In between refilling your stoke on the trails, there is the dull tedium of every day life. So during those short intervals of quiet nothing, while waiting in line or taking a dump, it’s nice to get a little “riding” in.
Downhill Supreme is a side scrolling mishmash of physics puzzler meets timed trials. It’s not ground breaking, but there hasn’t been a (decent) mountain bike video game since 2003s Downhill Domination premiered on the PS2.
Once of the biggest features of the game is the ability to customize your ride through the games Bike Builder feature. New frames, forks, shocks, and wheels, are awarded seemingly at random as you progress through the levels.
For example, the ENVE DH wheels, some of the most expensive bling on the market today where available long before dozens of more reasonably priced aluminum options. The same holds true for frame and suspension offerings. Ultimately though, the upgrades you unlock throughout the game offer no tangible performance advantages – but they do look rad.
The biggest issue is that until the developer unlocks clothing changes, my little avatar can’t join the ranks of world’s fastest racers – pajama bottoms or bust.
While some iTunes reviewers have complained that the new tracks are too hard, I’m happy to see a game develop release 40 some odd new levels for no additional cost. Many of the new tracks can be run through without finesse, but there are just as many that require careful balance and braking.
Unfortunately, the incredibly nice bikes in this game must all be equipped with canti’s from hell. The brakes work about as well as a Camry with one to many floormats. The other big issue is suspension. The rebound seems a little slow and big hucks often result in bucking displays that would make a rodeo horse proud. I’d suggest a suspension tuning page but anyone who’s ever worked at a bike shop knows why CTD is a great idea for the vast majority of riders.
All jokes aside, Downhill Supreme is a great little game, and at only a dollar, it’s probably the cheapest bike related purchase you’ll ever make. The graphics are sweet, the terrain is challenging, the rear hub makes a nice buzzing sound, and you can get your ” riding fix” anywhere. Heck, as soon as my editor turns his back again, I’ll get back to beating those last 10 levels!
