MX Unleashed

The first and best test of any motocross game involves zooming up a long ramp and watching your rider's spectacular smash to the ground. The amount of wincing you do in response to seeing the body crumple and imagining the resultant testicular smash directly correlates to the greatness of the physics engine. Everything else is pretty much gravy at that point.

Yes, MX Unleashed has a damn fine physics engine. It also has a solid array of motocrossing modes. So whether you want to engage in a full motocross career, bust out on some supercross courses, or compete in the nationals, you're covered. Besides the zippy course options, you also have a lot of customizable bikes, ranging from supersmall 50ccs (which are akin to two-wheeled lawn mowers) to burly 500cc models.

The best mode, though, is freestyle. As with the snowboarding epic SSX 3, freestyle lets you wander the open road, taking on random race and stunt challenges whenever you please. Besides being fun and open-ended, the best parts of freestyle are the machine races in which you unlock other vehicles. For motocross masochists out there, it's a chance to create spectacular crashes involving helicopters, biplanes, and trucks.

Ultimately, Unleashed rolls out of the box as a solid, if a bit straight-forward, title. Its controls feel right, and the tracks, despite their tendency to resemble each other, look just fine. Even if you're not a believer in pain or a big motocross fan, this might make you one.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Xbox Nation.