Motocross Madness 2
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Motocross Madness 2
| image = Motocross Madness 2.jpg
| alt = The box art displays a motocross rider performing a stunt
| developer = Rainbow Studios
| publisher = Microsoft Games
| designer = Robb Rinard
Stephane Roncada
| programmer = Mark DeSimone
Glenn O'Bannon
| artist = Brian Gillies
Kiki Wolfkill
| series =
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|May 25, 2000{{cite web |last=Fudge |first=James |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/028/038/mm2_ships.html |title=Motocross Madness 2 trickles into retail |date=May 25, 2000 |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030525191034/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/028/038/mm2_ships.html |archivedate=May 25, 2003 |url-status=dead |accessdate=May 19, 2022}}|UK|July 21, 2000{{Cite news |date=2000-07-21 |title=UK releases |language=en-gb |work=Eurogamer.net |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/article-28601 |access-date=2023-04-20 |archive-date=2023-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420192438/https://www.eurogamer.net/article-28601 |url-status=live }}}}
| genre = Vehicle simulation, racing
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Microsoft Windows
}}
Motocross Madness 2 is a motocross racing video game that was developed by Rainbow Studios and published by Microsoft Games.
This sequel to 1998's Motocross Madness was released in May 2000 with improved graphics, which included better textures and many landscape objects like trees, road signs and caravans. It has over 40 tracks{{cite web |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2000/05/01/microsoft-motocross-madness-2-to-feature-honda-motorcycles/ |title=Microsoft "Motocross Madness 2" to Feature Honda Motorcycles |date=May 1, 2000 |website=Microsoft |accessdate=March 16, 2015 |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113085237/http://news.microsoft.com/2000/05/01/microsoft-motocross-madness-2-to-feature-honda-motorcycles/ |url-status=live }} in 6 event types, over 50,000 3D objects and a new career mode. Players as well as bikes are easily customized.{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/motocross-madness-2/ |title=Motocross Madness 2 (PC) |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |accessdate=September 8, 2008 |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011182937/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/motocross-madness-2/ |url-status=live }} Motocross Madness also supports network play over a LAN environment{{cite web |url=http://www.activewin.com/interviews/microsoft/rinard.shtml |title=Interview with the Designer of Motocross Madness 2, Robb Rinard |website=ActiveWin.com |publisher=Active Network, Inc. |accessdate=September 8, 2008 |archive-date=July 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723091754/http://www.activewin.com/interviews/microsoft/rinard.shtml |url-status=live }} and, until June 19, 2006, multiplayer gameplay through the MSN Gaming Network.{{cite web |url=http://zone.msn.com/en/general/article/midtretiring.htm |title=CD-ROM Matchmaking Has Been Retired on MSN Games |website=MSN.com |publisher=Microsoft |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016140021/http://zone.msn.com/en/general/article/midtretiring.htm |archivedate=October 16, 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=October 1, 2008}}
Gameplay
In MCM2, there are six types of racing: Stunts, Enduro, Baja, Supercross and Nationals, and the campaign-style Pro-Circuit Mode.
In Pro-Circuit mode, a single player follows a series of events and courses in an effort to win prize money and upgrade equipment. Unlike the single-player mode, the multiplayer mode is completely lacking in structure.{{cite web |last=Lopez |first=Vincent |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/27/motocross-madness-2 |title=Motocross Madness 2 |date=May 26, 2000 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=March 16, 2015 |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403201637/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/05/27/motocross-madness-2 |url-status=live }} Players can race against each other on the same map, play tag and can choose from Supercross or Enduro. In either mode, players are not limited to track space, and are free to play amongst the terrain and inanimate objects or moving features such as trains, cars and farm tractors.{{cite web |last=Reed |first=Aaron |url=http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r13382.htm |title=Motocross Madness 2 Review - PC |date=June 15, 2000 |website=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002084711/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r13382.htm |archivedate=October 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |accessdate=March 16, 2015}}
In Baja mode, the player races against other opponents to ride through checkpoints (called "gates") until all of the gates have been ridden through - this is one complete lap. The first player to complete a certain number of laps is the winner. Baja, unlike Nationals or Enduro, takes place in massive, open wilderness.
