Game:

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 (2001)

Duration: 19:11

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2

I really, really struggle with the biking games of old. This one and MHPB. They both do 2 things that really throw off any natural feeling that makes ea skate or the surfing games great. 1, in order to retain speed throughout the course, it basically auto generates speed. Quite a lot of it. Problem is, there's no intelligence on when it should or shouldn't do it. You don't really control that. So in wide open areas, you're fine. But with obstacles in your way in tight spaces you can effectively get STUCK trying to pedal out without crashing into a railing at 25mph in a span of 5 feet...

2, the spinning has some 'wind up' to it, to... Make it feel more natural? Maybe? Not really an issue on its own, but the real issue is that you have to press the directional buttons to do the tricks you want. Which then ultimately starts a wind up of spinning. But you've already let off the button since it was just for a trick. Which means if you press it again... Boom, start a new wind up of spin. By that time, you are landing sideways. To the extent youa re literally better off just doing a 360 or 540 in the direction of whatever trick you are doing. Also, DMFB stops the natural auto 180 on quarterpipes when you do a flip. You have to plan to do the flair with the trigger spin. Not directional controls. MHPB is capable of maintaining an auto 180 on quarterpipes while flipping.

That said, DMFB is to MHPD what KSPS is to TWsurf. This feels a lot like Tony Hawk. Mat Hoffman's game has more FEEL and FLOW that feels more true to BMX, but ends up playing kinda shit because of it. Ironically. It is definitely a shame that these games came out as competitors at the time. Because the reality is if you mix Kelly Slater and Transworld you get a perfect surfing game. If you mix Dave Mirra and Mat Hoffman you get a nearly perfect biking game.

To no one's surprise, arcade like level unlock progression. It's weird to complain about it when EVERY game had it then. And we didn't really mind it as kids. But once you play ea Skate you can't go back. Locking away content is straight up stupid. Full stop.

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