MX vs ATV Reflex review

Off-road rumbler is rejuvenated with awesome trick-pulling, dirt-kicking results

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Takes terrain deformation to a new level

  • +

    Pulling tricks is more satisfying than mashing buttons

  • +

    Moving your rider independently is wicked good fun

Cons

  • -

    Character and vehicle customization could be better

  • -

    Pin-balling physics

  • -

    Washing off all that mud

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

If the PS3's MotorStorm series made the term %26ldquo;real-time terrain deformation%26rdquo; sexy, then MX vs ATV Reflex is bringing sexy back. Rainbow Studios, a developer that's been churning out mud-kickin' motocross titles since the PS1 era, has redefined the technology in their latest off-road racer, turning it into a visual and game-changing treat for fans of the genre. Coupled with tweaked trick and steering controls, this dirt-mushing mechanic helps Reflex race past the franchise's previous efforts to deliver an occasionally flawed, but fun-as-hell entry in the extreme sports space.

While other games have made wet dirt beautiful with their terrain-changing technology, Reflex has evolved the tech so it also has a real impact on gameplay. Rather than just treading some shallow grooves in the tracks, players will notice their tires digging deep into the earth, creating gaping ruts and leaving piles of muddy soil in their wake. With each successive lap, these changes increasingly affect how you play.

Lap one might see you free-styling and hitting top speeds with little concern for your environment, but by the time you hit your third trek around the track, you'll be carefully navigating the mounds and holes you and your competitors have created. Of course, it's not just about avoiding obstacles, as newly packed piles of mud can also assist your tricks and turns, and leave the guy tailing you too closely stuck in a rut. This ability to effectively change the course, and therefore the outcome of events, yields plenty of eye-pleasing animations, but, more importantly, adds a noticeable layer of strategy to the off-roading action.

The capability to now pull tricks with three-direction analog stick combos, rather than the staple button presses that most games use, also nicely ups the immersion. But even cooler is the freedom to control your rider independently of your ride; using the right stick, you can lean back and forth or side to side to change your rider%26rsquo;s stance, which assists your steering. Combined with the regular vehicle controls, this feature delivers a much more organic experience, especially when you%26rsquo;re leaning into a sharp turn or saving yourself from a face full of dirt by adding precision to your landings.

While playing in - and with - the mud is a dirt-slingin' blast, the franchise could still see some improvement. Given all the detail-drenched variety and refinement packed into the off- and online modes and challenges, it'd be nice to see that same level of attention paid to vehicle and character personalization and upgrades. Next to the intuitive and crazy-deep customization options of other racers, Reflex's look a bit tacked-on, especially next to the title's polished on-track action. Additionally, despite the great control and terrain deformation improvements, these features are sometimes made moot by physics that bounce you around like a bottle rocket in a trash can. Minor gripes aside, though, Reflex is the most fun you'll have being caked in mud.

Dec 8, 2009

More info

GenreRacing
DescriptionSome new game-changing features make Rainbow Studios latest lap a mud-slingin' blast.
Franchise nameATV Offroad Fury
UK franchise nameATV Offroad Fury
Platform"PS3","PSP","DS","Xbox 360"
US censor rating"Everyone","Everyone","Everyone","Everyone"
UK censor rating"Rating Pending","Rating Pending","Rating Pending","Rating Pending"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
More
CATEGORIES
Matt Cabral
A full-time freelance writer based in Lizzie Borden's hometown, Matt Cabral has covered film, television, and video games for over a decade. You can follow him on Twitter @gamegoat, friend him on Facebook, or find him in the basement of an abandoned building hoarding all the canned goods, med-kits, and shotgun shells.
Latest in Racing
A decorated purple car speeding head-on down a road in Toyko Xtreme Racer
Tokyo Xtreme Racer is a novel throwback to classic PS2 racing games like Midnight Club, and I can't get enough of it
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo knows you're waiting for Mario Kart 9, but it still wants you to run a million laps in Mario Kart 8 first
Wheel World
The spirit of Burnout Paradise lives on in this fabulous bicycle racing game from the makers of my favorite indie fighting game – a true Steam Next Fest gem
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds announcement trailer proves Sega is coming for Mario Kart 9's throne with transforming cars and a closed beta this month
Need For Speed Unbound
The Need For Speed series is pumping the brakes as "Criterion are joining their colleagues working on Battlefield" instead of tuning more cars
Forza Horizon 5 the real deal reasonably priced car seasonal championship volvo 850 R racing
Forza Horizon 5 is the latest Xbox game to make the leap to PS5, and it's launching this spring with all of the same content and DLC
Latest in Reviews
HeroQuest box, models, tokens, board, and cards on a wooden table
HeroQuest review: "The grandaddy of dungeon crawlers"
A reviewer turning the modules of the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot
Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot review: “Its novel concept of a spinning, modular design is hamstrung by its lack of options”
Razer USB 4 Dock in silver on a wooden desk
Razer USB 4 Dock review: "solid, reliable, and surprisingly well-priced"
Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”
Talisman 5th Edition game components
Talisman 5th Edition review: "The characterful imperfections of the original game remain clear to see "
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K25 review: "A colossal package even if you never go anywhere near Virtual Currency"