MX 2002 featuring Ricky Carmichael - PlayStation 2

The game offers standard modes of play: Exhibition lets you jump into a full race on your own, so you can practice tricks and assess the competition; Freestyle mode lets you practice and get used to performing trick combos; Career sends you off to create your own custom rider and to race against opponents to further your career (and unlock various bikes and extra tracks in the process). Finally, there's also a Challenge mode (hidden in the options menu), which gives you a task of unlocking cool video clips of real riders performing the stunts. Of course, you can play Exhibition and Freestyle in split-screen multiplayer, which provides the ultimate and most satisfying challenges.

Career mode lets you revel in range of accurate bikes available, from 125cc models all the way up to 250cc monsters. Bikes handle about the same, but Career mode lets you dress your custom biker in licensed clothing and allows you to put your number and name on the rider's back.

While the physics--particularly the gravity modelling--is relaxed, allowing you more time to do the stunts, you still have to worry about power sliding and using the clutch to win races and stay upright. It's a satisfyingly deep nod toward simulation while remaining as fun and accessible as an arcade stunt racer should be.

Naturally for a PS2 title, the graphics are sharp and the textures complicated and colourful. It's almost as good looking as the real thing, except the mud you kick up doesn't have to be washed off. --Andrew S Bub, Amazon.com