Freekstyle

September 13, 2002

Reviewed by: scigamer

-INTRO-
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EA Big has been known for there games such as NBA Street, SSX and SSX Tricky that present an extreme fun aspect along with a greet sense of speed and responsive controls. Big has added to there formula of fun and now has exchanged the slick powdered snow for that of the tattoo dirt and growling motor power of Freekstyle.

Freekstyle takes there successful formula of BIG and inserts into the motor cross realm were crosses super fast speed and style with a learning curve to provide pure high octane fun with more racing style that’s the same extreme feel as the games within the series.

-GAMEPLAY
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Freekstyle basically plugs in the same formula from EA and combines the steel power of motor dirt bikes to the tone and look of Twisted Metal Black with all of the edge dark tattoo design motif that is present in the game. Freekstyle has the same type of qualities that anyone will notice if one has played SSX Tricky but this motor cross has some slight differences in play. Freekstyle is set up with four different racing modes to choose from:

Circuit mode:

The heart and soul of racing containing 14 different tracks completed in order containing 3 laps each done 3 times: in the first two you can finish within the three, but the final race requires you to finish in the king of the hill spot

Single race:

Combination of completing course in a certain time limit or going for Freekstyle where you must finish in first place and obtain a certain amount of trick points that are set.

Freestyle:

Practice and master your tricks from the different bikes earned on specially design courses made to harness your trick meter potential

Freeride:

Improve your skill of racing by having the track all to yourself as you practice to become quicker by having each lap timed as you try to beat the record that’s set.

The Circuit mode is the major mode that combines both elements of racing and tricks on all tracks that are distinctly different in location and course design. There are a grand total of 8 character with there own little quirky colorful personalities to choose from but only 4 of them are unlocked when you first start the game. Each player has a total of four different bikes to choose from but three of them have to be earned as your progress and win each race.

When each course is completed the player is given the ability to power the five attributes for each racer: speed, boost, jumping, control and landing ability that gives players certain advantage in that particular area. Winning also unlocks the other bikes that also enhances the attributes on top of your current skill level.

The main object in Freekstyle is more challenging since there is no medal component here like there was with Tricky so your goal is that you have ultimately finish first in move on to a new course and this is easier said then done. Gone is the rival system used in Tricky to knock down opponent to gain an advantage in position, so now one can only depend on skill to succeed Even a seasoned pro on Tricky will awake to the surprising cold harsh reality of a learning curve, because if you can easily gain first place in all the races without any effort then you just have the same deal Carrot top has with the devil.

Mastering the courses requires knowledge and skill of the Trick system, the major core component to gaining speed in Freestyle and thus the key to winning. Every trick completed in the course earns you a certain amount of boost depending on the difficulty of the trick. The boost is shown on the cat type circular logo with a yellow meter. A separate meter on the other side that measures the your Freekout, an ultimate trick that gives you a super boost of speed of light proportions that fills up by performing successful tricks in a row without crashing. Crashing during a string of tricks does not wipe out your meter completely but it does decrease depending on the difficult level of the trick.

When the ultimate trick is a success you enter the blur effect realm of speed aided by a huge burst of flame that stays in effect as long as you pull off tricks in a timed limit or you happen to crash. Crashing is more likely since the speed boost is hard to maintain control for a significant amount of time.

-CONTROL-
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EA BIG control scheme has been a tight and responsive system for there series of games and Freekstyle is no different except for some adjustments. Freekstyle takes a more simplified approach to the controls using the shoulder buttons and only the lone square face button to perform practically all the tricks. The choice is also given between using the control pad or the analog stick for the movement of the bike. Now this may make it seem rather easy to perform the tricks but unlike winter wonderland where you have the ability to perform the moves virtually anywhere, tricks in Freestyle are restricted to specific locations that require more timing and thought. Players must find what tricks work more effectively in the different areas of each track, not all work everywhere making this more of a challenge to race.

Players also have the ability to tweak the actually bike itself when it is in midair. Pulling back of the control pad in the air causes the bike to receive more air giving you more time to perform more tricks. Pressing forward allows you to land on the ground to avoid losing valuable time in the air.

-GRAPHICS-
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Much of the visual here are the same standard package that found in the EA big series, each create an extreme cartoon stylized version that for the most part is exactly what Freekstyle brings to the table. The graphics here really haven’t been improved from the other games except for the new metal flame tattoo design theme that seems to be literary contain everywhere on the track. The detail of rider models are similar to others of the series but some here have a slight more realistic quality applied to them with polygons added.

The opposite can be applied for the weak and bland detail used on the textures and objects around the courses. Solid particle effects were used to create a nice dust kick up from the dirt as you slide around. The strongest point the Freekstyle has to offer is the outstanding frame rate and trick animation that really makes the game come to life. The sense of speed achieved here is the thing that really blows me away because runs at such a constant fast pace that is hard at times to absorb anything during the race.

The animation is quite effective as well as it connects the player to actually feeling the success of pulling of a trick in midair as well as the frustration of losing control and crashing. Each trick performed has it’s own unique movement with a very distinct quality that never loses rhythm. Riders also contain small subtle movements looking over the shoulder as there racing that really add nice flar to the quality.

The menu design takes a step back with a more simple approach rather than complex rotating 3D environment. The course designs contain much variety, each carries there own theme and style that makes the game that much more in depth. The sheer size of the courses can be almost overwhelming to say the least but as much as it adds to the game, it becomes somewhat of a hindrance to the unyielding AI.

-SOUND-
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Motorcross always has the distinct buzz quality to the motor that contained quite well and realistic in the game. The motor sounds vary according to what conditions of operation the bike is currently in., from a slow deep grumbling to a high pitch buzz squeal. Freekstyle contain some great sound effects and the commentary doesn’t get to be to annoying although it’s always going to be redundant, variety in commentary would have been useful but for the most part provide what is needed .The sound really intensifies the pain induced contacting a metal overhang or crashing into another riding with the metal scraping and crushing into metal.

-PROBLEMS-
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Frustrating gray hair inducing rubber band AI simple as winning the lottery twice
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Perhaps an unrealistic state of mind of not breezing through the tracks would be appropriate because if your not in the correct mind set before I guarantee your going want to throw massive qualities of snacks and mountain dew cans at the screen in ludicrous insanity that is the computer. The AI contain here holds the players on a really insane super tight leash were it prevents you from every gaining any kind of substantial lead on the racers. The thing that makes this really a problem is that you must finish in first place in the final race to move on so your pretty much need to master all the tricks your rider can do as well as memorize the layout of each track to even have a remote chance of winning will a little strategy throw in as well.

At one point it offers frustrating cruelty that is pointless to play but on the other hand make you even more determined to beat, bringing a medal system here would be ideal

-Uses the standard BIG formula-
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This depends on your love for the SSX and the other in the series since this is much like the rest only your switching the transportation of your choice. The gameplay here isn’t anything new but just some added features here and there. This isn’t really a major problem unless you hate these kind of games with a dreadful passion.

-FINAL THOUGHT-
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Freekstyle basically plugs in the same formula but despite it unyielding faults at times it still creates some high-octane fun that definitely gives you a rush of speed that unlikely many of the motor cross games out there. Those that and can deal with the challenge and have the skill are still going to get a wide ride out of it that definitely worth the trip