Better than the last, but still not the best.
I’ve played my fair share of MX Vs. ATV games, and while it’s been a while since I last reviewed Supercross Encore, I still have it relatively fresh in my mind. I missed out on trying All Out last year, but with the Anniversary Edition hitting a little less than a year after, I was asked to review this newest entry.
Just like all the other games in the series, MX Vs. ATV: All Out is a motocross racing game featuring primarily dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles. Players can choose to take on a number of races that come in the form of standard track or even open world checkpoints. These can be done in single race forms or in series that racers accumulate points to see who wins the series, pretty much the standard fare here.
Platforms: XB1, PS4, PC
MSRP: $29.99
Price I’d pay: $15
What All Out adds is a new hub world where players can drive around and try out jumps and tricks as well as go on some quick tutorial missions. This open world area is where the game eases players into the full game. Of course, I could always pause the game and navigate the entire thing through a menu if I so desired.
Competing in events and races will net the player in-game currency they can use to purchase upgrades for their vehicles, new looks for their rider, and more. What really impresses me and always has is the customization options available for the player when it comes to tuning their vehicles. Things from changing the suspension and engine power can really get intricate when trying to find that perfect balance.
The controls from Supercross return, but feel a bit more responsive and tighter. The turning/leaning mechanic with the thumb sticks is still there and still takes some getting used to, but I found myself actually doing much better here than in the previous game. Unfortunately, the physic issues return as well. I still found myself landing jumps I really shouldn’t have, as well as crashing with an absolutely perfect landing. While not as in consistent as Supercross, it still happened enough for me to notice.
The issue here is the fact that if I was to crash, I might as well restart the race. With no way to really catch up, I would either have to perfect a run to even stay with the rest of the racers, or decide that last place is probably going to be the spot for me. It really takes the wind out of my sails when I crash and end up never actually catching up again.
Visually, All Out looks fine. It’s not going to blow off anyone’s socks, but everything looks fine with no real issues with performance which, in this day and age, can be difficult to find. The soundtrack sounds like it is straight out of the late 90’s and early 2000 and fits perfectly with the entire game.
Now, the Anniversary Edition comes with original game of MX Vs. ATV: All Out and three DLC track packs with a total of 12 new tracks to take on. With the original game still playable, players of the Anniversary Edition can still play with the original owners as well. Which brings me to my next point, the online play.
Players can join lobbies that can house players in both racing and spectator modes. While there was no lag in the online races I did, there was some off-putting collision detection when it came to being around other racers, and I was actually pleasantly surprised to find a number of people playing this game even during the hours I was playing it.
When it’s all said and done, MX Vs. ATV: All Out is an ok racing game. There’s a few issues here and there with the physics that could get to me, and the fact that if I crashed it pretty much meant a last place finish for me, but I can commend the game for improving from their previous outing with Supercross. I pretty much disliked that game, while this one has some tweaks to the controls and enough content to keep me trying it out. Obviously, only motocross fans should apply here and with the cheaper price, the extra DLC, players can find some enjoyment here.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
