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After four years in the making, MX vs ATV Legends has finally hit the shelves today. Available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, this latest game in the
MX vs ATV series is the first in the series to be fully built for ninth generation consoles. The game makes use of Unreal Engine 5 to bring together one of the most detailed and immersive motocross gameplay experiences ever.
The real story that everyone will ultimately be asking though is what has changed. As any gamer goes out today to purchase this new game, we wanted to provide a more in-depth synopsis of what you can expect to pick up.
For starters, the base game comes with three different “brands” of dirt bikes, ATVs, and UTVs. As the OEM packs are day one DLC, or downloadable content, you’ll need to pay right away to ride some of your favorite brands. That being said, the machines that come with the game provide the same level of speed and performance as the OEMs so it’s strictly down to aesthetics there.
A look at the stock THQ Nordic ATV that comes with the base game. Rainbow StudiosWhen it comes to the physics model for the new game, Rainbow Studios elected to take a different approach then prior games to how you control the bike. There still is the classic dual-stick use in the game where you utilize both the left and right joysticks on your controller to work in harmony for optimal performance on the racetrack.
However, you’ll certainly find yourself using both joysticks more in this game to control the rider movements as well as the bike movements. In prior games, the sticks were more separate where one would control the bike and one would control the rider. This time, you can use both sticks for seat-bouncing, scrubbing, attacking whoops, cornering, and uniquely pushing and pulling up on jumps. It’s a hard balance to learn if you’re used to what the previous titles felt like, but it creates a rewarding feeling once you connect the basics and start putting lines together.
Whipping and scrubbing in these games is always a hot button topic. When it comes to scrubbing, this is a step up as you now have the ability to cork out a monumental Bubba-scrub level scrub on every jump. But if you don’t need to stay that low, turning the joysticks away from each other or towards each other will simply do a slight scrub instead. The whipping is a completely different story from past games though. Unlike MX vs ATV All Out or MX vs ATV Reflex where whips would fly out huge every time you breathed on the joysticks; the heavier feel of
MX vs ATV Legends means you have to plan out whips much more.
The movements of both joysticks to lay the bike sideways while hanging off the bike and then the technique to slowly pull the bike back straight are much more precise in the new game and will likely take new players some time to learn it. Similar to connecting lines though, once you do learn how to do it, the reward of a crisp whip off a big jump in the game is very satisfying.
MX vs ATV Legends has introduced a whole new back story for Career Mode as well. The game is centered around your racing career of course, but the whole time you are being coached by a former racer who is trying to save his farm from being repossessed by the bank. While you gain fans and money, you are also working to help the man save his farm and build a new moto training ground in the process. It’s a very long and in-depth career with lots of racing on not only motorcycles, but the ATVs and UTVs as well.
Supercross racing is one of the many disciplines featured in the new game. Rainbow StudiosLikely the biggest improvement for MX vs ATV Legends is the vast open world areas to use.
Along with several supercross and motocross tracks, the game comes stock with four open world areas of forests, deserts, beaches, and the aforementioned moto farm that will take any player hours to see it all. Each freeride map has a large network of trails that are used for hare scramble racing throughout the Career Mode as well. Coupled with some national tracks and unbelievable terrain, the limits of exploration are hard to find in MX vs ATV Legends.
A bit of a letdown for some though will come in the fact that the AMA Pro Motocross tracks are once again DLC for this new game. That means you will need to pay for the Pro Motocross season pass to receive the new tracks, but once you do get them, they are a ton of fun. Those tracks will be available from July 5th onward as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship makes its rounds around the country.
The beauty of the open world maps is that you can also enjoy them with your friends in expanded multiplayer lobbies.
Just like prior editions of MX vs ATV games, you and several of your gaming buddies can hop on to race each other on any of the tracks or settle into the freeride areas and explore it all as a group. The latter aspect certainly presents the feel of just riding with your buddies like you might in the real world and enjoying the ride along the way.
