MX vs ATV Legends

I won't use big words like "Motocross games are back!" or "Extreme sports games are popular again!" but I can assure you MX vs ATV Legends is a step in the right direction despite some problems. It's a shame MX vs ATV Legends' next-gen version doesn't feel like next-gen though.

MX Vs ATV Legends is a fast racing title with a familiar story. With plenty of modes to select from and an array of custom options, you'll be be kept busy. Though the gameplay is repetitive it never feels mundane or tiresome. This is thanks to the adrenaline-fuelled action and variety of machines on offer.

Overall and whilst MX vs ATVs arrival on current-gen consoles was always one we were going to expect, it’s shocking to see it arrive in such a poor state. With glitches galore and a real lack of polish all around, what has long been an exciting series release has this time turned into something that feels like a rushed release that would have really benefitted from utilizing the extra power of current generation consoles to push out something spectacular rather than another general churned out release. Unfortunately, this isn’t one I want to recommend.

MX vs ATV Legends brings the world of supercross to our consoles. Great circuits and impossible stunts come together in this new THQ Nordic game.

With a little more time in the oven and attention to detail, MX vs ATV Legends could have been a fantastic off-road racer. As it is at present, it's just an okay one, with a general lack of both polish and event variety letting things down somewhat. The bugs and glitches currently present in the game have knocked our score down a tad as well, although hopefully, they'll be sorted soon after release. The game's cut-price $40 entry point makes this one that bit more appealing, but we can only really recommend it once the bugs have been fully ironed out. 'Legends'? Not just yet.

Can I honestly recommend MX vs ATV Legends in its current state? Not really. The motocross bike races are being done better by the competition, the 4-wheeled vehicles are pretty smooth to drive but the game’s general inconsistency still makes them less fun than they should be, and at this point in time there’s just way too many technical issues, inconsistencies, AI woes and design flaws. It’s already a relatively low budget racer with a quite inviting pricepoint too, but that can’t become an excuse for the launch of a product that simply appears to be unfinished.

I wish them well, and truly hope that the fans of this long running franchise get the game they ultimately deserve because as it stands this just feels like it could have been so much better with a bit more time in the oven. MX vs ATV Legends is by no means a horrible game, as I said the thrills of the motocross racing and stunts is a high point, as is the racing of the dune buggy but the graphics and all of the issues with multiplayer really sully the experience, especially for someone who has been away from the series since the beginning.

MX vs. ATV Legends is the very definition of a “mixed-bag.” On one hand, it can be a genuinely thrilling racer, especially when you’re throwing an MX bike over insane jumps and barreling around corners at breakneck speed. It’s a pity that level of fun doesn’t carry over to the other disciplines, though, and it’s this discrepancy between the enjoyment on offer in each career track that makes MX vs. ATV Legends a bit of a hard sell at the moment. That’s not to say it should be avoided at all costs, but it may be worth waiting to see what’s down the road in terms of optimization and balance, as with a few tweaks to the physics and performance, this could turn out to be a much more well-rounded package.

If you want to throw a bike around some time trial tracks for a little bit, by all means crack on, but if you try to do anything else in MX vs ATV Legends, you're going to be met with a host of issues.

A lack of meaningful customization, slippery and borderline broken controls based on which vehicle you want to race, and PowerPoint slide deck animations was a constant disappointment and frustration. Yes there are three full Career Modes to sink time into and track designs were quite good with varying elevations and layouts, but the myriad of issues makes MX vs ATV Legends a low point for the series, even at its normally reasonable $40 CAD asking price. I normally wouldn’t recommend getting an older game in a series, but when MX vs ATV Reflex from 2009 is still the best in the series, that speaks volumes.