My mom suprised me with Pocketbike Racer yesterday (actually, she suprised my kid brother with it, but I own the 360 so it works out in my favor.)
Mini-review:
Sneak King: 2/10
If you can stand playing this god-awful game for more than 5 minutes, you might get to some of the trickier, and slightly more interesting missions. But as it is the game bores you within minutes. The gameplay is awful, with long waits for canned animations. Nothing in this game is even remotely fun. The fact that you are playing as The King doesn't come close to making up for the flaws in this game.
Pros:
You play as The King.
First person perspective lets you look through the eyes of Evil. Complete with heavy labored breathing.
If you listen to The Ricky Gervais Show while playing, it won't be a complete waste of time.
Cons:
Not fun.
"Sim-glish" language is obnoxious.
Character animations may be slightly impressive, but as you have to sit there waiting though them, you'll quickly grow to despise them.
Single player only.
Pocketbike Racer: 6.5 out of 10
Pocketbike racer is a standard Cart-Racer. It has much the same fun of the split-screen multiplayer, but unfortunately, despite the "borrowed" sound effects, it doesn't quite reach Mario Kart status. There are a few problems: you get stuck pretty easily. For some reason driving near the edge of the track causes you to be stuck there. Your bike can't make it over the slightest bumps in the road, requiring you to back up and get back on track. There is no way (that I can find) to reset your bike on the track, unless the game decides to do it itself. Also, you never feel like you're actually driving a kart. You glide through the track. It doesn't feel grounded, like Mario Kart. Besides this, the game is very fun. You have quite a collection of weapons to unleash on your opponent, and the powerslide gameplay mechanic works well.
Pros:
Lots of great weapons to unleash on your opponents.
Powerslide gameplay, and the driving, just... well... works.
A decent variety of tracks.
Best menu out of all three games.
Cons:
You will get extremely frusterated when your bike gets stuck trying to go over a wire.
For that matter, your bike will get stuck EVERYWHERE.
No way to restart a race.
Big Bumpin': 8 out of 10
A fantastic group of minigames based around a brilliantly unique idea: Bumper Cars. Last Man Standing, Hot Potato, a "control the puck" game, and even a Hockey minigame. Gameplay is simply and brilliant. The beautiful arenas are filled with perhaps the best graphics of the BK Games trio. Explosions, fire, lighting effects, it's all here in a $4 package. The only way to really enjoy the game, though, is to hook up four controllers to your buddies, either on Xbox Live or on the couch.
It's amazing that this is the same group behind Fuzion Frenzy, because these games are just so much better, funner, and more polished than any of the crap you'll find in that game.
If this were an Xbox Live arcade title, it would be one of the better ones.
Pros:
The games are an absolute blast.
Graphics are fantastic for the price.
Simple controls.
The intro is the creepiest of all three games.
Cons:
Loading screens in between every game.
Charecter customization is weak. No customization of the Burger King trademark charecters.