Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 (PS2) - PlayStation 2

Before you can hang with the likes of Mat "The Condor" Hoffman or Ruben "Pollo" Alcantara, it's advisable to practise your chops on the free ride or session modes, especially if you're a newcomer to tricks-based sport games. It can take a good while on Free Ride's open-ended play time to achieve mastery of the complicated sets of controller taps needed to win trick points.

Level access in session or free ride modes depends on what you've unlocked in the road trip phase. To get to the next destination, you'll need to complete a set of four challenges not once but three times (once each in rookie, semi-pro and pro modes). That can be a daunting challenge, especially for beginners. More experienced players may find the search for the final trick that will push them to the next level a little tedious. That said, it's not hard to find a satisfying BMX groove and zoom along on your road trip.

The game also includes several multiplayer options, including HORSE, Tag, Halfpipe Hell, Graffiti War and Push , where you try to out-trick your opponent and make his side of the screen smaller by increasing your side of the screen. Graphically, the game detail is pretty awesome--from the bikes and riders to the glitzy lights of the Las Vegas background. The game is also populated with some fine tunes, ranging from LL Cool J to Iggy Pop. --Agen Schmitz