Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
Reviewed by: Bracken Lee-Rudolph
MotoGP – a dangerous, and very technical discipline of racing which requires its racers to be alert, concentrating and at peak physical and mental fitness in order to compete on their two-wheeled death machi– motorcycles. There have been some spectacular races in the past, and some equally as spectacular crashes – but does this high-octane sporting event make a smooth transition to console? Or does it skid off the tracks and fly into the sideboards? Let’s find out:
I had difficulty coming to grips with the riding mechanics of the title – and the road as I constantly veered off into the grassy abyss which surrounded the track; however, this was a personal issue, and not an error with the title’s mechanics, as the left analog stick – used for steering – simulates the way in which the rider applies weight on the bike in order to take corners. This meant two things (a) I couldn’t gradually make small pushes to correct my turning like I could in a driving game, which simulates a steering wheel, and (b) you had to hold a constant pressure as you turned through corners. This realistic approach allowed a very accurate representation of what motorcycle racing is all about, in terms of handling.
What further adds to this is the Pit segments, where you can scout the track and modify your bike. Scouting the track allows you a more detailed analysis of what you’re in for on the track, and allows you to plot your approach to it. Modifying your bike’s details, however, allows you to dramatically alter how your bike handles and moves. Therefore, a player can engineer a bike to suit their riding style and give them a distinct advantage over their opponents. This shows on the track, as your entire race can be changed by building a set of stats which suits your riding style and the track type as opposed to just going in blindly. When you get it wrong, however, your bike becomes a skidding mess, and you’ll make use of one of the title’s other positives – the physics engine – which will send your rider and your bike careering off the track and rolling around in the dirt.
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Source: ITF Gaming
