Following the success of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Activision looked to expand its line of video games to other extreme sports outside of just skateboarding.

Bails (falling off the bike due to poor landing) cause for no points to be awarded for the attempted trick or combo, and resets the special bar to empty.

The player can play as one of eight different professional BMX riders, including Mat Hoffman, Rick Thorne, Dennis McCoy and Mike Escamilla.

[11][12][13][14] Jeff Lundrigan of NextGen said of the former console version: "Even two years later, the Tony Hawk engine makes a monkey out of the likes of Razor Freestyle Scooter – which is, weirdly enough, this game's only immediate competition on PlayStation.

"[40] The Cincinnati Enquirer gave the PlayStation version a score of four stars out of five, saying that "players can create their own custom BMX tracks with the bundled 3-D course editor, offering more than 100 variations of ramps, rails and other obstacles.

"[47] Maxim gave the same console version a similar score of eight out of ten, saying that "extreme-sports poseurs can break a femur in solo and multiplayer modes; master the controls and you’ll open new venues by performing death-defying stunts that’d make Evel Knievel wet his bedpan.

"[48] BBC Sport gave the similar console version a score of 79%, saying: "If you like rock music to accompany your efforts, this has some of the best with even the Stone Roses lending their tracks.

"[46] Extended Play gave it a score of three stars out of five, saying: "The levels aren't the greatest around, and it's not quite as solid as THPS, but "Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX" is better than THQ and Acclaim's freestyle bike games.

[51] Jon Thompson of AllGame gave the GBC version four stars out of five, saying that it "tries hard to live up to its big brother on the PlayStation, and it does a pretty good job of it, surprisingly.

"[54] Scott Steinberg of Computer Games Magazine gave the same PC version three-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "Breezy, lightweight entertainment at best.

"[55] Dan Elektro of GamePro's July 2001 issue said of the PlayStation version, "If you're choosing between Mat and Mirra, there's no contest: Hoffman's gameplay and mechanics are much more fun.

It's a shame nothing was done to take advantage of the Dreamcast specifically, but Mat Hoffman's Pro BMX stands as a fine game worth renting.

"[57][f] Another issue later, however, Star Dingo said that the Game Boy Advance version "contains the wide variety of Career Mode goals and big bag of fun tricks you're used to.