MX vs ATV Legends
- June 28, 2022
- Rainbow Studios
- 8h median play time
MX vs ATV Legends plays well for the most part, and despite some issues with the AI and a streamlined career, there's still a lot to like.
"MX vs ATV Legends" is a racing game that lets you compete on bikes, ATVs, and UTVs in massive open environments and a new career mode. The game features 2-player split-screen and 16-player online mode, as well as a new Trails mode for high-intensity outdoor racing. Customize your rider and vehicles with parts and gear from leading off-road manufacturers. Your choices in career mode lead to different paths, sponsorships, and special events.
Reviews
- The game features a great mix of fun and realism, especially in first-person view.
- Tracks are well-designed and provide a good variety of racing experiences.
- The developers are actively listening to community feedback and making improvements.
- The physics feel clunky and unrealistic, making it difficult to control the bikes effectively.
- There is a significant lack of customization options for bikes and gear.
- Audio issues, including poor engine sounds and inconsistent music volume, detract from the overall experience.
- graphics126 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received a generally positive reception, with many users praising their quality and visual appeal, often describing them as "amazing" or "stunning." However, some players feel that while the graphics are improved, they do not significantly elevate the overall experience, with criticisms about a lack of customization options and gameplay mechanics overshadowing the visual enhancements. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, but not enough to compensate for other gameplay shortcomings.
“Graphics are amazing.”
“I have really enjoyed MX vs ATV Legends and the improvements the devs at Rainbow Studios have done since the start in June of 2022, excellent graphic visuals creating euphoric ecstasy when playing.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the terrain looks really good!”
“Ok, I'm going to be brutally honest, this game is bad. It's not even funny how you can make a game in 2022 that looks like some of the mobile games I played in 2013. It is honestly disgusting how bad it looks, and the controls are just as bad. The bikes have no torque and are pretty much lawn mowers with 2 wheels. This game is horrible; I do not recommend it. I really expected better. It's literally just the same as their old game Reflex, which I played when I was 7 on the Xbox 360. They made a very minor improvement on graphics, barely noticeable, and changed the maps while making you pay more money. You don't even get to use real branded vehicles unless you pay real money for them, unlike Reflex where you at least got to use KTM for free.”
“The graphics for a game released in 2022 feel pretty gross. It just didn't seem polished at all.”
“The controls are funky, the graphics are terrible... the bikes sound like trash, physics for bikes is okay, but for the four-wheeled stuff, forget about it.”
- music87 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the variety and quality of the soundtrack, while others criticize it for being poorly mixed and featuring songs that clash with the game's atmosphere. Many users expressed frustration over the inability to customize the playlist or adjust the volume effectively, leading to an inconsistent audio experience. Overall, while some find the soundtrack enjoyable, a significant portion of players feel it detracts from the gameplay due to its loudness and lack of fitting tracks.
“The story-line is great and it's fun riding around while listening to your top music playlists.”
“I cannot believe the music choice they put in this game.”
“Music is way better than expected.”
“The difficulty slider does literally nothing, none of the free maps are fun, all of the online servers are slow asf, the game has literally the worst music I have ever heard in my entire life, no exaggeration.”
“Who was in charge of the music choice absolutely ruins the game.”
“The audio is mixed like a commercial; the music can sometimes be stupid loud even on the lowest setting, while the bike can barely be heard at times.”
- gameplay59 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players appreciating the skill-based mechanics and improved driving physics, while others criticize the overall execution, including clunky controls and frustrating mechanics. Many feel that the game lacks polish compared to previous titles in the series, particularly in track design and responsiveness. Despite these issues, some players find the gameplay enjoyable and addictive, especially after adjusting to the mechanics.
“The controls and mechanics feel very skill-based, which is good; it creates a significant skill gap between good and bad players.”
“Once you get used to the mechanics for scrubbing, seat boost, etc., it's a really smooth game, especially in first person.”
“Great game! All the mechanics are good, and the game is just a thrill to play.”
“On top of that, the gameplay itself is repulsive.”
“I hate being a downer because I loved every MX vs ATV before this, but this one is trash in my opinion... mechanics are dumb. I leveled up my 125 and 450 to the max, and the 125 is faster than the 450.”
“Visually looks better than the previous game (couldn't get much worse), but gameplay is definitely a downgrade from All Out.”
- story35 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the inclusion of a narrative in the career mode, describing it as a fun and quirky addition that adds depth. However, many criticize the story for being simplistic, repetitive, and filled with filler content, often feeling unpolished and lacking interactivity. Overall, while the story is seen as a positive aspect by some, it is generally viewed as underwhelming and not a significant draw for the game.
“The story-line is great and it's fun riding around while listening to your top music playlists.”
“I personally do love how they incorporated a sort of story to the career mode.”
“Story mode is cool and a nice change of pace from just doing random events for no real reason.”
“I get the intention here but it just seems like a lot of unneeded filler to make it seem like there is more of a story to this game than there is.”
“The AI is terrible, the maps are scenic and fun yet very unpolished, the vehicles feel weightless, and the 'story' is laughable and unneeded.”
“Story mode seems like a kid's game which is just sad considering that the main player base of MX vs. ATV is adults who spend hundreds if not thousands of hours playing the game.”
- stability24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting persistent glitches, buggy controls, and performance issues even a year after release. While some players noted improvements following updates, others experienced severe problems such as crashes and poor physics, leading to frustration and refunds. Overall, the game is described as fun but marred by ongoing stability issues that detract from the experience.
