Well now, what do we have here? Hmmm, it seems to be another in the
never-ending string of “extreme” games. If there is one thing that game makers
know what to do it’s to pummel something once good and original into the ground.
Our newest example is right here in SX Superstar by Acclaim. I can imagine the
scene now: somewhere at Acclaim HQ the managers are all in a room planning out
the next several games. This list of new games is blank. They’ve got nothing. So
one of the junior executives opens up a gaming magazine, or better yet surfs to
Gamers' Temple, and notices that there sure seems to be a lot of extreme motorbike
games out there. He mentions it offhandedly and viola, suddenly he’s given a
corner office and made senior VP. Yes, unfortunately the decision was made to
create another extreme game and the results are enough to make you want to sell
your stock in Acclaim. Let’s see why...
SX Superstar is a game. Alright, fine, it’s actually a supercross dirt bike
racing game to be more specific. There are three different game modes: Arcade,
Championship and Multiplayer. With the arcade mode you can jump right into the
racing action using any bike and track that has already been unlocked. More
track and bikes can be unlocked as you progress within the championship mode.
The arcade and multiplayer modes are pretty straightforward so let’s go into
detail about the championship mode.
The championship mode is presumably where most of the action is and where you
simulate the career of a SX rider. Too bad there isn’t that much happening.
Here’s the deal. You start off by selecting your rider. While there are a fairly
wide selection of riders there doesn’t seem to be a very big difference in their
actual abilities. Basically it really doesn’t matter who you choose. The biggest
separator between the riders is that male riders have girlfriends but the female
riders apparently don’t date. You see, one of the benefits of doing well in the
championship mode is that as a male rider you can upgrade your girlfriend.
That’s teaching the youth a valuable lesson.
The big problem with the championship mode is that there just isn’t that much
to do. It’s almost just like the arcade mode with a few exceptions. One is the
already mentioned girlfriend trade up. You can also get a better apartment,
which is good because your first pad has some serious problems and comes with
its very own dead body outline. While upgrading your living quarters sounds good
it’s not that exciting in the game. It’s not like you get to pick your new place
or anything. If you finish in first after the end of the season, you get a new
place. Done. You don’t get to do anything in the new place that you couldn’t do
in your old place so it’s just for show. What you do get to do in the apartment
is check your phone for messages and faxes. Whee!! Sometimes the faxes require
that
you to decide if you want to add a new sponsor. That’s about it for the career
simulation part of the game. Nothing to write home about. So right about now
you’re saying to yourself, “OK, so the career mode sucks. But I bet they got the
actual racing part nailed.” If you were saying that, you’d be wrong.
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