A few challenges in and it becomes apparent that you could easily put the game down and go back to Tony Hawks. Perhaps developers Z-Axis thinks that you’ll play it anyway to get to watch the Scores strip club videos. Well they’d be wrong, I sincerely hope. The game sadly seems to be sold on this notion, peppered with bad language, bad jokes and square-titted prostitutes making this so-called mature game feel disappointingly immature.

Graphically BMX XXX is of a satisfactory level for a game of this kind, however this is saying very little. The levels are probably the games best graphical element but it has to be said that comparisons to the presentation of Tony Hawks will leave this game lagging behind. Jagged edges are the first thing you’ll notice and it seems that some PS2 titles still can’t shake them off. Other than this the game looks solid but there’s nothing giving it the spark that’s needed, and unlike its companion in the AKA series Aggressive Inline, lighting has little or no emphasis. Generally the graphics are slightly short of the brilliance of the critically acclaimed inline skating game and elements like in-game characters let it down. Pedestrians seem to be comprised of blocks like an old game, unable to manage fully rounded body parts.

Everything is detailed enough including the levels but it’s the riders that excel in this field. In-game options give you the opportunity to change your rider’s appearance and clothing. From crazy gasmasks to a full astronaut suit. It’s a shame most things look too fuzzy to get any real definition.

The animation is mostly poor. On the whole though the graphics reflect what it is, a highly marketed though not particularly impressive game. Does the game deserve such high publicity? Not really.

The 2-player mode is also disappointing and fails to save the game. The games are far more limited than the incredible Tony Hawks with only two original games. One involves a BMX style strip poker game where players string together the longest combo to avoid having their clothing removed and the other is actually not bad. It’s paintball and it involves one player shooting the other as they try to grab boom boxes from around the level. Fun, but only for a very limited time. There’s also the standard best score wins, but that had to be there didn’t it really.

The 2-player paintball game can be fun for a little while and some teens may even find amusement locked in their room with it spending all night trying to get a glimpse of a nipple. For the rest of us over 15 the game is too frustrating and dull to pursue. Going to a strip club in real life would obviously be a lot more fun and will probably cost you around the same price as the game. Can you do better? Of course you can, get Aggressive Inline or Mat Hoffman Pro BMX if you want superb graphics and outstanding gameplay. If however you want to see a bunch of girls bike around with their breasts hanging out and are prepared to settle for mediocre graphics and dull gameplay this is most definitely the game for you!

45%

By Chris Monk