“I am happy to report that the formula still works and it runs great on Steam Deck on medium settings.”
“The game maintains a solid frame rate, ensuring a smooth experience throughout.”
“I've encountered very few bugs, which speaks volumes about the game's stability.”
“The career glitches and you can't play.”
“The game is buggy and the physics are janky at best, but I have heard the devs are working on this.”
“It's such a bad game right now; it keeps almost crashing every 10 minutes, just freezes all the time, and it's not my PC. Everything else works as it should. I'm not even able to get through the tutorial like this before I get into the 2-hour zone and won't get refunded. I was expecting so much more from this game; such a shame it could have been so much better.”
- optimization16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance and graphics, noting that it runs well even on high settings. However, many others criticize it for being poorly optimized, experiencing significant stuttering, and having unresponsive controls, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while there are positive aspects, the game's optimization issues seem to overshadow its strengths for a considerable number of users.
“The game has been updating so well, and the performance is really good even with ultra graphics; it looks amazing and runs amazing too!”
“Good graphics with great optimization.”
“Brings back that MX vs ATV Untamed feeling in me, so I am pretty happy with the game. The performance customization could be a lot better though.”
“This game is horribly optimized and half the features don't even seem to work.”
“Unfinished, buggy, really bad performance (sub 100 fps with 1080ti on medium settings).”
“Terrible performance all around.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to the prevalence of microtransactions for basic content like bikes and maps. Reviewers express disappointment over the game's unfinished state and the aggressive push for additional purchases, suggesting that the monetization model detracts significantly from the overall experience.
“I hope they have a lot planned for the game, but I honestly just see microtransactions from hell incoming.”
“Get any other mx simulator or go ride a bike in real life; this game is beyond broken and a cash grab.”
“I realize creating content takes time and money, but there's no excuse for some pretty default bikes and maps being hidden behind microtransactions.”
“Lastly, I want to mention what a gross cash grab the game is for half of the vehicles that need to be purchased separately.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, with some expressing frustration over lost progress after investing significant hours. The interruptions during gameplay are seen as unnecessary, detracting from the overall experience, while the customization options and user interface are criticized for needing improvement.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The interrupts were tedious and added nothing at all to the experience; they would have been better to not be there at all.”
“The career events are so painful and tedious to play; the customization of your bike and rider could use some improvements, and so could the UI. The camera angles are not very good and slightly odd.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find the racing antics, such as AI characters hilariously crashing, to be entertaining, others criticize the game's overall quality and graphics, suggesting that the humor doesn't compensate for its shortcomings. The comedic elements, particularly in the animations and gameplay quirks, provide some enjoyment, but opinions vary widely on whether these aspects can redeem the game's flaws.
“Funny dirt bike game, great.”
“Yes, it was hilarious in the older titles.”
“The racing is hilarious (watching the AI whiskey throttle off track and go flying/ragdoll into space is too good) and with the right camera setup feels fast.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Users express disappointment with the emotional impact of the game, citing a lackluster story that fails to resonate and a frustrating first-person perspective that detracts from the experience. Longtime fans feel heartbroken by the game's decline, indicating a significant emotional disconnect from the series they once cherished.
“I have played these games ever since I was a kid; it's heartbreaking to see how they have turned out.”
“The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
“I found the narrative to be dull, lacking the emotional depth I was hoping for.”
“The emotional aspects of the game were overshadowed by a tedious storyline.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players express optimism about the game's replayability, noting that while physics improvements are still needed, the overall playability has increased. The potential for modding is highlighted as a key factor that could enhance replay value for both solo and multiplayer experiences.
“It's still better than a milestone game like MXGP or MESX, and I'm confident the modding community will give this game real replayability with friends and solo play alike.”
“The game lacks meaningful content to encourage replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
“While the initial experience is enjoyable, the lack of diverse gameplay options makes replaying feel tedious.”
“After finishing the main story, I found myself with no motivation to play again due to the repetitive missions.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is criticized for being dull and lifeless, with a lack of engaging music and uninteresting NPC interactions that contribute to a sense of emptiness in the world. The map layout further detracts from the experience, leaving players feeling that something essential is missing.
“The game presents itself as a sort of free roam, where you can go around on your bike and have some fun. The problem is the map layout is a little dull and it strongly feels like there is just something missing, like maybe a touch of atmosphere. The music is horrible, and around the map are interactable characters or NPCs that act as brick walls when you go near them. Talking to them is so uninteresting; the game world just feels empty and a bit lifeless to me.”
Critic Reviews
MX vs ATV Legends Review – When Legends Die
MX vs ATV Legends could have been a decent arcade-style, sim-lite racer. Whatever appeal could be found in mastering jumps and customizing vehicles is beset by numerous issues. It's not grossly offensive but you're better off investing time in just about any other racer.
50%MX Vs ATV Legends
MX Vs ATV Legends is a fast racing title with a familiar story. With plenty of modes to select from and an array of custom options, you'll be kept busy. Though the gameplay is repetitive it never feels mundane or tiresome. This is thanks to the adrenaline-fuelled action and variety of machines on offer. + Nicely detailed graphics. + Authentic audio. + Simple controls. + A thorough tutorial. - The online option didn't work. - Repetitive gameplay. (Rating: PEGI 3 In-Game Purchases Release date: 28-06-2022 Price £34.99+) (Reviewed on the Xbox Series X. Also available on Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5)
70%MX vs ATV Legends review
MX vs ATV Legends plays well for the most part, and despite some issues with the AI and a streamlined career, there's still a lot to like.
70%