As with any series making the leap from PS One to PlayStation 2, the most noticeable change is the incredible upgrade in graphical flair; the game is styling on this next-generation piece of console machinery. Running at a speedy frame rate (for the most part) in high-resolution, DMF BMX 2 looks excellent in nearly every aspect. With all the extra detail that has gone into crafting the character models this time around, you get this creepy, odd feeling when their facial expression never change, no matter what you do – but maybe that is just me.

One of my criticisms of DMF BMX: Maximum Remix that was released on the PS One was that the levels felt so small and compressed compared to what Activision was accomplishing with Mat Hoffman’s Pro BMX. With the sequel, Z-Axis has definitely scratched any qualms that the levels will cause claustrophobia; each of the stages in the game are so incredibly huge, that you fill find yourself scratching your head, wondering how the heck to make it back to an objective after you fail it the first time around. The draw distance in the game is absolutely insane, and if you happen to climb up to a high point (such as where you start on the water park area), it is hard to not sit in awe at how far you really can ride around and explore. Fortunately, the immense space hasn’t lead to boring repetition; clearly, Z-Axis has put their development time to good use.

Though it did not particularly bother this editor, there were plenty of complaints about Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX’s visuals, or rather, lack thereof. Most of it stemmed from the not-so-constant frame rate and horrid pixelation, but in my mind, the gameplay completely made it up for all that. For the sequel, however, the graphics and gameplay are working hand-in-hand to balance the equation out some. Z-Axis has done a fantastic job in developing a fast, smooth, great looking game engine for Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2, and all their hard work really shows.

Sadly, as with the first game, the engine does lack some polish that could have been cleaned up with a bit more time. In the Commercial District area, for example, an objective has the player smashing four sets of overhead glass, except that every time the player hits the class, the engine freaks out and the screen becomes pixelated in every corner and the frame rate drops to the single digits. Besides that, there are plenty of other spots of the game that would have been simple enough to fix, but were simply skimped upon. While exploring Galloon Water Park, the aerial tram that circles around the environment is so poorly animated that it almost looks as if it is warping ahead of itself.

As can otherwise be expected, Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 is just like any other yearly sports video game update: changes have been made here and there, but the basic concept remains the same. There are no starting revelations that will have veteran game bikers wondering what happened to ye ol’ Dave Mirra; this sequel stays true to form. The mission objectives are definitely more interesting this time around, as they have you performing some insane tasks that will have you yelling “yahoo!” in the middle of them (i.e. jumping through a third floor window, grinding on a telephone poll, hitting a switch and leaping into the air to pull off a 900 no-handed superman). There is a new, more difficult set of challenges for gamers needing the ultimate challenge, and yes, they will definitely have you blasting swears at the screen (yay!).

There are several other miscellaneous problems to be found in the game, such as the wacky camera and bugs that have you falling through the ground and reappearing in a random part of the level, but they don’t really interfere. Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2 isn’t quite as fresh as the original was a year ago, but Z-Axis has really stepped up for the PlayStation 2 sequel in all areas, and we eagerly anticipate what they’ll have ready for the third installment.