Customization is always a big talking point with motocross games as well and admittedly this game has fallen short at launch. With a limited selection of official gear from brands like Alpinestars, FXR, Fox, Seven, and Troy Lee Designs, you’ll quickly be able to purchase every piece of gear in the game. There also isn’t too much in the way of bike customization as you are limited, at least for now, to wheels, rims, handlebars, sprockets, seats, and pipes for component changes. It also appears that just Pro Taper, Renthal, Brembo, FMF, Pro Circuit, and Dunlop components are available at the moment.
Perhaps this is something they will expand upon further though.
All in all, it’s great to have a new game to play for motocross fans out there. We’re far removed from the dark days of 2011-2014 where there was nearly nothing available nor nothing in development. This is the third different MX vs ATV title we’ve now had since Nordic Games bought THQ’s trademark in 2014. There will be some players disappointed with the new game but there’s also plenty of positives to take away now that the game is here and also lots of fun to be had. All that’s left for you is to pick up a copy of it yourself and see what it’s all about.
Posted on by Leo Faria Leave a comment
I like Rainbow Studios, but I’m starting to worry a bit about them. The company is known for two different IPs: MX vs ATV and Monster Jam. The first time I played my first games in each of these franchises, I was satisfied with their quality, but felt there was little else you could do with their limited scopes.
That ended up being true with Monster Jam Steel Titans 2, which came out less than two years after its predecessor, being basically the same as before, just with slightly better visuals. The brand new MX vs ATV title, called MX vs ATV Legends, suffers from this same problem as well.
A career mode that is slow as molasses, ironically enough.
The power of the PS5 has allowed for studios to come up with some really impressive off-road racing games, namely Dirt 5. My hopes were high for MX vs ATV Legends because of that. I wanted to see Rainbow Studios creating a larger, more interesting open world for me to explore, as well as delivering even better circuit races, all powered by the excellent features provided by the DualSense’s haptic feedback and triggers. I have no idea what happened behind the scenes, if the game suffered from a short development cycle, or if it suffered from having a low production budget, but there’s not a lot in this game that surpasses what was offered in the previous MX vs ATV game.
Sure, it plays well enough, but that’s because all MX vs ATV games feature good controls. I honestly like the fact they aren’t as realistic as, say, the Monster Energy Supercross games, making for a much more accessible experience, especially for newcomers. It also runs at a smooth 60fps, which is the bare minimum in this day and age. It’s also somewhat pretty. By that I mean that it features some gorgeous environments and lighting effects while racing in closed circuits, specifically.
Every now and then, MX vs ATV Legends manages to look halfway impressive.
Sadly, even though MX vs ATV Legends looks impressive at times, it is riddled with graphical issues that ruined any semblance of immersion. Its open world looks barren and completely uninspired, a far cry from the excellent playground featured in All Out. Whenever you explore this map, you are also greeted with a ton of textural pop-in, a rare sight in a system powered by SSD technology.
Finally, in one of the most baffling graphical glitches I’ve seen in recent memory, every single racer that shows up onscreen has their animations locked to around 10 frames per second, as if you were playing against other racers online with a really poor connection.
That’s not the only glaring glitch featured in MX vs ATV Legends. In a weird turn of events, the sound department is all botched, and I have no idea why. The game does feature a decent soundtrack, comprised of alternative and modern nu metal, but its mixing is all over the place. There are instances in which I’m racing and the music simply stops for a second or so, only to come back at a much louder volume than before. In other moments, my bike’s engine would stop echoing any semblance of sound. This is a weird case of a game featuring a decent soundtrack in which I’d recommend playing on mute, if you ever decide to tackle it, that is.
MX vs ATV Legends’ open world is just… boring.
Elsewhere, there’s not a lot to talk about the content featured in MX vs ATV Legends.
Pros and cons pretty much cancel each other. Circuit races are really fun, but are bogged down by the aforementioned bland open world. Driving ATVs and buggies is great, but you need to tackle a slow and repetitive career mode in order to unlock them and use them in an official race. There aren’t that many new modes and types of races, being just more of the same, with a slightly improved coat of paint. In fact, this is the best way to describe MX vs ATV Legends as a whole.
Driving quadbikes is still this franchise’s highlight.
