Downhill Domination

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}{{Infobox video game

| title = Downhill Domination

| image = Downhill Domination Coverart.png

| developer = Incog Inc. Entertainment{{efn|Santa Monica Studio assisted on development.}}

| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|Sony Computer Entertainment|EU/AU|Codemasters}}

| director = Scott Campbell

| producer = Scott Campbell
Rick Kane

| designer = Scott Campbell

| programmer = Karl Loveridge

| artist = Karl Loveridge

| writer =

| composer =

| platforms = PlayStation 2

| released = {{vgrelease|NA|July 22, 2003{{Cite web |date=2006-10-20 |title=First-Ever Downhill Mountain Bike Racing Game Provides Outdoor Adrenaline Thrills in Downhill Domination for PlayStation2 - PS2 News |url=http://ps2.gamezone.com/news/07_22_03_12_51PM.htm |access-date=2023-11-21 |archive-date=October 20, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061020114152/http://ps2.gamezone.com/news/07_22_03_12_51PM.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}|EU|February 13, 2004{{Cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=February 13, 2004 |title=What's New? |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/news130204whatsnew |access-date=May 20, 2024 |website=Eurogamer |archive-date=May 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521190327/https://www.eurogamer.net/news130204whatsnew |url-status=live }}|AU|February 20, 2004{{Cite web |title=Downhill Domination |url=http://www.atari.com.au/product/?action=view&id=1533 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214122558/http://www.atari.com.au/product/?action=view&id=1533 |archive-date=December 14, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2024 |website=Atari Australia}}}}

| genre = Racing, vehicular combat

| modes = Single-player, multiplayer

| caption = North American box art

}}

Downhill Domination is a racing video game developed by Incog Inc. Entertainment and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2. It was released in North America in 2003 and in Europe by Codemasters in 2004.

Gameplay

There are three options available at the main menu: single player, multiplayer and an options menu that allows players to modify gameplay elements such as difficulty and view unlocked items achieved during gameplay.

Initially, the player is introduced to six fictional racers displayed at the top of a mountain once single player mode is selected from the main menu of the game. By pressing the select button over an unlocked racer, additional info of the racer will be displayed, and by pressing the select button over a locked character which is represented by a statue, valuable info on how to unlock, the same will be displayed as a specific career to finish. In addition to two other fictional racers, players can also unlock real-life professional racers like Eric Carter, Tara Llanes, Brian Lopes, Richie Schley and Missy Giove when specific tournaments are finished during gameplay.

Combat is also integrated into the game, in which the player can use two buttons to attack other racers, one for a left attack, and the other for the right. These attacks can be upgraded to more powerful attacks by performing tricks, taking out opponents, or collecting power-ups (known in-game as "pickups"). A bike shop with several unlockable items to purchase is available but is only accessible in one player mode. Up to four players can play the game, but when playing with more than two, the available tracks and modes are limited.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 79/100{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/downhill-domination/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 | title=Downhill Domination for PlayStation 2 Reviews | website=Metacritic | publisher=CBS Interactive | accessdate=September 27, 2015 | archive-date=March 14, 2025 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20250314175744/https://www.metacritic.com/game/downhill-domination/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 | url-status=live }}

| Edge = 6/10{{cite magazine | author=Edge staff | title=Downhill Domination | magazine=Edge | publisher=Future plc | issue=128 | date=October 2003 | page=102}}

| EGM = 7.83/10{{cite magazine | author=EGM staff | url=http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1489647,00.asp | title=Downhill Domination | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=169 | date=August 2003 | page=121 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040401004629/http://www.egmmag.com/article2/0,2053,1489647,00.asp | archivedate=April 1, 2004 | url-status=dead | accessdate=April 11, 2019}}

| Fam = 30/40{{cite magazine | url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=5099&redirect=no | title=爆走マウンテンバイカーズ [PS2] | language=Japanese | magazine=Famitsu | publisher=Enterbrain | accessdate=April 10, 2019 | archive-date=January 24, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124211338/https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=5099&redirect=no | url-status=dead }}

