Dave Mirra BMX XXX

Never have I seen a sports game face such a wild exposition from critics, media, and players even before its release. Dave Mirra BMX XXX is a game that was always going to throw the concept into question, given its title. However, the product faced numerous development issues, a rollercoaster of marketing campaigns, and a slur of condemnation over the theme and aesthetic of gameplay.

Considering other games with this famous rider's name on them, how on earth did we end up in this creative direction? But that's a question for another time. We need to analyze Dave Mirra BMX XXX and see if this is an entertaining game, despite the preconceptions flying towards it faster than the arrows on a target. Could off-color humor and controversy be a winning formula for a biking game?

Inquiring About the Village Bicycle

Let's give the short answer to why this professional BMX franchise took the form it did. The sports genre is crowded, the series desperately needed revamping, and television series focused on grotesque humor are exceedingly popular. That situation created the formula for Dave Mirra BMX XXX, which needed something radical to make these biking games relevant again.

The game is a freestyle BMX title with a strong focus on shock and sexual humor, incorporating the control and competitive mechanics of games old, mixed in with missions and storylines focusing on the obscure. Player incentives include unlocking nudity, outlandish dialogue, and the idea of what could come next. It's enough to get high-school or college-age kids into playing the game, but is it playable?

The control schematics and general mechanics of Dave Mirra BMX XXX are straightforward enough to enjoy the game's biking element. There are various tricks, challenging obstacles, and varied levels to test skills. However, the forced incorporation of raunchy and divisive content feels like the catalyst for the title's downfall. It gets in the way of a straight biking game rather than improving it.

Animations and frame rates are far too clunky for what should be a fluid sports game, too. But let's look at what the game has tried to achieve. Is it the spark in a dying franchise? Yes, but for all the wrong reasons. Dave Mirra BMX XXX is all over the place, with the core gameplay entirely disconnected from the concept. Another reason to wonder why they went through this is when they easily could have stopped this madness.

One Big Biking Poop Joke

Dave Mirra BMX XXX, if anything, will go down in history as one of the most questionable franchise games ever released. It'll be with franchise killers like Empire Earth III, titles that took something working and drove it down into obscurity.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Solid biking mechanics that make freestyling enjoyable
• Varied tricks and levels keep things interesting
• High level of customization

Cons:

• Shock humor and offensive content detract from the game experience
• Animations and models are poor
• The novelty wears off quickly

This inaugural title in Acclaim's new AKA (Athletes Kick Ass) series offers a new take on trick-based extreme sports: the inclusion of nasty, Maturerated adult themes! That's right, now your favorite BMX superstars can curse like sailors, bleed profusely, and crash into gratuitous piles of dog poop. Expect some radical panty shots and realistic breast physics for the female riders.