Ramp Xtreme

A stunt game about airtime. Ramps float in the sky, the bike launches off them, and most of each attempt is spent in the air managing rotation — so the driving is a short setup for a long flight, and the flight is where the game actually happens. Rotation control is the whole mechanic and it is well tuned. You can spin and flip in both axes, the number of rotations you complete is worth score, and landing wheels-down is worth more than any trick performed badly — which creates the right tension, since there is always one more flip available and taking it is usually how an attempt ends. Loops and gaps add routing decisions: some ramps lead to better chains than others, and picking the line matters before you leave the ground. Attempts are short and restarts instant. The tracks are a series of set pieces rather than circuits, which suits a game about single jumps, and the progression adds bikes and more absurd ramp arrangements. It plays with four inputs on a keyboard or on-screen buttons, and it needs a moderately capable machine to keep the 3D smooth.