MX vs ATV Legends is not a bad game, but considering the benefits granted by improved hardware, and the ever-increasing scope of the racing genre, I expected a bit more from it other than just “the same, but slightly prettier”. For everything it does right, such as its great environments and lighting effects, as well as great controls, it bogs the experience down with terrible animations, a plethora of glitches, and an open world that is way less exciting than the one seen in its predecessor.
With that said, you can still have quite a bit of fun with this game, especially if you’re a fan of dirt bikes and off-road racing. Just be aware that you’ll need to turn a blind eye to a lot of jank.
| Graphics: 6.5 A mixed bag. Environments are gorgeous, lighting effects are crisp, and the level design is decent. On the other hand, animations are atrocious, and there is an insane amount of textural pop-in. | Gameplay: 8.0 A bit less realistic than other motocross games in the market, but honestly, for the best. With that said, some of the physics are a bit janky. ATVs and buggies control well enough as well. |
| Sound: 5.5 Even though MX vs ATV Legends boasts a halfway decent nu-metal soundtrack, its sound mixing is so botched, and the entire sound output is so glitchy, that the game is best enjoyed on mute. | Fun Factor: 6. It might be running on a prettier engine, with better graphics, but at its core, MX vs ATV Legends is more of the same. Even if its normal circuit races are more exciting than before, its open world is a lot less engaging. Only recommended for die-hard enthusiasts. |
| Final Verdict: 6.5 | |
MX vs ATV Legends is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and PC.
Reviewed on PS5.
A copy of MX vs ATV Legends was provided by the publisher.
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tagged with AA Gaming, MX vs ATV Legends, PC, PS4, PS5, racing, Rainbow Studios, Sports, Steam, THQ Nordic, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X
The off-road racing genre is not as widely represented in the gaming arena, so the output of almost every such project is albeit small, but an event.
The MX vs ATV series has been around for over ten years and during this time managed to become recognizable and respected brand. The previous part - Supercross - came out four years ago, and turned out not to be the most successful. The more fans waited and counted on a full version for the new generation, updated and improved. Were you waiting? Did you ask? Get it. MX vs ATV All Out brought in to throw mud at you from head to toe. So that stock up on a reliable suit and pull it tighter over your head helmet.
The game starts with tutorials, which are located here on one of the four open locations with the possibility of free movement. On this relatively large map we will be returning every time after the completion of championships and races. Apart from introductory functions, in the modes of free driving, you can practice tricks on the presented jumps and ramps and try to collect collectibles scattered around gears.
Career as such is not provided and we ourselves are free choose which missions, modes or competitions to pass. They open gradually, but even at the very start they are presented an impressive number. Supercross, national competitions, opencross, checkpoint races without a clear route and freestyle stunt competition held its breath in anticipation dizzying somersaults and hot crazy chases. From collaborative modes provides split-screen and multiplayer with participation of up to 16 people.
At first glance, the project does not experience a lack of content. But it is worth taking a closer look, and it becomes clear that most of the tracks use the routes of four key locations, and the choice of arenas is not sparkling with variety. It is also important to note that a large amount assets and materials borrowed to some extent from previous games and moved with minor changes. Let with reservations, but there are dozens of trails to choose from with different conditions and in a variety of geographic regions. Transport represented by well-known models of motocross bikes, ATVs and buggy. Each can be customized, improved, modified to your taste and color, using licensed parts and materials. The rider can be personalized in the same way, choose the brand and choose the color of the helmet, suit, gloves, shoes and other items. Money without any problems are earned in races and competitions, and you can spend them in garage.
