MX Superfly, created by the mostly unknown developer Pacific Coast Power and Light seems to be taking extreme motocross to the next level; you may know Pacific Coast Power and Light from their offering of Road Rash 64. MX Superfly is the sequel (it's more of an upgrade) to the solid PS2 game titled MX 2002 Featuring Ricky Carmicheal. MX 2002 was met with decent reviews averaging in the range of 7.5 to 8.5, Superfly is set to go for the gold. With improved graphics, new features, and even mini-games, we will be in for something worth our time.

MX Superfly will be fully equipped with everything possible that could make a extreme arcade type Motocross game great. With a much more expanded Freestyle mode (the Freestyle mode is what some people say 'made' MX 2002) you are now able to actually create a stunt track and let your imagination go wild as you shove obstacle after obstacle to allow you to pull of tricks and show your 'Mad Skillz' or thrash your bike. Total freedom of exploration is another feature you will be able to explore in Freestyle, at any given time you will be able to go anywhere in the track and pull off moves where you want, not where you are told to.

The new moves you will be able to pull off include the Tsunami, Rock Solid, and essentially every signature move from the selectable riders. The riders include the seven-time AMA National Champion Ricky Carmicheal, of course, and 26 other real-live pro Motocross riders from 125cc, 250cc, and freestyle also join the ranks among this Motocross legend. Each race will allow for an extreme and intense ride as there are up to ten, fifteen or perhaps even more riders on screen at once with no loss in framerate on the GameCube.

Superfly is introducing a first in Motocross, you now have the option to create your own rider by choosing a sponsor, and buying bikes and gear from the six major manufacturers in Motocross today; the most successful you are, the better the bike and gear you can purchase.

Control may be slightly reminiscent to Excitebike 64 to many, but this offers a unique experience. You get all the standard buttons for basic riding, but you will also be able to pull off no-hander moves, kicks, flips and other interesting looking tricks.

Bikes seem to be lighter than air at some times, you fly off ramps and can easily fly across various obstacles and gaps littered along the map. However, the physics of the actual bikes and their crashing is quite believable. As you hit the ground your bike will bounce and slide along the ground; if you get into a crash, you will be in for something good looking, as your bike smacks into the ground and bounces off walls you will see a great attention to detail and a bit of realism as well.

Something distinct that separates Superfly from the rest of the motocross pack would probably have to be the great variety of styles of play, from the regular and straight-forward racing mode, to the often outlandish and unbelievable freestyle where you will be able to pull of gravity defying jumps and crazy stunts. The variety in the tracks is also something of great variety, from the run-of-the-mill circuit racing in arenas and coliseums to racing atop roofs and around mountains. There is one thing that is consistent among these tracks, they will all be detailed and created with a scrutinizing eye.

MX won't win anything for its graphics or technical details, but it won't be lacking in this department either. Superfly will be locked at a constant 30 frames per second, even with a wide view of your area and ten riders all vying for first place, right in front of your eyes. The textures will be detailed, the tracks' geometry will be intricate and the maps will be expansive and quite the spectacle. There will also be other little details that will make up the graphics in Superfly, such as advanced particles like dirt and mud that your bike will be constantly kicking up, bump-mapping, reflection maps, and a plethora of other features that will be very pleasing to the eye. The visual part of the game shall be quite the spectacle, but the aural features will be nothing to scoff at either. Now that Factor 5 has let their MusyX tools become available to the GameCube development public, PCP&L plans of using them to their full potential. Any of you with Dolby Pro Logic II capable receivers will be in for a surreal experience that I expect won't disappoint any of you audio-freak gamers out there.

MX Superfly may not seem like a true sequel to MX 2002, but it will introduce enough original material that I doubt you will know the difference anyway. From 9 new minigames since MX 2002, to the create-a-rider and stunt track creator; I expect this title will offer something unique and new for any racing fan that would be willing to give Superfly a try. Stay tuned to Cube-Europe for an extensive review as this game is released.