What is it: Mad Skills Motocross for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad
Where to get it: The Apple App Store
How much is it? Currently on sale for $1.99
Over the past couple of months I’ve had the privilege of being a beta tester of Mad Skills Motocross for iOS – the mobile version of what has been called the best side scrolling motocross game ever made. I’ve been a junkie of the desktop version of MSM for over a year now, so when Racer X President Bryan Stealey offered me the opportunity to get a beta version of the game on my iPhone I jumped at the chance. Think of MSM as ExciteBike on crack. If you grew up addicted to ExciteBike on your Nintendo, then you’re guaranteed to love MSM on your iPhone.
The entire beta testing process was awesome–working with the Swedish developer of the game Tobias Andersson of Turborilla was an amazing experience. It’s always nice to work with extremely talented people, and it was neat seeing Tobias turn our ideas into reality with each passing beta version of the game.
If you’ve been paying attention to the Twitter feed of myself, Josh Strang, Chris Bach, Rob Mitchell, Racer X, Wil Hahn, and tons of other moto industry heavy hitters you’ve definitely heard a lot of positive things about the game already. Let me assure you, everything good you’ve heard is true, and probably better than we were able to express in a 140-character tweet.
If you haven’t already, watch the trailer for the game below, as well as the video of me waxing Monster amateur motocross phenom Adam Cianciarulo in a MSM challenge (yeah, that’s right, you can race against your friend’s best times via OpenFeint challenges, more on that later!).
More than likely after watching those videos, if you have an iPod, iPod Touch, or iPad you’re already in the App Store downloading Mad Skills Motocross for your device. If not, read on as I explain why it’s the most fun and addicting iPhone game I’ve ever downloaded.
Challenge and beat your friends via OpenFeint!
• Physics – The way the bike handles and reacts is pretty awesome. You have a sense of control of the lean angle of the bike that’s very realistic, and when pulling wheelies to gain more speed I swear you can feel the knobbies hooking up in the dirt. I’ve played pretty much every motocross game made for iOS and the physics in MSM are by far the best and most enjoyable.
• Tracks – There are 52 unique tracks setup in 5 divisions. That’s an insane amount of variety in the game. Not to mention that as the divisions go on unique power-ups are added that definitely add to the difficulty of the game and give you various ways of completing each level. It took me nearly a week to unlock the entire game, with 2 tracks that I still can’t beat the computer rider. Basically, you won’t get bored playing this game. There are so many levels and so many different lines in each level that you’ll never be 100% satisfied with your time.
• Challenges – Mad Skills Motocross utilizes the OpenFeint system for online leader boards and for sending and receiving challenges. This is another element of the game that takes it to another level. After each race you can check the leader boards and see where you stand in comparison to your friends as well as against all other players in the world. Have a time that smokes all your buddies? Then send them a challenge and they’ll get to race against a “ghost” of your time. If they beat it, they send their result back as a challenge and you get to see if you can beat their time. You can see how this becomes addicting, right? (My OpenFeint name is themxhoop – send me some challenges!)
This has been quite the gushing review, I know. But after spending so much time beta testing the game (really tough work, believe me!) I definitely feel a bit invested in the game. You don’t have to take my word for it, though, take a look at the Apple App Store page for the game and check out the reviews and the game’s current 5-star rating. Racer X and Turborilla certainly have a hit on their hands and my recommendation to you is to get it now while the price is sitting at a very low $1.99. See you on the track!
For more information on the game visit www.madskillsmx.com or check out the MSM Twitter feed.
