MX vs. ATV Reflex

Last updated
MX vs. ATV Reflex
MX vs. ATV Reflex Cover.jpg
Developer(s) Rainbow Studios
Tantalus Media (handhelds)
Publisher(s) THQ
Series MX vs. ATV
Platform(s) Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Release
  • NA: December 1, 2009
  • AU: December 17, 2009
  • EU: February 5, 2010
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: November 26, 2010
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

MX vs. ATV Reflex is a 2009 off-road racing video game developed by Rainbow Studios and published by THQ. It is the third game in the MX vs. ATV series, available on Microsoft Windows and all seventh-generation consoles except the Wii. It is also the last game in the series to be available on handheld consoles.

Contents

The Microsoft Windows and home console version received generally favorable reviews from critics for most of its gameplay, innovative "Rider Reflex" controls and realistic terrain deformation, but its occasionally chaotic nature (deemed unforgiving towards more casual players), career mode and graphics were criticized. It is often considered to be the best game in the series by fans. Reception for the handheld console versions, however, was generally unfavorable.

Gameplay

The core focus of the game allows for the player to race motocross and supercross on motocross bikes or ATVs. The game also includes events such as omnicross, free ride, champion sport track, waypoint racing, and freestyle motocross. [1]

Although the game is part of the MX vs. ATV series, Reflex was built from the ground up featuring a new control scheme and physics engine. The new control scheme is labeled "reflex" which utilizes both analog sticks. The left analog controls the handlebars while the right analog stick controls the rider's body movement. The reflex system allows for unprecedented control and manipulation by allowing the player to 'ride' the motorcycle and other vehicles as they actually would. Tricks have been simplified from the previous games as the player only needs to hold the modifier button and use the right stick to make different combinations and flips. Certain potential wipeout situations may also present the player an opportunity to pass a quick-time event to actually avoid such wipeout via a "wreck avoidance" system. [1]

Also new to Reflex is real-time terrain deformation. Terrain deformation allows any of the different vehicles to literally carve into the earth creating ruts, berms, braking bumps and acceleration bumps as they actually do in real life. These ruts, berms and bumps are dynamic and constantly changing throughout the course of the race adding for an extra sense of realism.

Online mode on consoles and PC consists of public and private rooms. These rooms are dedicated to specific event types (i.e. supercross) and host up to twelve players at a single time. A player's "motocard" keeps record of the player's progress through online events which earns them experience points that go towards the player's level. Mini games such as snake and tag are played online as well. The console and PC versions also support offline, 2-player split screen multiplayer, while the Nintendo DS version also supports local wireless multiplayer between up to four players.

Development

Rainbow Studios art director Ian Wood said in an interview with SPOnG that the development team decided against making a Wii version of Reflex, but did not provide a clear reason why. He hinted that the developers chose to skip it to focus efforts on designing Reflex's new physics and terrain deforming system, [2] key features that were better suited for the more powerful PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and personal computers. Tantalus Media, which developed the handheld versions of the previous game, MX vs. ATV Untamed , was invited once again to develop handheld versions for Reflex. This would be the last time in the series that Rainbow Studios would allow another company to collaborate on a MX vs. ATV game. Starting with MX vs. ATV Alive , subsequent sequels would be developed singlehandedly by Rainbow Studios.

Reception

The Xbox 360 version received "generally favorable reviews", while the PlayStation 3 version received "average" reviews, just one point shy of "favorable", according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [4] [6] A large portion of praise had gone towards both the new control scheme as well as the terrain deformation. Many acknowledged the game's successful separation of the rider from the machine with the rider reflex dual-analog control.

Dakota Grabowski of GameZone said: "A wonderful foundation has been set and it's now time for Rainbow Studios to expand on what they have set up with their next iterations. The future is bright and fans should be rejoicing". [13] Austin Light of GameSpot said of the PS3 and X360 versions: "Unfortunately, things don't always work correctly in MX vs. ATV Reflex. Kinks in the physics system can lead to some unpredictable, chaotic rides". Light also said that "Reflex is not a particularly good looking game on either system, with blurry, low-res textures that are distracting in the open world tracks". [10] [11] IT Reviews acknowledged that "MX vs ATV isn't about pelting around with the throttle constantly revving to the max, rather the successful rider gets into the rhythm of the jumps. This is novel, and feels realistic". However, the reviewer complained about aspects of the single player game, including CPU riders who are "borderline psychopathic", truck driving that is "far too easily mastered" and a campaign mode which is "rather unimaginative and flat" on an overall level. [21]

By contrast, the handheld versions received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to Metacritic. [3] [5] Chris Roper of IGN criticized the controls and presentation. [14] [16]

Related Research Articles

<i>Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII</i> 2006 video game

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII is a flight combat video game for Microsoft Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. It was developed by Ubisoft Bucharest during the second fiscal quarter of 2006 for both the North American and European regions. The game features 46 different World War II fighter planes and allows the player or players to take part in several World War II events as a fictional squadron. Online support allows 16 players to take part in head-to-head and co-operative battles.

