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Developer: Rainbow Studios
Publisher: THQ
Genre: RPG
Region: NTSC
Format:
Release Date: 27 Feb 06
User Rating
7 (1 vote)- Preview
- Review
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- Extreme racing is truly well and good on the PSP, with solid fast-paced action on the small screen and excellent visual which would please the series' fans.
Overview
The Playstation Portable up until now has been a platform that has focused on two main genres, which include action games and racing titles. Racing titles being the most logical form of games for the PSP, just because the handheld's widescreen really suits the genre. Today we are going to be checking out another racing game, this one taking the form of dirt bikes and ATV's in MX vs. ATV Unleashed: On the Edge for the PSP. So can Rainbow Studios manage to pull their ideas together to make one great racer? Read our full review to find out!
Gameplay
So for those not in the know, THQ & Rainbow Studios have been on the MX scene for quite sometime now, coming out with just a ton of different games for the series. In my opinion they have made some of the best motorcycle racing games of all time. It was just recently that they decided to bring ATV's in the mix in order to hopefully takeover both genres in one comprehensive package.
Starting off the review we can talk about the modes of On the Edge, which in all honesty are not all that deep. The developers got rid of whatever depth that could have been found in the console versions of the game and just strictly went to individual races, whether it be a trick based event or one of the variations of racing. This is a pretty disappointing, because they completely got rid of the career mode. So for those who are wanting some meat to their MX/ATV experience, you're not going to find it in this portable version.
The actual physics/racing in the game is just how we have been accustomed to in previous MX games. The game handles much more as an arcade racer, being much more lenient on turns and tricks than your typical simulation racing game. I have to say that now with the smaller racing groups (four per race), the game doesn't seem to be as high flying or as intense as the console counterparts. However I should say that the game does perform well with the limited amount of opponents as the AI seems a bit tougher on the PSP, which is a good thing.
The game does have some ad-hoc multiplayer action, which is good for anyone who has friends they want to compete against. However full online support would have really been a treat. In the end, MX vs. ATV Unleashed: On the Edge feels like just a somewhat watered down version of the console game. This is not a bad thing, because this is still a very good racing game that just lacks the depth of its console counterpart.
Graphics
As much as I wanted more from the gameplay, I was actually very pleased with how well the visual translation was on the PSP. I have to say that the developers did a very impressive job with recreating a very busy and complex racing scene. In the game you have some very solid bike/ATV models, with a very smooth frame-rate thanks to having just the four racers on screen. I have to say I was just plainly impressed with how well the developers managed to put together a very nice looking racing title.
Fun Factor
I can't say I am the biggest racing fan in the world, but I can say that I have always found a lot to enjoy about the MX series, and continued to in this game. On the Edge really just kept you entertained from start to finish. Sure it is not an overly deep game, I am not going to deny that, but instead it just offers a very nice and fun to play racing game that fans of the series are really going to enjoy. If you have liked the MX series in the past you are going to find a lot to enjoy in On the Edge.
Overall
As much as I think the developers probably could have done a bit more with On the Edge, however the final product was still one that I thought managed to bring in a lot of solid MX/ATV elements. If you are a fan of the series and interested in a portable version, I would recommend checking this game out, just don't expect the same vast experience that the consoles have enjoyed.
- Gameplay
7.0 - Graphics
8.0 - Fun Factor
7.0 - Overall
7.0
