Extreme Rodeo

(Head Games CD-Rom for the PC)
by Brian Johnson

Well, you might not be a real cowboy; you might not’ve stepped inside the gate with a two-ton bull between your legs, hell you might never have even seen a horse. The point is moot because with Extreme Rodeo: You, yes, you city slicker, get to button up the wranglers, put on the old shit kickers, dust off the Stetson and get your shot at rodeo glory. I’m a big fan of John Travolta’s mechanical bull ride in Midnight Cowboy and once saw a rodeo – basically balls-to-the-wall cowboy ice capades – substitute Mickey and Donald with a horse stomping on a man’s genitals. If this sounds like over-the-top kitsch, it’s because with Extreme Rodeo, staying in the spirit is the key to having a good time. The graphics are not very ambitious: you get your choice of six stadiums which look pretty much alike, basically a ring with a separate matte background to differentiate. As far as action goes, you have your choice of 20 cowboys or girls; apparently, as in the wrestling world, Rodeo girls are somewhere between a Robert Crumb drawing and a Playboy centerfold: she can kick your ass but your gonna have fun the whole time. There are six events: bull and bronco riding, calf roping and tying, barrel racing, and the best event where the player has the chance to be the bull chasing down and impaling clowns for points. Warning to all former rodeo clowns, you may want to avoid this event for fear of horn-in-the-ass flashbacks. As far as sports go, Rodeo is among the same cultural anomalies as country music, home improvement, and professional wrestling – you know they’re extremely popular, but you’re hard-pressed to name anyone you know that’s an avid fan. Extreme Rodeo is every city boy or girl’s chance to add a little honky tonk to their life. For optimum enjoyment, bring lots of beer, a few friends, and start yelling, because this game only gets better with plenty of help from outside influences.