<i>Madden NFL 07</i> 2006 American football video game

Madden NFL 07 is an American football video game based on the NFL that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the first in the video game series to debut for the PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles as launch titles and the last Madden game to be released on the Game Boy Advance. Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is on the cover.

<i>The Bigs</i> 2007 video game

The Bigs is an arcade-style baseball video game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii and PlayStation Portable. It was released in June 2007 in North America, and in October in the PAL region. A sequel, The Bigs 2, was released on July 7, 2009.

<i>NCAA March Madness 08</i> 2007 video game

NCAA March Madness 08 is the 2007 installment in the NCAA March Madness series. Former University of Texas and current Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant is featured on the cover. It was the only March Madness game available for the PlayStation 3 until the name change.

<i>Civilization Revolution</i> 2008 video game

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is a 4X, turn-based strategy game developed in 2008 by Firaxis Games with Sid Meier as designer. It is a spin-off of the Civilization series. The video game was released for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Windows Phone, and iOS. A Wii version was originally expected but was cancelled. The absence of a PlayStation Portable version was attributed to a lack of development manpower.

<i>Top Spin 3</i> 2008 video game

Top Spin 3 is the third title in the Top Spin series of video games. The game was developed by PAM Development and published by 2K. New game elements include real-time weather effects, more options of professional tennis players, an in-depth character creation tool and new unparalleled gameplay mechanics. It also features impressive advancements in an audio/visual sense with improved Dolby Digital surround sound and "Evolutionary" visuals. Top Spin 4 was released as a sequel about three years later.

<i>Bionic Commando</i> (2009 video game) 2009 video game

Bionic Commando is a 2009 action-adventure video game, part of the Bionic Commando series. The game was developed by Swedish developer Grin and published by Capcom. The game is a sequel to the 1988 NES game Bionic Commando, with certain storyline elements taken from its 2008 remake Bionic Commando Rearmed. The game runs on Grin's Diesel engine.

<i>MX vs. ATV Untamed</i> 2007 video game

MX vs. ATV Untamed is an offroad racing game developed by Rainbow Studios, Tantalus Media, Incinerator Studios and published by THQ for the PlayStation 2 and all seventh-generation platforms, becoming the last MX vs. ATV game to release on the former and the first in the series to be available on most of the latter. It is a sequel to MX vs. ATV Unleashed and its PSP port, MX vs. ATV: On the Edge, as well as the first of two games in the MX vs. ATV series to be available on a Nintendo console.

<i>WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009</i> 2008 professional wrestling video game

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and published by THQ for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Xbox 360 video game consoles, with TOSE overseeing development for the Nintendo DS version. The game was first released on November 9, 2008, in North America. It is the tenth overall installment in the video game series based on the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promotion, and the fifth game under the SmackDown vs. Raw name, named after the promotion's Raw and SmackDown brands. It is the sequel to 2007's SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 and the second game to feature the promotion's ECW brand.

<i>Pure</i> (video game) 2008 off-road racing video game

Pure is an off-road, quad-bike trick-racing video game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows published by Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Black Rock Studio. The game was announced on 14 February 2008. The game incorporates a trick system that rewards the player with speed boosts for successfully pulling off tricks.

<i>Stormrise</i> 2009 video game

Stormrise is a real-time tactics video game developed by Creative Assembly's Australian studio and published by Sega for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It's set in a post-apocalyptic world.

<i>Wanted: Weapons of Fate</i> 2008 video game

Wanted: Weapons of Fate is a third-person shooter video game, first developed and published by I-play in 2008, before being developed by Grin and published by Warner Bros. Interactive and distributed by Universal Studios in 2009, based on the film of the same name. It was released for mobile phones, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

<i>Mini Ninjas</i> 2009 video game

Mini Ninjas is a 2009 action-adventure game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. A Mac OS X version of the game was released on July 8, 2010, by Feral Interactive. In December 2011, it was announced that the game would be also made available as a browser game for Google Chrome.

