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Written by Ian Johnston
Byline: Incog Inc., most recently responsible for Twisted Metal Black and War of the Monsters, has taken a niche sport in downhill mountain biking and brought it to the masses, with surprisingly good results.
The debut of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater in 1999 seemed to ignite interest in alternative sports games. Since then the videogame market has been deluged with them, featuring everything from in-line skating to wakeboarding and even skydiving. Some of these sports seem almost too niche to build a game around, and downhill mountain biking arguably falls into that category. Nevertheless, a downhill mountain biking game by the name of Downhill Domination made its debut at the annual Electronic Entertainment Exposition in Los Angeles this past May and was fairly well received, despite the fact that it managed to slip below a lot of people's radar. That's a shame, as it's an excellent game in virtually every regard, and has only a few minor flaws holding it back from being phenomenal.
As is the case with the majority of PS2 games, relative to those on competing platforms, Downhill Domination's graphics are good, if unspectacular. For a PS2 game though, they're very, very good. The assorted environments all convey the kind of raw and uncontained aspect of nature inherent to downhill mountain biking. Huge boulders, trees, cliffs, wild animals, hikers, rockslides and even SUVs will obstruct your path to the finish line. However, the stages can seem a bit too cluttered with obstacles at times, which necessitates a good knowledge of the layout of each stage. As such, there's occasionally a need to play through certain stages two or three times in order to complete them successfully.
Also of note, the bikes and riders themselves can also be customized to suit your aestetic preferences. As you successfully complete each race in the Career Mode, which means placing in the top three, you earn money that can be used in the game's bike shop. This is where you can buy new outfits for your biker, new parts such as frames and wheels, and even little extras like a water bottle that helps replenish your energy more quickly and can be used as a projectile. Upgrading your bike frequently is essential in order to compensate for the gradual yet constant increase in difficulty as you progress through the game.
In all there are nine different mountains spanning various locations including, but not limited to, Utah, Italy, Japan, Russia, Scotland, and Peru. The computer controlled opponents you'll be competing against are quite aggressive, so fully utilizing your limited array of fighting capabilities is a must. The other riders won't hesitate to knock you off your bike, and at the speeds you're going one knockdown can be the difference between victory and defeat.
One of the coolest things about the game is how open ended the courses are. There are so many different ways to get from the start to the finish that finding the best route can often make an otherwise difficult race fairly easy. You also have to constantly use your boost by double tapping the X button or pressing the R3 button. There is, of course, a boost meter which gets drained as you use it, and the only way to replenish it is to get a boost bonus icon or perform tricks.
The boost bonus icon, as well as a host of other power-ups, are littered throughout each course, sometimes in hard to reach locations. The aforementioned tricks are also very, very important. By performing tricks you not only replenish your boost meter but you also earn points that get converted into money at the conclusion of the race, provided you placed in the top three. The money, as previously stated, is used to buy bike upgrades and a host of other things - including new modes of play - so you have to do tricks as often as you possibly can.
The way the tricks are performed is very reminiscent of games like SSX and Splashdown. Once you're airborn you can hold down different combinations of the R1, R2, L1, and L2 buttons in order to perform different tricks. The longer your rider holds the trick the more points you earn. If you hold a particular trick too long you'll wipe out and lose the points you would have netted had you landed the trick successfully. There are a slew of modes you can play in as well, including a cool Moshbowl Mode, which is basically a huge dirt pit. Add to that a Freeride Mode, where you ride along, Time Trials, Arcade, and multiple variations of the Career Mode and you've got gameplay variety galore.
Being a Sony game, the soundtrack features some pretty big names from the music industry. There are tracks from Brian Setzer, James Brown, Run D.M.C., Black Eyed Peas, Slipknot, Saliva, and The Donnas among others. It's a nice mix of different types of music and suits the frenetic pace of the game really well. The sound effects are also exceptionally well done. Be it the sound of your bike's tires as they race over the rugged terrain, the cheering spectators, the sickening thud of an especially brutal wipeout, or the grunts of a mountain animal, the cumulative aural experience is top notch.
Some games are just a joy to play, and Downhill Domination is definitely one of them. The graphics could probably be slightly better, the courses are a bit too cluttered at times, and the music may not be to everyone's liking, but beyond that it's hard to find a whole lot wrong with the game. Even though the gameplay is essentially the same as you'll find in either of the two SSX and Splashdown games, it's still a whole lot of fun to play. If you've played and enjoyed any of those games it's a given that you'll enjoy Downhill Domination. It's got plenty of modes to keep you occupied, lots of stuff to unlock (like new riders and modes), and enough challenge and variety to bring you back for more.
Highs:
Lots of modes; great gameplay; excellent soundtrack; great course design
Lows:
Music may not appeal to some; courses can be too cluttered at times; graphics aren't as good as they could be
Verdict:
If you enjoy well-made extreme sports games then Downhill Domination is a must-buy. It combines excellent, yet not entirely original, gameplay with great course design, an ecclectic soundtrack, and above average graphics. Add a few friends and you've got a fantastic multi-player experience. Another great game from Incog.
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