Mobile Game Review: MX vs. ATV Untamed

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MX vs. ATV Untamed is a series of games from THQ where you race either the MX or the 4-wheel ATV around dirt tracks, making jumps and stunts as you go. The more stunts you make without falling off, the more "nitro" you get to go faster. So basically, it's impossible to just "race". You *have* to do stunts. So how did it translate into mobile? Not too well.

Despite what the title suggests, you can only race against your own class... Basically, MX 250cc, MX 500 cc, ATV 250cc and ATV 500cc. You start with only access to the small MX. If you complete the championship, you get access to two more. When you beat a second one, you get access to the fourth one.

And the race is 2D, sideview. In other words, no lateral motion at all, no turning. All you do is jump, land, and do stunts. Even the stunts are reduced... There's only two stunts: superman, and cordova. However, you can rotate forward or backwards... if you get enough air. Combine stunts with rotating is the key for getting the most nitro. This VASTLY simplified from the console version, which is 3D, and featured a LOT of stunt moves by combining the two analog sticks.



There are a total of 12 courses, over 3 separate types of weather: sunny, rain, or snow. The idea is simple in the championship: score enough points to get the gold cup/medal. To do that, you must beat a lot of other riders over a variety of courses and conditions. The other riders are not superhuman. They do occasionally make mistakes, so in general, to beat them, you must NOT make any mistakes. However, that's easier said than done, of course.

The idea is to preserve as much of your existing speed, while trying take maximum advantage of the jumps and such for stunt, which gains you boost/nitro, without falling off (making bad landings, basically, or let the machine get out from under you). Which basically means, make your jumps, but you should try to land on both wheels together as much as possible, or the rear just ahead of the front. If you land on the front wheels, you'll lose a lot of speed. If you land only on the rear wheels, you may lose balance and flip the vehicle. It's a matter of precise balance. Some courses have lots of jumps, but others don't, requiring you to plant your landings properly in order to get ahead.

In addition to championships and tutorial modes, there are also freestyle (make as many stunts as you can) and time attack (race as fast as you can). Same principles, slightly different priority.

All in all, MX vs. ATV Untamed on mobile is a disappointment. While the game's simple enough, the 2D perspective makes me, the player wonder: can they do NOTHING in 3D?