FreestyleXtreme Magazine Issue 5 | Page 27

What: Race Team Manager Who: BigBit Format: iOS / Android Availability: Out Now What: MX vs ATV Supercross Who: Nordic Games Format: Xbox 360/PS3/PC Availability: Out Now The much anticipated MX vs. ATV Supercross is finally available and I for one was itching to test out the latest instalment in the series when it hit the shelves. Nordic Games picked up this adrenaline-pumping, multi-million selling moto franchise in 2013 and have now reignited the MX vs. ATV flame from where Rainbow Studios left it. As far as actual gameplay goes, I thought overall it was pretty good, but in no way mind-blowing. It plays very differently to the previous versions of the game like Reflex or Alive, but once you get the hang of the new controls and are able to flow smoothly and quickly around the tracks, it does become a super fun and satisfying game to play. Having the ‘pre-load’ action brought back into the controls to clear jumps is a welcome addition and definitely improves the realism of the game, making you feel more like you’re actually riding the bike. Another big improvement I noticed, in terms of gameplay from the previous versions, is that you can have a bit of physical bar-banging with the other riders without crashing from the lightest of touches. Whips and scrubs however are frustrating to get the hang of and do take a while to learn. Once you figure them out, they are a lot of fun though! The tracks are realistic, well-designed and reminiscent of their real-life inspirations. Learning all the new tracks, as you work your way up the ranks, becomes a satisfying challenge. As you improve your skills and trickout your bike with factory parts, new lines, quads and rhythm sections start to open up. Only then does this this game really come to life and make you feel like James Stewart himself! Overall I definitely enjoyed playing MX vs ATV Supercross, and the guys at Nordic Games did a great job making their first SX game. I would say MX vs. ATV continues to be the best moto game out there, but you will have to take your racing seriously to get the most out of MX vs. ATV Supercross. There are no freestyle / freeride areas to mess about and have some fun on in this version which I thought was a bit disappointing. Sadly, when you compare the physics, graphics, style and realism of this series to a game such as ‘Skate’, you quickly realise how far behind motocross games still are compared to that of our board riding brothers. T Race Team Manager is a free, good-fun management/driving game for your mobile or tablet. Your job is to take your racing team to the top, hiring the fastest drivers to hand your rides to, as well as keeping mechanics and sponsors happy as you work your way up the ranks. A nice mix of management strategy, decision-making and short bursts of driving, make this game entertaining and easy to play. The races are mostly comprised of text notifications letting you know what’s going on. When something happens to your car during a race, it’s time to take control and make the over-takes, blocks or pitstops yourself. Simple controls such as taps, swipes and tilts make this nice and easy to get the hang of, but can take some practice to get perfect! The game is quite menu-heavy, so it does require a bit of patience. Although actual driving time is limited, when you do drive it is great fun! Cool cars, great graphics, real sponsors and smooth controls make the game look cool and super satisfying to play. If you like fast cars, driving games and the idea of being in charge of your dream race team, go and download Race Team Manager now! T We tested