Metacritic Games

MX vs. ATV Untamed (Playstation 3)

MX vs ATV kicks it up a notch and shifts into high gear as the best selling offroad franchise returns. Rainbow Studios (MX Unleashed, MX vs ATV Unleashed) has evolved their legendary Rhythm Racing engine to include throttle based power slides, near upside down whips and new scrubs at full speed all while retaining the smooth and authentic feel not found in any other game. Attempt to own the offroad by dominating the innovative new "X-Cross Tournament". X-Cross brings together 8 unique racing series like Endurocross, Opencross, Supercross, Waypoint and SuperMoto and then crosses them into one ultimate offroad championship. Brand new styles of racing are born as powerful vehicles tear through treacherous trails in the new Opencross mode, while then shifting gears to navigate boulders, logs, and water pits in Endurocross. Players can take control of the new ORV Sport and multiple other vehicles, including Monster and Trophy Trucks, as they blitz through rough rivers, rip though swampy everglades, and blaze through the desert dunes. Amp up your favourite vehicles power, handling, and acceleration with more than 100 sponsor parts and accessories. The MX vs ATV rivalry explodes as the top professional riders like Ricky Carmichael, Chad Reed, and others go bar to bar in Supercross, Outdoor Nationals, Supermoto, and Freestyle showdowns. The top 10 professional MX and ATV riders collide on the same track vying for vehicle supremacy. Be the last vehicle standing as 8 players compete online. [THQ]

THQ
Racing
Players: 8
E (Everyone)
Developer: Rainbow Studios
Released December 17, 2007

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

67 / 100

Critic Reviews

80 Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
Considering Rainbow Studios' pedigree of excellent motocross and off-road racers, it isn't a shocker that MX vs. ATV Untamed delivers everything you'd hope for from the first next-gen iteration of the franchise. [Jan 2008, p.84]
80 Game Informer
What it may lack in revolutionary features it makes up for on the tracks where speed, skill, and surprises are not in short supply.
80 GameSpy
MX vs. ATV Untamed isn't the greatest motocross game ever, but it's so much damn fun that you probably won't care. Note to Rainbow, though: fire that janky, poorly rendered blonde you have carrying the sign before races and insert some live-action shots of two beauties in your commercial. You'll sell way more games.
80 Cheat Code Central
I would definitely recommend this title to those who haven't had any experience with the series, as it is a great standalone title. But for those with a passion for x-cross who have already experienced MX vs. ATV, this title may not be as unique of an experience as they might want.
80 GameZone
MX Vs. ATV Untamed may not shine like a next-gen star, but it sure plays like one.
80 TotalPlayStation
The MX vs. ATV formula has finally burned through the last of its wide-bodied appeal. That doesn't mean Untamed is a bad game, but it's not what I would call a proper Rainbow Studios game either.
76 GameTrailers
Even though it doesn’t have the jaw-dropping visuals of a game like Motorstorm, MX vs. ATV: Untamed delivers tight controls, great tracks, and a lot of options. There’s plenty to do, so you won’t get bored of playing in the dirt anytime soon.
75 ZTGameDomain
A safe sequel that does more to refine the franchise than re-invent it. If you are a fan then there may be enough here to satisfy your need for speed, but if the last outing left you craving something new than this is not your game.
74 IGN
MX vs. ATV Untamed is a solid game, but one that will eventually lose its hold on you. If you haven't played an offroad racer in a while, this is the one to get, but don't hold your breath for something that will entertain you for hours and hours on end.
72 Extreme Gamer
MX vs. ATV Untamed is a fun off-road racing game that will tide you over until the next racer comes out, which looks like it could be a while.
70 DailyGame
Custom Events can be fun, and a few of the game's minor features are nice, but in the off-road racing landscape, MX vs. ATV Untamed just doesn't rev our engines.
70 GameTap
If anything, it's these human train wrecks that help separate Untamed from other racers out there. The only game that comes close in terms of pure racing mayhem is probably Flatout: Ultimate Carnage.
70 Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
The franchise makes its next gen debut but with some out of date visuals, especially if you look at other off road racers already released. Even so, the diversity of events and good track design can still offer some “good old fashion” fun. [March 2008]
65 Gamers' Temple
MX vs. ATV is a pretty good game. It has high points and low points, but sadly, being average doesn't really cut the mustard in the industry today.
65 GameSpot
Yes, MX vs. ATV Untamed is more of the same. But at least it's a lot more.
64 Game Over Online
Untamed ends up being plagued by far too many seemingly small problems that, on their own, wouldn’t be game-killers, but here, because there are so many and they’re so frequent, end up sucking the fun out of the game.
63 GamingExcellence
MvA doesn’t do anything wrong per se, it’s just not the game that’s going to bring new fans over to the sport of motocross.
62 GamingTrend
If you are waiting for some innovation, then you are probably better off in waiting a year.
60 Gamer.nl
As a motorcross game MX vs. ATV Untamed would have been nice to play. But the quality of the game has really been lowered by adding vehicles like buggies and monstertrucks. These could better have been removed from the game. When it comes to graphics this game can't cope with its competitors. It's a disappointing feeling to have a game in your possession which feels like an oldy.
60 Gaming Target
As for the gameplay, it’s a mixed bag, ranging from the hilariously entertaining to the mind-numbingly boring.
60 G4 TV
In just about every way "Motorstorm" bests this one, particularly in the feeling of intensity.
60 AceGamez
Nothing about MX vs. ATV Untamed really sets it apart from other off-road racers.
60 My Gamer
While Untamed may be the first step into the next generation territory for this franchise it feels like it showed up about a year too late to be acceptable.
60 VideoGamer
It ticks all the boxes for those fans though, with only the slightly underwhelming visuals likely to disappoint.
60 PSM3 Magazine UK
Untamed is resting on its laurels and it shows. [Apr 2008, p.82]
60 GamerNode
If you didn't get weened on the genre by Rainbow Studios' previous installments, there's little reason to start now with better offerings already available elsewhere.
60 1UP
The game's not realistic enough to satisfy sim fans...and it's too realistic to be as fun as Rainbow's previous games. It tries too hard to be a jack-of-all-trades, and masters almost none.
60 Electronic Gaming Monthly
"Motorstorm" does off-road racing better than this. So do "Dirt" and "Sega Rally Revo". [Jan 2008, p.94]
58 Play UK
There might be loads of courses, events and vehicles, but most of them aren't that entertaining, while some are downright frustrating. [Issue#164, p.89]
56 Worth Playing
At the heart of things MX vs. ATV: Untamed is an ambitious title whose execution fails to live up to the lofty standard set by previous entries in the series.
53 PSX Extreme
All in all, MX vs. ATV Untamed is not a product you want to spend $60 on. In fact, it's not even a product you'd want to spend $20 on. The bottom line here is that this is a very poorly done game, that suffers from uninspired gameplay, poor track design, redundancy, and a lacking online component.
50 Gameplayer
A passionless racing cocktail that’ll fail to start your engine.
50 Playstation Official Magazine UK
A spectacularly unpretty game. [Apr 2008, p.108]

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