Matt Hoffman Pro BMX (GBC)

In this game you take on the role of World Vert Champion Mat Hoffman or 7 other BMX Pros: Mike Escamilla, Dennis McCoy, Simon Tabron, Kevin Robinson, Joe Kowalski, Rick Thorne and Cory Nastazio. The objective is to pull off hundreds of trick combinations using thumb power on your Gameboy Color. With success you gain access to a variety of Street, Vert, and Dirt courses.

It's not easy so you need to go to Training Camp first to learn both tricks and timing. There are 5 training levels - 2 on Basic Controls and 3 on Basic Tricks. Passing training is quite a challenge (my 12 year old succeeded while I was stuck in Tricks). The basic movement controls are intuitive, but there are 6 pages of tricks listed in the instruction booklet and they're not easy to pull off; timing is everything!

Once your thumbs are coordinated on the basics, then there is a choice of starting a Career, taking a Time Trial or enjoying a Free Ride. To start a Career you need to pick one of the 8 Pros, each with their own special tricks. Start at the Hoffman Bike Factory and move through 5 locations in 8 levels of play - including a Construction Site, the Old Jail Yard and a Dockyard.

Each level has a set of challenges to be completed, in any order. Make runs to attempt to pass challenges (and win covers), and look at a replay afterwards to see yourself in action. The final challenge in each location involves a contest against other pros for medals. Success give access to higher levels and better bikes. Covers collected in Career mode win maps for Time Trials (timed races). Once any location is unlocked, free rides (without time limits or objectives) can be taken in it.

The graphics are good and there is a great deal of depth to this game if you can manage the tricks. Though my son passed the Training level, he did not get through the Bike Factory and found the tricks frustrating. They were harder to pull off than in another Gameboy BMX game that he had played. I found the controls difficult but could see how gameplay could be quite addictive.

I would recommend this game for teens, probably 14 and up, who have tried similar games, enjoy them, and are ready for more of a challenge. Younger kids would be frustrated by the difficulty. For those who can manage the bike tricks, Matt Hoffman Pro BMX provides many hours of play.