In Enduro mode, which is similar to baja, the player also races against other opponents to ride through gates, with the goal of being the first to complete a certain number of laps. Except, in this mode, the races take place in urban or rural maps, which is smaller and more variable than Baja.
In Nationals mode, the player is restricted to racing within a dirtbiking track against other opponents, with the goal of completing a certain number of laps first (there are no gates in this mode).
In Stunts mode, the player, in order to win, must accumulate the highest number of points by performing successful stunts. To perform a stunt, a rider must gain enough height in mid-air and then is able to perform any of the six stunts. A failed stunt results from the rider crashing while attempting to perform a stunt. In stunts, there is no restriction as to where the player may go, and so he may also roam freely across the map.
In Supercross mode, the player must race against other opponents within a dirtbiking track in a large stadium watched by an audience. It features an extreme sports-like atmosphere, with the crowd reacting to the player's performance. Supercross is similar to nationals, except for the location as well as nationals tracks are far broader and thinner, whereas Supercross tracks are large yet the track is compact.
While creating a custom game in single-player, players can select the number of computer opponents to compete against, which range from 0, the minimum, to 10 - the maximum number of opponents in a game (this makes a full race in MM2 eleven players maximum). They may also select the difficulty, which ranges from easy and normal to hard. They may then also select the map/track, game mode and toggle vegetation collision (whether players can crash into solid objects, such as trees or buildings) and whether they want to record a replay of the game they are about to play. Players can also select which bike they want to compete with as well as the appearance of the suit of their rider. Players can also select the style of the game they want to play: practice, single event, ghost or tournament. Practice games never end and no players can win. Single events finish right after all players complete the track. Ghost races allow players to race against their own times (how long it took them to finish the track). Tournaments are composed of various single events.
Customization
Unlike its predecessor, Motocross Madness 2 allows players to create terrains (referred to as 'maps' or 'tracks') using Adobe Photoshop and the Armadillo terrain editor.{{cite web |last=Varanini |first=Giancarlo |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/motocross-madness-2-terrain-editor-tutorials/1100-2600440/ |title=Motocross Madness 2 Terrain Editor Tutorials |date=July 7, 2000 |website=GameSpot |publisher=Red Ventures |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041205232059/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/driving/motocrossmadness2/news_2600440.html |archivedate=December 5, 2004 |url-status=live |accessdate=May 19, 2022}} These maps can be utilized by players who download them to their PCs. Players can create their own clothing and customize their motorcycles. Microsoft added to the realism of the game by securing licensed motorcycles from Yamaha, KTM, Suzuki, and Honda.{{cite web |last=Hinson |first=Byron |url=http://www.activewin.com/reviews/software/games/m/mcm2.shtml |title=Motocross Madness 2 - Review |website=ActiveWin.com |publisher=Active Network, Inc. |accessdate=October 1, 2008 |archive-date=October 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001230914/http://www.activewin.com/reviews/software/games/m/mcm2.shtml |url-status=live }}
Music
"New Skin", by the band Incubus, appeared in the opening segment of Motocross Madness 2. It was originally taken from their 1997 album S.C.I.E.N.C.E..{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/ |title= Xbox Games | Xbox|website=www.microsoft.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051004070629/http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/ |archive-date=October 4, 2005}} The end credits featured the song "Deville" from the band Strung Out. Most of the in-game sounds, such as the bikers crying out in pain when falling or radios playing in nearby caravans, were recorded from real-life sources. Music was not played during the in-game races.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 86%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/914407-motocross-madness-2/index.html |title=Motocross Madness 2 for PC |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514170305/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/914407-motocross-madness-2/index.html |archivedate=May 14, 2019 |url-status=dead |accessdate=May 19, 2022}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last=Kanarick |first=Mark |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20986&tab=review |title=Motocross Madness 2 - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115012836/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20986&tab=review |archivedate=November 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=March 17, 2015}}
| CNG = 7/10{{cite web |last=Goble |first=Gord |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0%2C6%2C0-4241%2C00.html |title=Motocross Madness 2 |date=May 30, 2000 |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816091543/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-4241,00.html |archivedate=August 16, 2000 |url-status=dead |accessdate=May 20, 2022}}
