Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX

Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX
File:Mat Hoffman Pro BMX PS.jpg North American Playstation cover art
Developer(s)	Shaba Games (PS) HotGen (GBC & GBA) Runecraft (DC) LTI Gray Matter (PC)
Publisher(s)	Activision
Engine	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Platforms	PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows, Game Boy Advance
Release date(s)	May 14, 2001 PlayStation & Game Boy Color NA 20010514May 14, 2001 EU May 25, 2001 (PS) EU June 15, 2001 (GBC) JP September 5, 2002 (PS) Dreamcast Microsoft Windows Game Boy Advance
Genre(s)	Sports game
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX is a BMX video game endorsed by Mat Hoffman and published by Activision. The first game to launch under Activision's short-lived Activision O2 label, it served as a spin-off to the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series and competed directly with Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX. Despite a planned release in fall of 2000, the game was released on May 14, 2001 for the PlayStation and Game Boy Color. Ports were made for the Dreamcast, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. A sequel was released the following year.

Development

Following the success of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Activision looked to expand its line of video games to other extreme sports outside of just skateboarding. Matt Hoffman's Pro BMX would be the first of such efforts. A demo version of the game is available in the options menu in the PlayStation version of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 which features two BMX riders and a beta version of the finished game's first level. Despite a "fall 2000" release listed in the demo, the game would be delayed until its eventual release in May 2001, nearly eight months after Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX was released.

Gameplay

Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX uses a tweaked version of the game engine used in a similar video game, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. The goal of the game is to successfully perform and combine different tricks on a BMX bike, with successful executions adding to the player's score. The point value of the trick is based on time maintained, degrees rotated, number of tricks performed in sequence, and the number of times the tricks have been used (the more often a trick is used, the less it's worth). Successful tricks also add to the player's special meter, which, once full, allows for the execution of "signature moves" which are worth more than normal tricks. Grinds, lip tricks, and manuals (wheelies) are included in the game to help the player link tricks together into combos. Bails (falling off the bike due to poor landing) cause for no points to be awarded for the attempted trick or combo, and resets the special bar to empty.

The player can play as one of eight different professional BMX riders, including Mat Hoffman, Rick Thorne, and Mike Escamilla. Tony Hawk is featured as a hidden character, as is a fictional elderly character named "Granny". Each rider has their own individual stats, bikes, and trick-sets.

Ten levels exist in the game (including two remade levels from Pro Skater), consisting of street, vert, and dirt track-oriented courses. Secret areas, point-bonuses, and many breakable objects are scattered amongst the levels.

Game modes

Career Mode — In Career Mode, the player has five magazine covers (i.e. objectives) to obtain in six of the eight levels. The player has only two minutes in which to obtain a cover after which their run ends; however, individual objectives are marked off once completed. In each level, two of the covers are acquired by reaching set scores (with the second score being two to three times the amount required for the first), one is obtained by collecting the five letters to spell "T-R-I-C-K", one is a hidden cover which the player must find in the level, and one requirement varies from level to level, but always involves doing something to five objects (e.g., "smash five lights"). The other two levels are competitions, where the goal is to receive a gold, silver, or bronze medal by ranking higher than the other riders. In these levels, the basis for ranking is not the player's score, but the mean number of points given on a scale of one to ten by three computer AI judges after three sets. Advancing in Career mode allows the player to unlock new levels, bikes, and secret riders.

Single Session — In this mode, the player chooses a BMX rider, an available bike, and available level, and rides for a two-minute session in an attempt to set a high score. While similar to the two-minute session in career mode, there are no specific goals for the player to attempt.

Free Ride — Free Ride is similar to the Single Session mode; the player chooses a BMX rider, an available bike, and an available level. Instead of a two-minute timer, however, there is no time limit, allowing the player to practice or simply explore, searching for gaps and secrets areas.

Multiplayer modes — The game features several split-screen multi-player modes including Trick Attack, Horse, and Graffiti.

Park Editor — This mode allows the player to create their own level by arranging various ramps, rails, and other pieces. Gaps can be created and named, and the player's starting positions can also be chosen by the player. Once a created park is finished, the level can be accessed in the game's "Single Session", "Free Ride", and multiplayer modes. Five pre-made parks, which were created using Park Editor, were included in the game as samples of the editor's potential.

Reception

Reception

Review scores Publication Score Dreamcast GBA GBC PC PS AllGame N/A N/A Edge N/A N/A N/A N/A 6/10 EGM 7.5/10 4.5/10 N/A N/A 7.83/10 Game Informer 7/10 7.5/10 N/A N/A 8.5/10 GamePro N/A N/A Game Revolution N/A N/A N/A N/A C+ GameSpot 7.6/10 8.1/10 7.9/10 7.8/10 7.8/10 GameSpy 8/10 66% N/A N/A N/A GameZone 8.5/10 N/A N/A 8/10 9.3/10 IGN 8.1/10 8.6/10 8/10 7.2/10 7.8/10 Nintendo Power N/A 3.2/5 N/A N/A OPM (US) N/A N/A N/A N/A PC Gamer (US) N/A N/A N/A 71% N/A X-Play N/A N/A N/A N/A BBC Sport N/A N/A N/A N/A 79% The Cincinnati Enquirer N/A N/A N/A N/A Aggregate scores GameRankings 79% 67% 77% 73% 80% Metacritic 75/100 71/100 N/A 73/100 80/100

The PlayStation and Dreamcast versions received "favorable" reviews, while the PC and Game Boy Advance versions received "average" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.

The Cincinnati Enquirer gave the PlayStation version a score of four stars out of five, saying that "Players can create their own custom BMX tracks with the bundled 3-D course editor, offering more than 100 variations of ramps, rails and other obstacles." Maxim gave the same console version a similar score of eight out of ten, saying that "Extreme-sports poseurs can break a femur in solo and multiplayer modes; master the controls and you’ll open new venues by performing death-defying stunts that’d make Evel Knievel wet his bedpan. Despite a trick roster with some troubling names (anyone care to attempt a “Rocket Queen”?), this is as down and dirty as they come. Detergent not included." BBC Sport gave the similar console version a score of 79%, saying, "If you like rock music to accompany your efforts, this has some of the best with even the Stone Roses lending their tracks."

Despite similar Activision O2 releases such as Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder and Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer, only Mat Hoffman's would spawn a sequel.

External links

• Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX at MobyGames
• Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX (Game Boy Color) at MobyGames
• Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX (Game Boy Advance) at MobyGames