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Gameplay
Downhill Domination is an arcade-style racing game. The main objective is to be the fastest rider to reach the bottom of the mountain. The race itself is divided into three types:
- Freeride (FR), featuring large courses with minimal boundaries. Players can experiment and find their preferred route.
- Technical Downhill (TD), featuring medium-length, full-of-obstacle courses, where technique and precision are required.
- Mountain Cross (MX), featuring small courses that are full of manmade hills, moguls, sharp turns, and berms. Mastering the jumps is integral here; bad timing can slow the rider down.
There are a few mechanics that can help players advance through the game, such as:
- Tricking, which can be performed in the air by pressing the shoulder buttons and the triangle button. If landed successfully, it will grant players points, which later will be converted into cash. Tricking can also boost the rider’s energy, which is required for sprinting and thus making them cycle faster.
- Combat, which can be done by pressing the square button (left attack) or the circle button (right attack). A successful hit will slow the opponent down, and also grant points and energy boost to the players.
- Pickups (power-ups) can also be found scattered through the courses. There are 5 types of pickups in the game: Energy, Adrenaline Boost, Combat Upgrade, Quick Mount, and Extra Points.
- The Bike Shop, where players can spend their earned cash by buying upgrades or better bikes.
Riders
Initially, the players are introduced to 6 fantasy riders to choose from, each with their own set of skills. New riders can be unlocked as they progress through the game; including 5 real-life, professional riders.
Fantasy Riders (Main)
- Ajax - An underground Hip Hop artist from the USA. His top skill is tricking.
- Cosmo - A rebellious, British aristocrat who would rather live his own life than pursue a higher education. His top skills are sprint and tricking.
- Jonnie - An avid shark researcher from Australia. Her top skill is speed.
- Kalolo - A fire dancer from a seaside village in Tonga. His top skills are speed and combat.
- Mai - A bike messenger from Japan who's trying to find her "zen". Her top skills are sprint and tricking.
- T-bag - An eccentric, adrenaline junkie of unknown origin, who owns a bike shop somewhere. His top skill is tricking.
Fantasy Riders (Bonus)
- Drud - An Everest tour guide from Germany.
- Rakel - A farmer from the Swedish countryside.
- Kineticlops - A guest rider from War of the Monsters.
Pro Riders
- Brian Lopes
- Eric “E.C.” Carter
- Missy "The Missile" Giove
- Richie Schley
- Tara Llanes
- Naoki Idegawa (MT Bikers: Bakusō Mountain Bikers only, replaces Richie Schley)
Mountains
At the start of the game, there are only two mountains available: Mt. MiDoule and Red Pass. As players progress through the game, they will unlock more mountains and courses. Players can also unlock bonus levels, each offering their own unique gameplay.
Starter Courses
- Mt. MiDoule, Italy
- Red Pass, Utah
Unlockable Courses
- Mt. Imasaki, Japan
- Mt. Konawaki, Hawaii
- Mt. Liddellroch, Scotland
- Mt. McSchley, British Columbia
- Mt. Quintanaroo, Peru
- Mt. Zorkovaska, Russia
- Salt City, USA
Bonus Levels
- Dual Slalom
- Moshbowl
- Super Jump
Soundtracks
There are a total of 40 soundtracks in the game. Some are created for the game, while some are licensed songs from various artists.
| Artist(s) | Song(s) |
|---|---|
(Digital Johnson Remix) | |
On The Skids | |
Reception
Downhill Domination received "generally favorable reviews" according to Metacritic.[3] IGN gave it a score of 8, praising its gameplay and level designs, although also stated that the game isn’t “terribly inspirational”, “innovative”, or “original”.[4] The game itself has been referred as “SSX on bikes'' by few. The criticism of the game is mostly targeted towards its audio and voice acting, with the latter stated to be repetitive.
Trivia
- Downhill Domination is the first mountain biking game for the PlayStation 2.[5]
- Other than being featured as a playable character, Eric Carter also assisted the game’s development with its course designs.[6] [7]
- Downhill Domination can be seen as an arcade game in Twisted Metal (2012) by Eat Sleep Play, which was the successor of Incognito Entertainment.[8]
- In the game's demo, the players are provided with only two riders, although they're different characters for each version:
- For Downhill Domination, it's Cosmo and Mai.
- For MT Bikers: Bakusō Mountain Bikers, it's Tara Llanes and Naoki Idegawa.
Notes
- a.^ Santa Monica Studio assisted on development.
References
- ↑ Downhill Domination Releases. MobyGames. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ↑ Downhill Domination. Atari Australia. Archived from the original on December 14, 2004. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
- ↑ Downhill Domination for PlayStation 2 Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ↑ Perry, Douglass (July 23, 2003). Downhill Domination. IGN. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ↑ First-Ever Downhill Mountain Bike Racing Game Provides Outdoor Adrenaline Thrills in Downhill Domination for PlayStation 2. PS2 News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
- ↑ Downhill Domination credits (PlayStation 2, 2003). MobyGames. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ↑ Official PlayStation Magazine - Issue 70 - Downhill Domination Behind the Scenes. Youtube. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
- ↑ Easter Eggs - Twisted Metal (2012). Youtube. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
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