THQ's Championship Motocross series was met with great admiration on the PSOne. When it was announced that the franchise featuring Ricky Carmichael was going to appear on Playstation 2, there was equal excitement and worry among the gaming press. Some had reservations on whether the developer Pacific Coast Power and Light Company could give the franchise the same justice it had been served on the PSOne by Funcom. I am happy to report that those naysayers were worrying over nothing, as PCP&LC has churned out the best motocross game yet to appear on a console.

Graphics
The visuals here are quite similar to efforts found in ATV Offroad Fury. Everything has been painstakingly recreated with fine details, whether it is surroundings, vehicle design or lighting conditions, it all comes together and looks great. PCP&LC have been able to take advantage of the PS2's particle effects with some brilliant dust kick up throughout the tracks. The game appears to run at 60 frames per second refresh rate, which is also maintained in the multiplayer modes with no adverse effects to the graphics engine. PCP&LC also has to be commended for the incredible draw distances in the game. They seem to go on for ever and as a result there is no adverse draw-in or pop up. The track design are the standard for MX and ATV games and as such locations include deserts, stadiums and wintry experiences.

Sound
PCP&LC and THQ have assembled an all-star cast of today's hottest and upcoming indie bands for the soundtrack. The artists include American Hi-Fi, Injected, Relative Ash, Saliva and Sum 41. The tracks definitely go with the MX genre and accompany the onscreen action quite well. I was pleasantly surprised to find Sum 41 included in the game. Sum 41 hail from Oshawa which is a small suburban area east of Toronto, Canada. Being from Toronto myself, I instantly recognized their sound which brought a definite smile to my face. My only issue with the soundtrack is that it tends to get repetitive too quickly. A couple of more songs from each group or an additional artist or two would have rounded out the aural experience a bit better.

Gameplay
All of the eye candy and cool tunes in the world do nothing if the game is not playable. Fortunately, PCP&LC have taken utmost care and detail to making MX 2002 very approachable for even the most novice gamer. The control scheme has been nicely laid out and it responds as exactly it should. The precise controlling becomes important as you delve deeper into the game, especially when it comes to pulling off some insane trick combinations. Not only is the control tight, but PCP&LC went the distance to add a couple of in game features allowing a little more depth in the overall grand scheme of things. For example, using the clutch is vital to your success in winning the more difficult races. Hit the clutch quickly to a get a quick boost. For insane jumps, pre-load your jump by pressing the R2 button. Time it right, otherwise you may find yourself with not enough air or too much air while your opponents take advantage and pass you by.
Control during the stunt competitions is also equally impressive. In the stunt mode, you will discover the endless combo possibilities as you take air off some of the steepest ramps seen yet in a game. In addition to timed stunt trials, MX 2002 also offers skill challenges. For example, take the challenge of a high jump or a bus jumping competition.

Value
MX 2002 undoubtedly offers many hours of gameplay and fun with your friends. Modes of play include: Exhibition, Freestyle, Practice/Stunt Competition, and Career Mode. While most of your time will be spent in the Career mode, it is this mode that seems lacking in extras or motivation to clear. Each time you complete a circuit you are awarded with a small video clip similar to the one at the introduction. While hardcore MX fans will enjoy this, the average players will be left feeling a little empty. For MX 2003 PCP&LC needs to think about what extra bells and whistles can be added in to give it extra playability value.

Final Word
Sure MX 2002 is the only motocross title at this time on the Playstation 2, but it is a fine piece of software. The visuals and gameplay have been nicely balanced and there is enough there to keep your jealous friends coming back time and time again. With further refinements THQ has a very worthy franchise on its hands. In the meantime, be sure to take some time out of playing GT3 and do yourself a favor by checking MX 2002 out.