Analysis: Hoffman vs. Mirra: BMX Battle

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Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX runs on the same engine as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

by Iron Thumbs

(IDG) -- The extreme sports onslaught is in full effect. You can't watch TV without seeing a skateboarder, BMXer, or in-line skater, and as a result, millions of people are taking up these excellent activities. Videogame companies are following the trend and offering their take on extreme sports as well. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater is far and away the champion of the extreme sports titles, but several other quality skating games exist, and now, BMX titles are hitting the market. Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX and Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX are two different games dealing with the same sport: freestyle BMX riding. How different can these games be? Imagine a cup cake and a magic ultimate delicious cake; they're both cakes, but one is better than the other, although they are both good for certain reasons.

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Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX has the immediate advantage of running on Neversoft's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater engine. That right there tells you the game will play well, and as expected, it does. Tricks are intuitive and easy to learn, controls are responsive, and trick animations look awesome. Linking tricks is simple and similar to THPS, so the higher you go the more tricks you can bust.

Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX runs on the same engine as Thrasher Skate and Destroy, and, like Thrasher, is a bit clunky. The biggest frustration comes from Dave Mirra's real time bail technology. Each fall animation is different, based on how a rider falls, and although the rag-doll look of the rider tumbling on the ground is fun, it takes too long to load. The gameplay is not as intuitive in Dave Mirra; the controls take a little practice to get used to, but once you do, you can rip some sweet trick combos. Grinds, airs, flips, and variations of all three, can be performed with ease once you spend a bit of time with the game.

You Look Good Baby

Of course gameplay is the most important aspect of any game, but in close second comes the look of a game. Flat out, MHPB looks better than DMFB. The colors are cleaner, lines are smoother, and character models just look cooler. DMFB isn't all bad, it's just a bit grainy, partially due to PlayStation's age, and doesn't look as smooth as MHPB.

Both games feature line-ups of today's hottest pro BMX riders and licensed bikes and equipment to help your playing experience resemble an X-Games or Gravity Games competition. The soundtracks are comparable, Cypress Hill, Def tones, some hip hop, some punk, and a bit of metal. The games are both fun and definitely different. If you're looking for a pick-up-and-play title that is a blast, grab Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX. If you want a game that you have to put more time into before you start ripping ludicrous trick combos, go with Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX.

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