It all started with the original Jet Moto.  The game was advertised for months before it was finally released.  Programmers at Single Trac boasted that it was completely original and an overall superb game.  They were right.  Jet Moto more than lived up to the hype and the whole concept behind it was unprecedented.  The game was frantic- 20 riders on futuristic hover bikes ripping through all kinds of terrain at breakneck speed.  Each rider had his or her own unique style and background and mastering those bikes wasn't like driving a car.  You could tilt, lean, grapple, turbo, and even air break just to try and stay on.  The full range of motion tested our reflexes to the breaking point and forces us to keep our wits about us as we used every button on the controller to fight to the finish line.  Not only did all the other riders try to knock you off your bike, but there were also the 1000 ft drops, trees, broken highways, and other assorted obstacles to watch out for.  And if we learned to master all that, we could be a little daring and try a few tricks off of the generous ramps on the course.

Jet Moto 2, in my opinion, is the best of the “Jet Moto Trilogy.”  The graphics are a little better, but in my mind  that's not what should make or break a game.  No, what really made Jet Moto 2 stand out was the incredible tracks.  Granted, there weren't as many riders, but the competition was still just as fierce.  There was also one other big improvement from the first Jet Moto- the handling.  It was still a challenge to maneuver your bike, but all the riders had more agility, which allowed for more control and better stunts.

And then Jet Moto died.  For some reason Single Trac handed Jet Moto over to 989 Studios who did a thorough job of slaughtering it.  Sure, the graphics in Jet Moto 3 are superb; that's what 989 Studios does best.  In fact, that's practically *all* they do well and they still screwed *that* up(the graphics tend to “smear” as you approach them).  The crash detection in JM3 is *horrible*.  You can barely touch a wall and go flying off your bike or you can slam head first into a wall and bounce off it at some odd angle.  Also, there are very few riders to choose from and in a race, you will only go up against five other racers who you will almost never encounter.

Now, JM3 isn't all bad.  There are a few things that I must commend 989 Studios on.  First of all, the handling is *excellent*.  Many Jet Moto fans complained that this made the game too easy, but I disagree.  It allows for some much needed agility, considering the incredible speed of Jet Moto 3.  The bikes are way faster than in the first two games and there is less room for error.  And, of course, I have to mention the “hop”  feature.  I think it’s kind of cute, but not really all that useful until you get to the expert courses.   (Oh!  there's another great feature:  air brake is standard! :) )

One final caution: while the controls in the first two Jet Motos are almost identical, Jet Moto 3’s controls vary greatly.  After playing it for a while I went back and played the original Jet Moto.  Not only was I frustrated by the handling and slow pace of the game, but I also became agitated by the fact that every time I went to use grapple, my bike would lean.  And every time I went to “hop”, I would use grapple.

All and all, Jet Moto is great as a whole, but whichever game becomes your favorite is entirely up to your personal preferences.  For a great classic with poor graphics(sort of like the original Donkey Kong) go with Jet Moto 1.  If you're looking for an excellent racing game with incredibly original( and challenging) tracks, then reach for Jet Moto 2.  However, if graphics mean a lot to you and you like the top speed “pod racing” style, I would recommend this game.

By: jm_junkie (aka squadx)