Falling somewhere between listening to Eminem and playing knockdown ginger at the Glitter residence, motocross is one of those pastimes that parents almost universally discourage. It is, after all, the godfather of extreme sports, a fact that the makers of Freestyle MetalX are always keen to remind you. The game offers death-defying leaps, a bewildering number of tricks and some gruesomely animated crashes to push the point that this is a sport that really hurts. It also lets you travel much faster than its gaming rivals on their boards, blades and BMXs but, thankfully, MetalX grants you ample room to manoeuvre in its eight well-crafted levels.

You have a choice of sixteen riders including nine top pros from the sport. The meat of the game rests in the Career option, and there are novel features such as track editors, big air challenges and free ride scenarios. Freestyle mode requires you to pull off enough tricks to beat the competition and unlock more goodies with sub-games such as the self-explanatory Bus-jumping, Wall of Death and the Tunnel of Fire. Challenge mode involves you executing tricks and tasks offered by 'infochicks' dotted around the maps - bikini-clad, knee-high boot-wearing ladies that wait for gullible bikers to pull up, just like killer hitchhikers.

Graphically, the game is a curious mix of styles. The bright, cartoon-like locations and characters clash somewhat with the blood-fest that accompanies even the smallest crash. Despite this, it's all solidly animated and the levels are impressively varied. The visual high note rests on the bike animation at low speeds. You can almost feel the weight of your machine as you lug it into position before a big jump, and wheelspins and doughnuts really do emphasise the throbbing engine between your legs.

The game is also highlighted by a killer metal soundtrack. The Bill and Ted-style guitar jingle that accompanies every trick does grate after a while though, as do the repetitive self-congratulatory squeals of the riders. After hearing one scream "I'm insane!" for the 100th time, we were starting to believe the condition was infectious. The only other major gripe is the lack of a simultaneous multiplayer option, although there is a turn-based mode for up to nine players.

In spite of these grumbles, Freestyle MetalX still compares favourably with the best of its extreme sports rivals. It combines the freedom and scope you need to explore and set your own challenges with a solid Career mode, giving you plenty to unlock. The bright, appealing graphics draw you in, the control method mixes realism with arcade ease in an intuitive fashion, and the gore helps remind you that this is a sport best played from the sofa.

1. Variety of levels
2. Great control mechanism
3. Plenty of modes

1. No simultaneous multiplayer
2. Sound effects can get irritating

Power
MetalX is blessed with rapid loading times between the large and highly detailed levels.

Style
Slightly odd mix of visual styles, but has a great metal soundtrack to tear up the track to.

Immersion
Your life will flash before you in little black and white pieces directed by Oliver Stone.

Lifespan
Plenty to unlock with an apparently unlimited variety of stunts available.

Summary
Immersive, highly challenging and surprisingly varied. This is the best motocross game available on Xbox.