The first thing that will surprise you when you start this game are the menus. MUD menus look like something out of a comic. It’s a shame the art style doesn’t stay consistent when it comes to the actual gameplay. The tracks in the game often feature a lot of impressive detail, like giant inflatable Monster Energy cans and other cool scenery next to the track, but overall the graphics are a bit bland. I couldn’t help but wish the game would use the comic book style throughout the game. It’s a strange design decision. On the one hand you have these fantastic menus that come to life with a lot of personality, and then you have the graphics of the game, which are basically the opposite. The soundtrack is not going to be to everyone’s taste either. MUD features a fairly small tracklist, made up of garish emo acts. Most gamers are likely to turn off the music as it gets pretty sad, pretty quickly.

MUD is divided into three game modes: an “Official Mode”, “MUD World Tour” and “Multiplayer”. The official mode features all the real drivers and teams from the FIM MX1, MX2 and Monster Energy Motocross of Nations championships. You can launch into a quick race or start a championship with your favorite driver. While motocross fans and enthusiasts will likely enjoy hitting the track with their favorite riders, there isn’t much to offer here for players unfamiliar with the sport. There are no biographies or other information on any of the riders. Aside from a five-star rating, if you don’t know who these guys are, you’re on your own. The multiplayer mode allows you to choose your favorite pilot and compete with up to 15 other players online. Multiplayer matches will be difficult to find and there are no local or splitscreen multiplayer options. Fortunately, that’s where MUD’s World Tour mode comes in.

MUD World Tour is where you will spend most of your time. You start the MUD World Tour by selecting one of the four “heroes”. It is not so much a career mode as an event mode. You earn coins by completing different events and then spend them on upgrading your rider’s talents, buying new motocross gear, and unlocking new events. Events can get a bit annoying after a while, as you need to buy new events to progress. The MUD World Tour includes Standard Races, Checkpoint Races, Head-to-Head Races, Elimination Cups, and Trick Battles. There is also something called “Monster Energy Trick Battle”. In essence, a freestyle motocross bonus that lets you ride through a series of small stages, performing tricks and setting high scores. It could have been a nice distraction from racing, but awkward physics and the fact that you only start out with a handful of tricks spoil the overall experience. Like everything else on the MUD World Tour, tricks must be brought in and can be very expensive. The bikes lack a sensation of weight in this mode, making them feel more like a shoe that has been thrown into the air, rather than a 100kg dirt bike. Spending coins on customizing your hero can also be a bit counterproductive. Buying new helmets, for example, does not offer incentives for the player. There are no other visual or performance updates available. It would have been nice to choose between different motocross machines and to be able to customize them.

No matter which mode you decide to play in, there is fun. MUD plays like an arcade game. Simple controls, an emphasis on exfoliating scrubs, and a boost feature in the form of “energy drinks” make up the main mechanics of the game. Bikes don’t slip, you don’t have to worry about clutch or gear shifting, and you don’t even have to control the rider’s weight. There are no separate front and rear brake buttons. Right trigger button for gas, left for brake. That’s. Simple controls can disappoint motocross fans, as controlling dirt bikes is incredibly easy and straightforward. For everyone else, the controls make MUD really accessible and easy to learn and play.

The biggest problem with MUD is that it doesn’t serve its audience. The game feels too arcade for motocross fans, but it doesn’t feature enough content to attract new players to the world of motocross racing. Inconsistent physics and presentation also hurt the overall experience. MUD offers a sweet spot that can be a lot of fun, if you’re the type of person who gets excited about the thrill of dirt bike racing.

5 – Ok

+ Official license FIM MX1, MX2 and MEMoN

+ Collect and play arcade controls

– Smooth images

– Uncomfortable physics

– limited content