madness 2". NextGen. No. 69. Imagine Media. p. 112. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  23. ↑ Saltzman, Marc (August 2000). "Motocross Madness 2". PC Gamer. Vol. 7, no. 8. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2015.
  24. ↑ CGW staff (April 2001). "The 2001 Premier Awards: Games of the Year (Racing)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 201. Ziff Davis. p. 77. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Motocross Madness 2". microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  26. ↑ CGM staff (February 8, 2001). "Computer Games Magazine announces nominees for annual best in computer gaming awards". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005.
  27. ↑ "Fourth Interactive Achievement Awards: PC Sports Game of the Year". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on April 19, 2001. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Fourth Interactive Achievement Awards: Outstanding Visual Engineering". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on April 19, 2001. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
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