Now directly about the process itself. And here everything is far from so rosy. The first thing to say is that it is absolutely broken control. Yes, to physics in the MX vs ATV series and previously emerged weighty claims, but this time the creators have outdone themselves, in bad sense. Most of all went to bikes. Okay, from the arcade no one expected a race of miracles, but at least some logic in management, one way or another, was traced in the previous parts. On this time we have a solid lottery. How does a two wheeler behave? the aggregate is known, probably, to one god of chances, for events are impossible to predict. Sometimes, the racer generally falls off motorcycle on level ground. This happens even on straight sections and small speed. In addition, from time to time, the steering wheel for some reason jams, and driving becomes impossible. As a result, we obediently move out in complete bewilderment into a ditch. The latter is also the case with other types of transport. buggy and ATVs behave a little better on the road, after all 4 wheels and some rudiments of clutch let you know, but the pleasures of no virtual driving. No road feel at all and dimensions, dull boxes with wheels that, when in contact with the slightest obstacle behave as if they have zero weight and are not affected by gravity. Bleeding, changing tires and clutch make no appreciable difference. The same trough accelerates faster and goes a little faster. Okay, just accelerate especially here everything still won't work. Even open locations are full of bumps and various obstacles.
Unacceptable performance adds fuel to the fire, clip motley glitches, as well as stable-periodic freezes and departures. On some tracks, the frame rate per second drops to values so low that the game starts to look more like slide show. To win in such conditions, not to mention the performance the most dangerous tricks requiring well-balanced actions and distance calculation is not just difficult, but almost impossible. What surprisingly, the game manages to slow down even in the absence of rivals on the track - in free ride or ghost racing modes, the situation doesn't get better. In online battles, the situation, as you understand, further exacerbated, turning the ongoing disgrace into a special kind of masochism for everyone involved. And okay picture matched, but visually All Out looks at best tolerably, and sometimes even inferior to MX vs. ATV Supercross Encore, which and 3 years ago never impressed. But even there, at least the dirt looked like dirt and bikes with cars were left on it noticeable juicy footprints, here we don't even have that.
The difficulty of the races is quite uneven. On the same level some competitions are held without hesitation and the slightest strain, others will make you sweat properly. General situation exacerbated by tight unresponsive controls, broken physics and performance below the plinth. Among the proposed schemes management was not found in any way convenient and universal. One way or another, for different types of races, you have to select individual options. Some layouts are more optimized for stunts, better on others cross country and so on. I personally had a particular difficulty. when passing exactly motocross arenas. It's crazy physics bikes, miscalculations in the layout and a lot of active objects, in the form barriers and other building structures, intertwined together. As a result, overcoming such stages, and I am already silent about competition turns into a real torture.
Online All Out is slow and buggy as hell. Matches and opponents are searched for a catastrophically long time, sometimes search at all freezes. The connection often breaks for no apparent reason. Login and It is already a great success to hold a regular online match here. For me personally for some reason could not connect to most of the active sessions - gave a connection error. Repeatedly noticed a strange a situation where the players who dropped out during the race eventually occupied the first places with zeros instead of time indicators! Pro local multiplayer incidents can be told for a long time and eloquently, but it is better not to try to repeat on yourself. The game also there are network achievements, like "take first place in 25 online races" or "come first in a race with 15 live opponents." It won't be easy to do it all honestly, so, probably, it remains to hope for happy bugs. One in a word, aiming at getting the platinum cup, you can only sympathize and advise stocking up on sedatives means. By the way, judging by the statistics of the received trophies and personal Observations, there are two non-working ones. These are cumulative trophies - drive 100 miles and spend 100,000 local currency in the garage. If the first one is not so easy to trace, but about the second I have no without any doubts.
Spent even more than the required amount, and no result followed. Again, all hope for a speedy fixes.
What did we end up with? I will be extremely categorical and honest. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a failure. As sad as it is to realize, it's not just a disappointment, but a real slap in the face with mud. The situation is not saves even a wide variety of settings, tracks and modes. The release version of All Out in terms of quality and level of playability is barely pulling on the alpha test. Obviously the project will get better with time. – several patches have already been released, and in the future we may well to please the next Encore version. In its current form, this lewdness does not deserve the slightest attention, and even more so your money.