| CGW = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Price |first=Tom |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_193.pdf |title=Berm Baby, Berm (Motocross Madness 2 Review) |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=193 |date=August 2000 |pages=94–96 |accessdate=May 19, 2022}}
| EuroG = 8/10{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Martin |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/r-motocm2 |title=Motocross Madness 2 |date=July 28, 2000 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |accessdate=May 19, 2022 |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519231440/https://www.eurogamer.net/r-motocm2 |url-status=live }}
| GamePro = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Wright |first=Brian |url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5700.shtml |title=Motocross Madness 2 Review for PC on GamePro.com |date=May 25, 2000 |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209085158/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/5700.shtml |archivedate=February 9, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=March 17, 2015}}
| GameRev = A−{{cite web |author=Johnny B. |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32997-motocross-madness-2-review |title=Motocross Madness Review |date=June 2000 |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110638/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/motocross-madness-2 |archivedate=April 2, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=May 19, 2022}}
| NGen = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Preston |first=Jim |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen69Sep2000/page/n115/mode/2up |title=Motocross Madness 2 |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=69 |date=September 2000 |page=112 |accessdate=May 19, 2022}}
| PCGUS = 87%{{cite magazine |last=Saltzman |first=Marc |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/motocross_madne.html |title=Motocross Madness 2 |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=7 |issue=8 |date=August 2000 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315141829/http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/motocross_madne.html |archivedate=March 15, 2006 |url-status=dead |accessdate=March 17, 2015}}
| award1Pub = PC Gamer
| award1 = 2000 Editor's Choice Award
}}
Motocross Madness 2 received favorable reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.
Vincent Lopez of IGN said of the game: "it's about fun, and MM2 provides this in piles and piles. The crash animations never (and I mean never) stop being anything less than hilarious, and the action is always as a pretty relentless pace. The eye-candy is constantly impressive, the physics are crazy enough to be fun but real enough to look right, and the multiplayer game is a blast, especially if you've got devious friends." Stephen Poole of GameSpot said that the game "isn't the most realistic motorcycle simulation you can buy, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable." Jim Preston of NextGen said of the game: "Flying spread-eagle into a cactus never looked so good."
The staff of Computer Gaming World named it the best racing game of 2000. They hailed it as "far and away the most viscerally pleasing and outright fun racing game we've played in a long time."{{cite magazine |author=CGW staff |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_201.pdf |title=The 2001 Premier Awards: Games of the Year (Racing) |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=201 |date=April 2001 |page=77 |accessdate=May 19, 2022}} The game also won the Editor's Choice Award from PC Gamer, which called it "The PC's pre-eminent bike sim."{{cite web |url=http://microsoft.com/games/motocross2/community.htm |title=Motocross Madness 2 |website=microsoft.com |access-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204032202/http://microsoft.com/games/motocross2/community.htm |archive-date=4 February 2009 |url-status=dead}} The staff of Computer Games Magazine nominated it for their 2000 "Racing Game of the Year" award, whose winner remains unknown.{{cite web |author=CGM staff |date=February 8, 2001 |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/031/125/010208-07.html |title=Computer Games Magazine announces nominees for annual best in computer gaming awards |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050209070529/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/031/125/010208-07.html |archivedate=February 9, 2005 |url-status=dead}} During the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, Motocross Madness 2 won the "PC Sports" award, which it shared with FIFA 2001,{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/awards/pcsports.html |title=Fourth Interactive Achievement Awards: PC Sports Game of the Year |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010419003137/http://www.interactive.org/awards/pcsports.html |archivedate=April 19, 2001 |url-status=dead |accessdate=May 19, 2022}} and was a nominee for the "Visual Engineering" award, which ultimately went to SSX.{{cite web |url=http://www.interactive.org/awards/visual.html |title=Fourth Interactive Achievement Awards: Outstanding Visual Engineering |website=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010419003224/http://www.interactive.org/awards/visual.html |archivedate=April 19, 2001 |url-status=dead |accessdate=May 19, 2022}}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051004070629/http://www.microsoft.com/games/motocross2/ Official website] via Internet Archive
- {{moby game|id=/windows/motocross-madness-2}}
{{Madness series}}
{{Rainbow Studios}}
Category:Extreme sports video games
Category:Motorcycle video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Off-road racing video games
Category:Rainbow Studios games