MX vs. ATV Untamed

A good game that really lacks inspiration.

MX vs. ATV Untamed is a fun off-road racing game that will tide you over until the next racer comes out, which looks like it could be a while.

Much like actually an actual off-roading experience, MX vs. ATV Untamed is a good time that occasionally gets bogged down in a muddy mess. The high learning curve and occasional visual letdown can throw a layer of muck over an otherwise prime racing experience.

The graphics look unimpressive, working off the same basic engine previously seen in other MX offerings. The controls haven't changed that much either, and you'll crash after a high jump or hit a stationary object rather inexplicably. Past these nagging flaws, though, the game features an expansive set of online opportunities as well as a heaping amount of racing events to participate in.

If anything, it's these human train wrecks that help separate Untamed from other racers out there. The only game that comes close in terms of pure racing mayhem is probably Flatout: Ultimate Carnage.

Custom Events can be fun, and a few of the game's minor features are nice, but in the off-road racing landscape, MX vs. ATV Untamed just doesn't rev our engines.

MX vs. ATV Untamed is a lot like a long race on an oval track - it's fun for a bit but then grows steadily more repetitive.

The franchise makes its next gen debut but with some out of date visuals, especially if you look at other off road racers already released. Even so, the diversity of events and good track design can still offer some “good old fashion” fun. [March 2008]

MX vs. ATV is a game that is 'fun enough'. There will be gamers who will find a lot to like, and perhaps even love here, but it's unlikely they'll be coming back in six months time to relive the experience.

Untamed is a nice entry into the legacy that Rainbow Studios has carved out for itself. However, Untamed hasn't made the jump all that well onto the next-gen consoles after the impressive showing with MX vs. ATV: Unleashed.

MvA doesn’t do anything wrong per se, it’s just not the game that’s going to bring new fans over to the sport of motocross.

So while MX vs. ATV Untamed is a solid Offroad racer, it hardly offers up anything new for the franchise.

Yes, MX vs. ATV Untamed is more of the same. But at least it's a lot more.

Untamed ends up being plagued by far too many seemingly small problems that, on their own, wouldn’t be game-killers, but here, because there are so many and they’re so frequent, end up sucking the fun out of the game.

"Motorstorm" does off-road racing better than this. So does "Dirt" and "Sega Rally Revo". [Jan 2008, p.94]

The game's not realistic enough to satisfy sim fans...and it's too realistic to be as fun as Rainbow's previous games. It tries too hard to be a jack-of-all-trades, and masters almost none.

If you didn't get weened on the genre by Rainbow Studios' previous installments, there's little reason to start now with better offerings already available elsewhere.

Untamed is a pup past its prime. [Mar 2008, p.86]

It gets the job done.

This could be a standard Xbox release.

It ticks all the boxes for those fans though, with only the slightly underwhelming visuals likely to disappoint.

No frills, but not without thrills. [Apr 2008, p.96]

It lacks cohesion, and ultimately frustrates too intensely and too often to keep your satisfaction at the right levels.

It's a title for die-hard aficionados and newbies only. [Issue#31, p.86]

As you can probably tell by now, MX Vs. ATV: Untamed’s appeal lies in its gameplay.

As a motorcross game MX vs. ATV Untamed would have been nice to play. But the quality of the game has really been lowered by adding vehicles like buggies and monstertrucks. These could better have been removed from the game. When it comes to graphics this game can't cope with its competitors. It's a disappointing feeling to have a game in your possession which feels like an oldy.