Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX (USA)
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX (USA) on GBC
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX is an extreme sports game for the Game Boy Color, released in 2001. It was developed by Runecraft and published by Activision under their short-lived Activision 02 brand, which aimed to capture the skatepark-style action seen in the Tony Hawk series. This is the handheld version of the same-named game that appeared on consoles and PC, built specifically for Nintendo's portable hardware.
The player controls a BMX rider (including the namesake pro Mat Hoffman) across various indoor and outdoor environments. The core objective is to perform tricks and combos to earn points, complete objectives, and unlock new tracks and gear. You steer left and right, accelerate, and use button combos to pull off jumps, grinds, and aerial stunts. The game uses a timer-based structure similar to other extreme sports titles of the era, where you must hit certain score thresholds or collect items within a set time limit.
The GBC version offers a decent slice of the BMX simulation experience despite the system's limited power. The trick system is simplified compared to console counterparts, but the challenge of chaining moves and beating high scores still holds up for fans of retro sports games. It sits alongside Tony Hawk's Pro Skater on GBC as one of the better extreme sports efforts for the platform, though it doesn't innovate much beyond established genre mechanics. If you enjoy quick, score-driven arcade sports, it's worth a try.
How to Play Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX (USA) Online
When you start the game, you first choose a rider from a small selection, including Mat Hoffman and a few others. You can then select a game mode: Career, Single Event, or Free Ride. Career mode takes you through a series of competitions where you must meet trick and point goals to progress. Single Event lets you play any unlocked track for score, and Free Ride lets you explore without time pressure.
The core loop is simple: enter a stage, build up speed, and launch off ramps to perform tricks. Use the D-Pad to steer and the A and B buttons to initiate grabs, spins, and flips. Combining button presses with directional inputs yields different moves. Pay attention to the trick meter at the top of the screen - landing cleanly after a combo adds to your score, while crashing loses points. Each stage has three target scores; hitting the first advances you, while hitting all three earns extra items like new bikes or tracks.
Important mechanics include the balance meter when grinding on rails and the need to time your jumps for maximum altitude. Practice the basic combos in Free Ride mode first. The game does not have a tutorial, so trial and error will teach you the timing. Keep an eye on the timer - if you run out, you must restart the event. The controls are responsive but require some practice to chain long trick sequences effectively.
Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX (USA) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button (jump / confirm)
- S: B button (run / attack / cancel)
- Enter: Start / Pause
- V: Select
Comments (0)