| GI = 8.25/10{{cite magazine | url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200308/R03.0807.1601.16928.htm | title=Downhill Domination | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=GameStop | issue=124 | date=August 2003 | page=87 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031025015643/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200308/R03.0807.1601.16928.htm | archive-date=October 25, 2003 | url-status=dead | access-date=April 10, 2019}}

| GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Dan Elektro | date=July 22, 2003 | url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/30310.shtml | title=Downhill Domination Review for PS2 on GamePro.com | magazine=GamePro | publisher=IDG Entertainment | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209101543/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/30310.shtml | archivedate=February 9, 2005 | url-status=dead | accessdate=April 11, 2019}}

| GameRev = B{{cite web | last=Silverman | first=Ben | date=August 2003 | url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33663-downhill-domination-review | title=Downhill Domination | website=Game Revolution | publisher=CraveOnline | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009191237/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/downhill-domination | archivedate=October 9, 2015 | url-status=live | accessdate=April 11, 2019}}

| GSpot = 7.5/10{{cite web | last=Davis | first=Ryan | date=July 21, 2003 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/downhill-domination-review/1900-6072014/ | title=Downhill Domination Review | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | accessdate=April 10, 2019 | archive-date=May 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519200741/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/downhill-domination-review/1900-6072014/ | url-status=live }}

| GSpy = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web | last=Padilla | first=Raymond | date=July 30, 2003 | url=http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/downhill-domination/6029p1.html | title=GameSpy: Downhill Domination | website=GameSpy | publisher=IGN Entertainment | accessdate=April 11, 2019 | archive-date=May 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519195233/http://ps2.gamespy.com/playstation-2/downhill-domination/6029p1.html | url-status=live }}

| GameZone = 8.5/10{{cite web | last=Lafferty | first=Michael | date=July 21, 2003 | url=https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/downhill_domination_ps2_review/ | title=Downhill Domination - PS2 - Review | website=GameZone | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006173836/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21697.htm | archivedate=October 6, 2008 | url-status=live | accessdate=April 11, 2019}}

| IGN = 8/10{{cite web | last=Perry | first=Douglass C. | date=July 22, 2003 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/22/downhill-domination-2 | title=Downhill Domination | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | accessdate=April 10, 2019 | archive-date=December 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227201513/https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/07/22/downhill-domination-2 | url-status=live }}

| OPM = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | last=Davison | first=John | url=http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494439,00.asp | title=Downhill Domination | magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | publisher=Ziff Davis | date=August 2003 | page=97 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040401055122/http://www.playstationmagazine.com/article2/0,2053,1494439,00.asp | archivedate=April 1, 2004 | url-status=dead | accessdate=April 11, 2019}}

| rev1 = Maxim

| rev1Score = 8/10{{cite web | last=Porter | first=Alex | date=July 23, 2003 | url=http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_5815.html | title=Downhill Domination | website=Maxim | publisher=Biglari Holdings | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030801132121/http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_5815.html | archivedate=August 1, 2003 | url-status=dead | accessdate=April 10, 2019}}

| rev2 = The Times

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news | last=McNamara | first=John | date=February 21, 2004 | url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/downhill-domination-gqx0wccvztg | title=Downhill Domination | newspaper=The Times | access-date=April 10, 2019 | archive-date=September 5, 2021 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20210905034025/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/downhill-domination-gqx0wccvztg | url-status=live }}{{subscription required}}

}}

Downhill Domination received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. In Japan, where the game was ported for release on May 20, 2004 under the name {{nihongo|Bakusō Mountain Bikers|爆走マウンテンバイカーズ|Bakusō Maunten Baikāzu|lit. "Roaring Mountain Bikers"}}, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40.

Downhill Domination

Gameplay

Reception

Notes

References

External links