Fans motocross and off-road racing can only sympathize. MX vs ATV All Out was one big disappointment. tight management and terrible physics, an incredible amount of technical flaws and bugs, unacceptable performance on most tracks even in the absence of rivals and many other unpleasant moments. With an impressive list of tracks and modes, wide opportunities for customization and tuning of vehicles and a solid the amount of related thematic content, the game is very hard to enjoy. And if optimization with bugs is possible correct with patches, then with controllability, I'm afraid to do nothing will not work. She is completely broken. A particularly difficult situation with motorcycles, where every turn becomes a lottery, and motocross - fierce torture. If you miss this type of games, better pay attention to MXGP, ageless Pure or even Monster Energy Supercross, All Out is worth avoiding.
This review is based on the digital version of the game for Xbox One, edited by the publisher.
When it comes to niche projects for a narrow audience, it is always difficult to say unequivocally whether everyone else should pay attention to them. For example, if you don't like football, you're unlikely to run for a fresh copy of Football Manager without being told about it. But in the case of MX vs ATV: All Out, things are even more complicated.
In 2016, THQ found a second life under the THQ Nordic brand. The company began bit by bit to collect its small empire again, announcing a couple of sequels to their best gaming series. For example, Darksiders will return after a six-year hiatus this year with the release of the third part, and Red Faction Guerrilla will get a second chance after the release on PS4 and Xbox One.
But the company also decided to develop a more specific direction - the MX vs ATV motorcycle sports series. If you pay attention to Metacritic, you will notice not the highest ratings from both critics and players. However, THQ Nordic decided it was worth having something for sports fans in their release basket. The result of this decision was All Out.
After starting the game, you are immediately thrown without much explanation to the farm, a vast location with transition points to learn the basic rules of the world of extreme jumping over mountains of mud. The first thing that catches your eye when the bike takes off with a roar is technical problems.
Most likely, Rainbow Studios, the team that developed All Out, was given a small budget, without giving funds to create an engine from scratch. Therefore, developers had to be content with Unreal Engine 4, a fairly flexible tool in capable hands. The catch is that they never managed to fully optimize the engine for their needs. The studio put all its efforts into writing a vehicle physics module so that players can comfortably ride on the tracks, turning a blind eye to obvious flaws before the official release.
All Out has a damn unstable frame rate that even the huge first day patch couldn't fix. Trees and vegetation tend to appear from the void, and some of the objects on the tracks have no physics.
The game looks like a port from the last generation, which was full at the start of sales of PS4 and Xbox One. At the same time, All Out manages to show such pirouettes of poor optimization that you involuntarily look at the calendar to check what year it is. During the existence of Unreal Engine 4, it was already possible to master the features of the engine. Or at least hire a specialist who can help the team realize their ideas without lowering the quality bar.
Unfortunately, All Out's problems don't end there. The game suffers from a lack of a rich visual presentation stemming from technical issues that Rainbow Studios had with Unreal Engine 4. Instead of generating dirt clods flying in all directions, the game invites you to look at a puff of brown smoke from under the wheels. The machine cannot flatten the grass, tear off the tape, warp the haystack, or leave a realistic mark on loose ground. The earth behaves like ice cream forgotten in the sun. It simply melts under the wheels, leaving behind a characteristic dark trail.
Another unpleasant aspect is the musical accompaniment. The selection of songs in All Out raises many questions. Why so few tracks? Why do they all sound the same? Why in 2018 should the player be left alone with the mournful compositions of absolutely toothless Californian punk rock bands? But the answer to them lies on the surface. No more budget. The team obviously didn't have a separate expense line to buy licenses for fresh tracks that would appeal to most players. Therefore, I had to choose not the most popular genre and not the most interesting bands. This cannot be fixed with a patch, so your favorite playlists and headphones are used.
The only good thing about All Out is the gameplay. Everything you expect from bikes, buggies or quad bikes is implemented perfectly. All Out is a pleasure to drive around the tracks and do tricks. Especially when there is no frame rate drop. No one will require you to memorize complex combinations of buttons on the gamepad. Everything is intuitive.
Modes in the game do not cause complaints either. Love tricks - go freestyle in a special mode. Love to set records - time trials are always at your service. I want to spend time alone with myself, riding along the beach - an open location in the right scenery for you. You can change discipline or vehicle at any time, even if it takes a couple of loading screens, as well as some of your personal time, to find the items you need on the menu.
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