• ID = PS0159
• STYLE = BMX Biking
• DEV. = Z-AXIS, Ltd.
• PUB. = Acclaim Entertainment, Inc.
• R-DATE = Sep-01-2001
• ESRB = T / For Teen
• PLAYERS = 1-2 players
• LIST PRICE = $49.99
  

Customization is key in Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2. In this release, players can create their own riders (or ride as BMX champ Dave Mirra, Ryan Nyquist, and others in an impressive posse of BMX pros), choose their own sponsors, and even design their own parks in which to complete a variety of challenges. As players progress through the game, they'll earn the respect of fellow riders. The ultimate, though, is to unseat Mirra himself as king of the BMX hill.

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 also supports up to 12 players and features 10 multiplayer games, including an extreme bikathalon competition. Also, the release includes eight additional game levels, and they're four times beefier than before. Tear and trick through a total of 11 levels with this edition. The game is completed by integrated traffic, including moving cars, trains, trucks, and even other riders and pedestrians.

The open trick system in Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 holds more than 1,500 tricks and signature moves--many of them motion captured off Mirra himself. And a fitting soundtrack accompanies the game, featuring cuts from Ozzy Osbourne, Methods of Mayhem, the Cult, Godsmack, and others.

Features:
• Extreme-sports BMX game.
• 8 new interactive environments and raucous soundtrack.
• More than 1,500 tricks and signature moves.
• Expanded park editor and fully interactive environments.
• 10 multiplayer games support up to 12 players.

Amazon.com Review
The first BMX game out of the gates for the PS2 is Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, developed by Z-Axis. Like any extreme sports game, the key here is the trick system, and this one is incredibly deep with more than 1,500 tricks to perform. Basic tricks are easy to execute and can be modified with an additional button-and-direction combo. Unfortunately, these trick modifiers aren't always responsive.

The game's modes are Session, Free Ride, Park Editor, and ProQuest. Session is a timed run on any of the game's levels. Free Ride lets you nail the game's timing and become familiar with its courses. The extensive Park Editor lets you design your own levels. The meat of the game is in ProQuest, which has two submodes: competition and challenges. The ultimate goal is to win enough competitions to become the king of freestyle BMX. The challenges help you earn "respect," which can be used to upgrade your gear.

The game's excellent soundtrack includes songs from Fenix TX, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest--three acts few in their wildest dreams envisioned together. The game's addictive gameplay is marred by several programming glitches, the most annoying of which is haphazard respawning. After crashing, the game often places you in positions where you'll instantly wipeout or appear inside an object. Polygons sometimes appear on the screen for no apparent reason and the frame rate slows down at times. Still, this is a very addictive game that will have no competition until Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 is released. --Raymond M. Padilla

Pros:
Addictive gameplay.
Improved graphics and larger levels than the original.
Basic tricks are easy to pull off.

Cons:
Respawning can be frustrating.
Trick modifiers can be fickle.
Graphics glitches such as pop-up, slowdown, and poor collision detection.

Stick with it, however, and what you have is a graphically wonderful action-fest that borrows the best bits from Tony Hawk's and SSX and combines them to produce a competent game that cheerfully fills a rainy winter afternoon. The soundtrack is among the best for the PlayStation 2--there's no techno-rubbish here, just steady metal from the likes of GodSmack , Ozzy and The Cult . Graphically, there are some nice touches: the playing environments are large and well designed and there's no clipping. If there's one thing that spoils the overall look it's the fact that the riders have pale, lifeless faces which make them look like extras from Dawn of the Dead .

Overall, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 has a lot going for it; it's not as fast paced as SSX and it doesn't have the instant appeal of Tony Hawk's , but it's certainly chock full of quality entertainment. --Chris Russell

RIDING
Left Analog Stick or D-Pad = steer, pedal, brake
X Button = bunnyhop
L1 or L2 Button = skid
R1 or R2 Button = skid

AIR JUMP
Left Analog Stick or D-Pad = pick trick, slow spin left or right
Square Button = trick
Triangle Button = grind, stall
Circle Button = trick modifier
X Button = wallride, fast plant, walltap
L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 Button = eject

GRINDING
Left Analog Stick or D-Pad = pick modifier, balance
Circle Button = trick modifier
X Button = bunnyhop
L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 Button = eject

STALLING
Left Analog Stick or D-Pad = pick modifier, balance
Circle Button = trick modifier
X Button = bunnyhop
L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 Button = eject

MANUALING
Left Analog Stick or D-Pad = pick modifier, balance
Circle Button = trick modifier
X Button = bunnyhop
L1 + L2 + R1 + R2 Button = eject

Unlock All Themes In Park Editor: at the main menu press Up, Left, Down, Right, Down, Up, Down, Right, Left(2), Square.