This is an official game of the FIM Motocross Championships. It has the official bikes, riders, and teams from the actual events. It covers three official events: MX1, MX2, and Motocross of Nations. These races are all normal races; you race against others and hope to win. The scoring system follows the real-life system where the accumulated score is the one that counts.
It has an additional more arcade-like championship where you do more acrade-style races (in addition to normal racing): head-to-head, checkpoint, tricks, etc. For this championship you have four fictional characters to level up, after earning credits from the races. You can also unlock new stuff for your bikers: helmets, clothes, etc.
Besides these you also have a trick battle mode where you can do freestyle stuff. This was OK but I liked the actual track racing more.
By the way, in this game you only ride motocross bikes, nothing else. This is not at all like the MX vs ATV games where you also have buggies and dirt trucks.
The graphics are great, it is a very colourful and nice-looking game. There's depth in the colours. Making the game look fresh and fun.
The tracks are modelled on what real-life FIM Motocross tracks look like. I follow the FIM Motocross races and can confirm that the tracks in the game are realistically designed.
The bike handling was nice. Although I did expect something more sim-like from Milestone, who specialize in simulation racing games (SBK, WRC, Superstars V8, MotoGP). I hope they do something more advanced in a potential sequel to MUD.
What is unique to MUD is the scrub technique. Something actual motocross riders use. Mastering the scrub technique in MUD was challenging. You need to know when to use it and when NOT to use it. This made learning the tracks very fun.
There are only 12 tracks in the game. However this is an official game, and there are only 12 tracks in the actual FIM Motocross events. In any case the SBK games have only 12-14 tracks in them as well.
If you make an official racing game you need to follow reality. Critics need to understand this simple logic, otherwise go back to pre-school and start again.
If you are looking for a simulation motocross game this is not it. There is no such game for the consoles. The MX vs ATV games are as arcade as MUD is.
To conclude. Racing in this game was intense, challenging and fun. The engine sounds were great. Visually the game looks fantastic. You have the actual riders, bikes and teams from the FIM Motocross races. There's real-time terrain deformation. There are fun arcade-style races you can do in addition to the normal races.
If you are looking for a game that focuses it's attention on true motocross racing this is the only game around for modern console. Especially if you want something that is based on actual real-life racing. MUD feels more serious and commited to the motocross sport than the MX vs ATV games, more mature. Maybe the target demographic is different. In any case, its a fun racing game.