<i>The Bigs 2</i> 2009 video game

The Bigs 2 is a baseball sports video game developed by Blue Castle Games and published by 2K for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, and PlayStation Portable. The game serves as the direct sequel to The Bigs. The first trailer for the game was released revealing players like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Roberto Clemente, and Reggie Jackson and a number of other Hall of Famers. Milwaukee Brewers All-Star first baseman Prince Fielder is the cover athlete chosen by 2K Sports. For the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii editions of the game, the English play-by-play announcer is Damon Bruce while the Japanese announcer is Kasey Ryne Mazak. It was released in 2009. The game was indirectly followed-up by Nicktoons MLB.

<i>UFC Undisputed 2010</i> 2010 video game

UFC Undisputed 2010 is a mixed martial arts fighting game featuring Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) properties and fighters developed by Yuke's and published by THQ in 2010 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PlayStation Portable. It is the second game to be released under THQ's 2007 agreement with the UFC and it is a sequel to the successful UFC 2009 Undisputed. Another sequel, UFC Undisputed 3, was released in 2012.

<i>Top Spin 4</i> 2011 video game

Top Spin 4 is a tennis video game developed by 2K Czech and published by 2K released on the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game features licensed professional players, venues and equipment. The game was released on March 15, 2011 in America, and was released on March 18 in the PAL region. The PS3 version supports the PlayStation Move and is also compatible in 3D. The Xbox 360 version does not support the Kinect but is 3D compatible.

<i>MX vs. ATV Alive</i> 2011 video game

MX vs. ATV Alive is an off-road racing game developed by THQ Digital Studio Phoenix and published by THQ. The game is the fourth title in the MX vs. ATV series, following MX vs. ATV Reflex, and the last game in the series published by THQ. MX vs. ATV Alive was released on May 10, 2011 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It was the first THQ game to be launched with a new pricing model, where the game would be sold at a lower retail price than most new releases, but with a larger amount of paid downloadable content. A later installment of the series, MX vs. ATV: All Out, also utilized a similar pricing model.

<i>BloodRayne: Betrayal</i> 2011 video game

BloodRayne: Betrayal is a 2D side-scrolling platform game released in 2011. Arc System Works published the PlayStation 3 version in Japan under the name BloodRayne: Crimson Slayer on May 1, 2014.

<i>Mad Riders</i> 2012 video game

Mad Riders is a racing video game for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, and Mac OS X. It was developed by Techland and published by Ubisoft. Mad Riders was released in 2012. The game received mixed reviews upon its release, with critics praising the game's visuals but taking issue with its physics and controls.

<i>MX vs. ATV Supercross</i> 2014 video game

MX vs. ATV Supercross is a racing video game developed by Rainbow Studios and published by Nordic Games for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This is the fifth game in the MX vs. ATV franchise and is the first game developed after the original creator of the franchise, Rainbow Studios, separated from their most recent publisher THQ due to bankruptcy. An updated version, known as MX vs. ATV Supercross Encore, was released in 2015 for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in July 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 GameSpot staff (July 31, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex: Freestyle, Deep Grooves, and David Lee". GameSpot . CBS Interactive . Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  2. Johnson, Mark (May 15, 2009). "Interviews// MX vs ATV Reflex (Page 3)". SPOnG. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for DS Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 10, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  6. 1 2 "MX vs. ATV Reflex for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 25, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  7. 1 2 Grimm, Michael (December 4, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, XBOX 360)". 1Up.com . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 15, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  8. 1 2 Kato, Matthew (January 2010). "MX vs. ATV Reflex (PS3, X360)". Game Informer . No. 201. GameStop. p. 94. Archived from the original on December 3, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Costantino, Jesse (December 9, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, X360)". GameRevolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  10. 1 2 Light, Austin (December 7, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  11. 1 2 Light, Austin (December 7, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (X360)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  12. GameTrailers (May 26, 2016). "MX vs ATV Reflex Review (PS3)". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Grabowski, Dakota (December 4, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex - PS3 [360] - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  14. 1 2 Roper, Chris (December 11, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (NDS)". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Roper, Chris (December 2, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, X360)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  16. 1 2 Roper, Chris (December 9, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Review (PSP)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  17. Hayward, Andrew (December 5, 2009). "MX vs. ATV Reflex". Official Xbox Magazine . Future US. Archived from the original on December 8, 2009. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  18. "Review: MX vs. ATV Reflex (PS3)". PlayStation: The Official Magazine . No. 28. Future plc. January 2010. p. 86.
  19. 1 2 Orry, Tom (February 16, 2010). "MX vs. ATV Reflex Review (PS3, X360)". VideoGamer.com. Resero Network. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  20. Mr. Pinkerton (February 2010). "MX Vs ATV Reflex (360)". Teletext GameCentral. Teletext Ltd. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  21. "THQ - MX vs ATV: Reflex review (X360)". IT Reviews. Net Communities Ltd. February 15, 2010. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2012.