So it is with Midway Games' latest release under the extreme Midway Asylum moniker. Interestingly, Freestyle Metal X has a new release price of under $60 in New Zealand, which came as something of a surprise considering the quality and completeness that the game demonstrates.

The glut of motocross games in recent years is perhaps the most obvious explanation for the price point. However, Freestyle MX not only takes freestyle riding to a level not seen with competing titles, it does so with a competence that reinforces its structure, borrowed from the Tony Hawk's skateboarding series, as self-assured as it is complementary.

Freestyle MX has its own team of endorsing pros: Clifford "The Flyin' Hawaiian" Adoptonte, Jeff Tilton, Nate "Destroyer" Adams, Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg, Trevor Vines, "Mad" Mike Jones, Kris "The Rock" Rourke, Kenny Bartram and Ronnie "Kung Fu" Faisst. Like the Tony Hawk series, Freestyle MX focuses on informal outdoor environments although timed runs and other competition modes are also available.

Freestyle MX also caters for up to nine players. Recognising the spectator-friendly nature of the game, players take turns in each event rather than using a splitscreen mode. Multiplayer events include all those available in single-player, with the exception of a two minute time limit on straight freestyle events.

Each of the game's eight free-roaming environments has several play modes you can alternate between via the pause menu. Challenge mode provides a list of quirky tasks such as knocking over three thieves in a store within two minutes, or jumping through the open side of a hovering helicopter. Obtaining a brief for each challenge is done by approaching one of the many bikini-clad 'InfoChicks' to be found in each environment. With a press of the B button, each InfoChick describes her challenge in an enthusiastic Californian accent, sometimes throwing in juvenile sexual innuendo for, er, good measure. Arriving on the scene of a challenge will result in the task being checked off the list, and it is also not necessary to complete all challenges in one session.

Most challenges are simple enough, and perhaps too simple to be the main focus for most players, but their entertaining and varied nature make for an enjoyably structured session and one of many ways to unlock additional environments, events, tricks, characters and equipment.

Strategically placed across each arena is a plethora of power-ups to assist with tricks and stunts, cash to open new environments and upgrade your bikes and riders, and bonus items such as real-life rider videos and photos, bios, "bikini babe" posters and development photos. Speed boosts and score multipliers are the commonest, the former often required in addition to your own boost start for extra high or long jumps over obstacles. The boost start is executed by holding down the clutch or brakes while the engine reaches its redline point before release. Going too early or waiting too long will result in power being lost, whereas an additional spring function is used at the edge of jumps. It, too, loses pressure once fully compressed, and your quality of timing is relayed through on-screen text and an appropriate reaction from your rider.

Further pickups available include Daredevil tickets, which give access to daredevil events and one of the most compelling arenas of the game. Here you get to jump a lineup of buses or a pile of cars, ride through a Wall of Death and perform other such stunts . Spending time trying to jump higher and further and making it through stunts is truly addictive, with the relevant death and injury animations always on hand to animate your rider's fate. The use of vocal reinforcement is excellently implemented, and its light-hearted understatedness brings a balance to the bloody wipeouts that accompany falls and crashes while exhalting the player upon success with aptly scripted and uttered phrasing. The clearly light-hearted mood, previously seen in titles such as SSX, also serves to moderate the heavy metal soundtrack and all the angst this might otherwise to the experience.

The huge range of moves – virtually endless – consists of root manoevres based on the B button and D-pad or left control stick. The Y button allows for modification moves in combination with the B root and directional contols. Indivual creativity can yield a seemingly endless number of permutations, and combinations can be linked together via the "radometer", which fills during combos and empties during idle time. Pulling wheelies and stoppies between jumps maintains the meter, allowing the player to rack up huge totals despite the simple controls. Repeating tricks during the same jump has no effect on the meter, and creativity is encouraged throughout the game.

Career mode begins your initiation with Stunt School, which covers the basics before moving onto the more complex gameplay aspects consistent with the task-based nature of the game proper.

Big Air mode takes the best two of three runs over one of a number of powerup-littered ramps. Points are awarded for air time, tricks and technical ability. Scores vary considerably as the huge range of possible moves must be tempered by the limited air time and the fact that your rider will attempt to perform your entire sequence of tapped-out moves whether or not there is time. A fall will result in no score and the overly harsh note beside your run of having attempted no tricks. Last-minute bonuses of varying levels are awarded for completing your moves as late as possible, adding to the temptation to fill out your jump to the limit.

Race mode pits you head to head against a real-life rider in a cross-country checkpoint event, with a final event available across the entire eight-sectioned free roaming world once all environments have been unlocked.

Hill Climb gets back to some of the essentials of motocross racing, focusing on maintaining momentum through taking the wises route and timing jumps, and using your rider's weight to maintain good traction. While the game's focus on freestyle provides sufficient activities to maintain interest even for lengthy sessions, the racing elements provide welcome opportunities to satiate the desire for more straightforward competitive events.

Freestyle Metal X also offers a complete level building tool, with a comprehensive range or items and settings justifying the spacious main environments and providing an ideal way to make the most of your repertoire of tricks.