Not to be confused with games like Alien Versus Predator or Marvel vs. Capcom, MX vs. ATV Unleashed isn't quite a duel to determine dirt racing superiority. Though you can race ATVs against MX bikes, this arcade-style racing game from THQ and Rainbow Studios is more about giving you lots and lots of racing options. And while MX vs. ATV Unleashed was released on the consoles last September, the PC version arrives early this year, and we got our hands on an early copy.

　　MX vs. ATV Unleashed features plenty of fun, arcade-style racing.

　　As expected, the PC edition is essentially a port of the console games, and MX vs. ATV Unleashed takes advantage of the PC's higher resolution to good effect; it simply looks a lot sharper and brighter on the PC. The gamepad controls have been translated to the keyboard, and it takes a few minutes before you get the hang of it. The default controls have the WASD keys (normally used for movement in first-person shooters) controlling the camera, which is a bit disorientating at first. Basically, all you need to know is that the arrow keys handle steering, the space bar is the accelerator, C is the clutch, and Z is the brake. Of course, all these controls are mappable, so you can customize them to your content. (Or, you can simply get a USB gamepad and play the game just like you can on the consoles.)

　　While MX vs. ATV Unleashed is a fairly direct port, there are a couple of key new features in the PC edition, the biggest being an editor that will let you create your own tracks and races. At the heart of this game, though, is the sheer amount of content to be found in it. MX vs. ATV Unleashed features not just MX bikes and all-terrain vehicles, but also dune buggies, golf carts, monster trucks, and even helicopters and propeller-driven stunt planes. Yes, the list gets a bit ridiculous, but it's all meant in good fun, and you do have to unlock some of the latter vehicles in order to use them, so they're meant more as a reward than a full-fledged feature.

　　As you might expect from that vehicle list, the game has a very arcade-style feel to it. The physics engine is a bit more fantasy than reality, as you can catch ridiculous amounts of air, turn on a dime in the mud, and more with very little fear of wiping out. And if you do manage to screw up a landing and wipe out (or, more likely, someone collides with you), you'll simply respawn back on your bike a couple of seconds later. The rubber-band artificial intelligence is also another sign of the game's arcade roots; the AI can catch up with you in a heartbeat when it needs to, but it will slow down to give you a chance to catch up again. With that said, this racing game will still demand a fair amount of skill on your part. For example, if you hit a ramp and catch too much air, you could wipe out upon landing. But if you catch too little air, you'll lose momentum.

　　Of course, there are a slew of tracks in the game, ranging from the indoor motocross-style stadium tracks to the wide-ranging outdoor tracks. These outdoor tracks take place in deserts, wooded areas, mountain areas, and more, and they're full of hills, gullies, and all sorts of other interesting terrain features to navigate. You can also unlock new tracks as you go through the game, as well as tons of other goodies, such as vehicles (the aforementioned golf carts and helicopters) and racing gear.

　　The PC edition comes with an editor so you can create your own tracks and environments.

　　Like the console versions, the PC edition of MX vs. ATV Unleashed has a number of different modes, ranging from the conventional racing modes, such as the championship series, to more unusual modes, such as hill climbs (basically, get to the top of a ridiculously steep hill the fastest), short tracks, and waypoint races. The points challenge mode requires you to score the most points (earned by executing stunts) in a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, the multiplayer modes are limited to six players. In fact, single-player can support only six racers per race as well, and this is a bit disappointing, as the console versions were also limited to six players per race. Unfortunately, the PC's greater computational power wasn't put to use by adding more racers.

　　MX vs. ATV Unleashed looks to be a fairly straightforward port of last year's console game. The console versions turned out to be pretty good themselves, so that's good news if you're looking for an arcade-style dirt racer for the PC. The PC edition of MX vs. ATV Unleashed is due out later this month.