No skill, no thrill – or, at least, no money at the end of the run.

It’s as simple as that. If you lack the coordination, all you will see is riders flashing past you as you barrel into imaginary walls, tumble across the dirt tracks, and generally look as though you need training wheels.

Motocross Mania, from Take 2 Interactive for the PlayStation, features many of the options that make racing a thrill. You not only have to navigate bumpy courses, but you can upgrade your equipment, fine-tune your machine, and unlock more challenging courses with each success.

There are some drawbacks that relegate the game to the ranks of also-ran. For example, there are the imaginary walls that line the track – and we are not taking the barriers on the indoor supercross courses, but overshoot the course on the motocross event and what looks like open terrain welcoming you with open arms is an invisible barrier that stops your bike dead, and angle-bounces you down the course like a rag doll.

The controls do not feature force feedback, but are extremely touchy – especially when it comes to the D-pad. You may think you have either the D-pad or analog stick in a full left or right posture, but in reality, there is just enough of a downward pull to cause you to pull a wheelie as you are attempting to land and turn to, once again, cause a spectacular crash.

The game itself features three modes of racing – motocross, supercross and freestyle. Motocross is outdoors on a gully-filled, high hill course with cutback turns and some natural obstacles, like boulders and trees. Supercross is indoors, filled with high jumps that land you on cutback corners (watch the speed of the jump) and the constant roar of an unseen crowd. Freestyle is indoors, with a short course, but one that requires you to be adept at manipulating the motorcycle while airborne to rack up points.

Graphically the game is solid, with terrain elements effectively emulating the environment. The game does have a touch of the arcade in its blood, and arrows will help the rider navigate the twisting courses. Of course, lighting tries to convey the mood of the different venues, and does a nice job. It is easier to race outdoors, though the indoor races are a touch more realistic.

The sound is very good. The high-pitched revving sound of the bike is terrific, especially when you cut the throttle, drop a foot to help the turn, apply a touch of break before cranking the throttle wide open again. There is even the sound of the scrape of your boot and dirt spinning angrily away from the tires.

Controls are kept simple with the X button controlling the throttle and the square button handling braking and power slide duties.

As you progress through the races, assuming that you choose to enter the championship races, you can apply prize money to upgrading your motorcycle. A visit to the garage allows you to adjust your gear ratio, brake sensitivity and balance, suspension, tires, gas and brake gyros. You can upgrade the engine, brakes, suspension and chassis.

Motocross Mania is a spill happy free-for-all on dirt tracks. Yes, the invisible walls are distracting, but you will forget about them as your skill improves.  It is rated for Everyone.

Install: N/A
This game will only ask for one block on your memory card.

Gameplay: 7.
The three modes of racing provide a nice variety, and once into a race – much like all PlayStation products – the game tracks seamlessly to the race’s conclusion.

Graphics: 7.
There are some drawbacks, but the total effect is one of a well-designed game. The environmental elements are handled well, and the lighting effects enhance game play.

Sound: 8.
Very well done, this is a case where the sound pulls up the video, and makes the overall experience more enjoyable.

Difficulty: 7.5
The game does sport difficulty levels that will make it easier for players to compete against computer opponents. All bets are off when it comes to going head-to-head with a human foe, so you had better take the time to learn how to manage the controls of this product.

Concept: 6.5.
The three different styles of riding, coming together under one title is nice, but overall, there is really not much here that is strikingly new.

Multiplayer: 6.5
While the multiplayer action is fine, there is really nothing new or exciting to the way it is depicted. There is a split screen and clock keeping track of lap times – all pretty standard for this style of game.

Overall: 7.
There are some aspects of this program that detract from its impact – such as the invisible walls. Otherwise, the graphical elements are nicely done, and the action is well designed. This game will teach you how to lay off the throttle to effectively negotiate challenging courses.