Gaming Target - Game Boy: Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2

Written by Chris Woodrow on August 24, 2001

First Impressions: Acclaim tries to match up it's BMX title with the likes of Activision's extreme titles.

The sequel to the original extreme BMX game, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, is going to be doing backflips over the first version! How can this be? You take an insanely powerful handheld console, mix it together with an already impressive series, add some high-flying moves and blend it with sweet animations. Let it cool with 13 environments that include street, dirt and vert and you got yourself a must-have game.

At E3, Acclaim showed off a 4-month-old version of Dave Mirra 2, which at the time, for only a few months old, was very impressive. Even though the game was only using sprites as riders, it wasn't that bad. The finished version is promised to have fully polygonal riders, each with their own set of animations and actions. But that's not all. Even at such an early stage, Acclaim had put together some killer courses. The verts were really well made; showing some tire marks or dents where bikers had previously bailed.

The difference between biker and the bike were easily distinguished, unlike some games where it could've just looked like a pile of goo. Overall, for such a new game the visuals are really good. If Acclaim can just step it up a notch, and improve the graphics just barely, this might be one of the best looking Game Boy Advance games to date. Plus, with the promise of polygonal characters, you will be seeing pure greatness.

Like all titles, the gameplay makes or breaks the game. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 seems to already have this covered. With the non-stop action of flying off verts, grinding huge rails and making leaps of faith off enormous sets of stairs, you will have hours of playtime with this game. With the amount of pressure to exceed THPS2, Acclaim is sure to spend all the time it has perfecting and adding new thrills. However, the one area Dave Mirra 2 will most certainly exceed in is the multiplayer department.

Even though it has not been confirmed yet, rumours are that six multiplayer modes will be included with Dave Mirra 2. This includes Graffiti, Horse, Star Collector, Trashman and two others which are currently unreleased. Now just imagine you and three friends, each with your own screen, showing off some killer moves, catching some air. If Acclaim adds some Link Cable action with Dave Mirra 2, you will easily have some of the best hours spent playing a handheld.