Metacritic Games

MX vs. ATV Untamed (Xbox 360)

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 12 players compete online. [THQ]

THQ
Racing
Players: 12
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).

70 / 100

Critic Reviews

91 XboxAddict
The Supercross tracks finally feel like they are in a real stadium. Again, this was absent because of a technological limitation. Thank goodness that barrier has been broken.
90 Play Magazine
Once the starting gate drops you begin to see why they call it Untamed. [Dec 2007, p.66]
88 Gaming Nexus
MX vs. ATV: Untamed is a solid performer and offers a broad experience in off-road racing. It's fun in both single- and multi-player and is definitely worth a look if you enjoy getting dirty.
81 Planet Xbox 360
The single player campaign has enough substance to warrant the full purchase for people itching for an ATV or MX type game and even basic racing fans may find a diamond in the rough in Untamed. A quality multiplayer experience adds to the fun but can become quite boring after a couple races, stick to the stunt modes and mini-games for maximum fun.
81 Game Chronicles
While Untamed is a solid installment in the series I would have liked to have seen Rainbow step up, not only the visual quality, but also the core gameplay.
80 Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
Like the last girl in the pub after closing time - it looks ropey but it's dead dirty. [Feb 2008, p.80]
80 Worth Playing
The immense variety in different game modes really helps to keep the game fresh, and the excellent arcade controls mean that when you end up falling behind the pack, smashing into a wall or screwing up a trick, you rarely feel like it is the game's fault, but your own for not hitting the clutch at the right moment, or for holding the stunt too long.
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.
79 Games Master UK
Fine for short-lived thrills and casual entertainment rather than serious racing. [Apr 2008, p.65]
78 AtomicGamer
MX vs. ATV Untamed is not a bad choice on the 360, but it's not a terribly great one 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
There is plenty to see and do here, but if you have been playing since the beginning it may all feel a bit too familiar to warrant another fifty of your hard earned dollars.
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.
74 GameZone
A good game that really lacks inspiration.
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 GameDaily
The graphics look unimpressive, working off the same basic engine previously seen in other MX offerings. The controls haven't changed that much either, and you'll crash after a high jump or hit a stationary object rather inexplicably. Past these nagging flaws, though, the game features an expansive set of online opportunities as well as a heaping amount of racing events to participate in.
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 Team Xbox
Much like actually an actual off-roading experience, MX vs. ATV Untamed is a good time that occasionally gets bogged down in a muddy mess. The high learning curve and occasional visual letdown can throw a layer of muck over an otherwise prime racing experience.
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 Gamers' Temple
MX vs. ATV Untamed is a lot like a long race on an oval track - it's fun for a bit but then grows steadily more repetitive.
70 PALGN
MX vs. ATV is a game that is 'fun enough'. There will be gamers who will find a lot to like, and perhaps even love here, but it's unlikely they'll be coming back in six months time to relive the experience.
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]
69 Kombo
Untamed is a nice entry into the legacy that Rainbow Studios has carved out for itself. However, Untamed hasn't made the jump all that well onto the next-gen consoles after the impressive showing with MX vs. ATV: Unleashed.
68 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.
67 Gaming Age
So while MX vs. ATV Untamed is a solid Offroad racer, it hardly offers up anything new for the franchise.
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.
60 360 Gamer Magazine UK
This could be a standard Xbox release.
60 Official Xbox Magazine UK
No frills, but not without thrills. [Apr 2008, p.96]
60 EuroGamer
It lacks cohesion, and ultimately frustrates too intensely and too often to keep your satisfaction at the right levels.
60 X360 Magazine UK
It's a title for die-hard aficionados and newbies only. [Issue#31, p.86]
60 Gaming Target
As you can probably tell by now, MX Vs. ATV: Untamed’s appeal lies in its gameplay.
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 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 GamePro
Untamed is a pup past its prime. [Mar 2008, p.86]
60 AceGamez
It gets the job done.
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 does "Dirt" and "Sega Rally Revo". [Jan 2008, p.94]
60 VideoGamer
It ticks all the boxes for those fans though, with only the slightly underwhelming visuals likely to disappoint.
50 Official Xbox Magazine
Our advice: just save your money and pop in your old copy of "Unleashed". [Jan 2008, p.64]

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