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Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt

From Alfawiki
Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt
Company typeVideo game
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJune 27, 2002; 24 years ago (2002-06-27)
FounderMidway
ProductsSports video game
ParentMidway Games

Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt is a sports video game created and distributed by Midway for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms. It launched in North America on June 27, 2002, for PlayStation 2 and on September 4, 2002, for Xbox, representing Midway's only release under the Gravity Games branding.

The title was met with largely unfavorable critiques, with reviewers pointing out issues such as flawed gameplay mechanics, graphical errors, and problems with collision detection. Nonetheless, some reviewers acknowledged the game's extensive level design.

Gameplay

Gravity Games Bike is a BMX-style game that shares similarities with the Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX franchise. It features a roster of 21 riders and includes 10 different levels.[1] Players take control of BMX cyclists aiming to accomplish objectives within each stage to unlock additional tracks.[2] Performing tricks not only accumulates points but also helps in advancing through goals. The control layout employs one button to execute tricks and another to alter them, mirroring the system used in Dave Mirra games.[2] Unlike other titles in the genre, this game awards the same score for repeating identical tricks.[2] It also offers various multiplayer modes.[3]

Development

On January 18, 2000, Midway entered into a partnership with EMAP USA to acquire the rights for the Gravity Games license. Development commenced under the working title Gravity Games: Bike, marking the inaugural entry in this series. By August 2001, the project had been renamed Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt, with early versions receiving positive remarks from IGN for their smooth trick execution system. Douglass C. Perry of IGN praised Midway's intricate level construction during preview coverage. At E3 2002, Chris Carle from IGN applauded the level layouts but criticized the graphics quality and slow pacing of gameplay.

Reception

According to Metacritic, the PlayStation 2 edition garnered "generally unfavorable reviews," while the Xbox version was met with "overwhelming dislike." The game became known for its poor critical reception.

Miguel Lopez of GameSpy lambasted the PS2 version for its sluggish controls, faulty collision detection, and subpar audio design, remarking that it "...tends to live up to its unfortunate title." Chris Roper from IGN drew an unfavorable comparison to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on Atari 2600—often regarded as one of the worst games ever—citing numerous bugs and inadequate controls. Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot labeled the gameplay as "broken" and described the title as "unfinished." GameZone acknowledged positive aspects such as the PS2 version’s soundtrack selection, large levels, and diverse characters but emphasized significant control problems as a drawback. Gerstmann also criticized the Xbox release due to glitches and control issues, questioning whether it had been abandoned.

The planned GameCube version was ultimately canceled because Midway's titles underperformed in sales expectations; Gerstmann attributed this decision to the game's negative critical response.

At GameSpot's Best and Worst of 2002 Awards, this game received "Worst Game of the Year" honors on both PlayStation 2 and Xbox platforms.

External links

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Preview1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GSreview
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GameZone
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