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MotoGP Review |
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MotoGP
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MotoGP for the Xbox is yet another offering from the people at THQ, who have put out quite a few Xbox games during the console's relatively short existence. Unfortunately most of them have been distastrous disappointments for most Xboxers. New Legends and RAW come to mind immediately. Which made me all the more skeptical when the THQ logo popped up on the big screen. Surprisingly enough, it's a racing game thats actually quite good, bordering on great.
MotoGP can be played in a couple of different ways. There is the standard gas/brake and steering combo which many will find similar to other auto racing games. A player can either use the buttons for gas and brake or choose to use the right thumbstick to control that function. However, for those who desire more control over their bike, it's possible to apply the front brake and rear brake separately to make it easier to whip around corners or perform simple tricks for points.
The game comes with quite a few gameplay modes to keep gamers busy for many hours, with even more modes to unlock as you progress thru the game. The standard Quick Race and Career modes are there of course, and for once there is actually a reason to finish the training mode in MotoGP. Gamers can gain stat points by successfully completing the various training courses on both Gold and Silver difficulties, making the game much more fun to play and easier to compete with the other racers in the game. Your opponents will, for the most part, react realisitcally and accurately to you and their surroundings. Accidentally (or sometimes not-so-accidentally) bumping an opponent with your bike will cause him to swerve and sometimes raise an angry fist at you, and even knock him off his bike from time to time. If you're not careful though, you'll find yourself getting knocked off your bike by the very same move as well.
Sporting graphics usually only seen in Microsoft in-house produced games such as Rallisport Challenge, MotoGP looks excellent. The character and bike models are very sharp, and move realistically during turns braking. Every detail on the bikes is there, right down to the vented discs and minute details of the body of the bike itself. Weather effects are great as well. The tracks have a realistic wet sheen to them in the rain, and raindrops will splash onscreen and somewhat impair your vision when a fellow biker passes in front of you. Environments in general are detailed and are modeled from real life tracks around the world. The sensation of speed is also accurately conveyed and very effective use of motion blurring is used at the higher speeds, which heightens the sensation considerably. Special modes are available which enhance or change the graphically presentation, which was a nice surprise. Especially surprising was the "Toon Mode" which switches the entire game over to a cel-shaded look, not unlike Capcom's upcoming Auto Modellista for the PS2.
Those not familiar with motorcycle racing and the sounds that accompany it will at first likely be put back by the rather high-pitched squeal emitted by each bike and will especially notice it when there are 15-25 bikes reving their engines at the same time. However, the sounds are fairly accurate if a little mundane, with the prerequisite brake and burnout sounds intact. The provided soundtrack is ok, mainly comprised of techno-esque tracks, but in a once again suprising move, THQ has made it possible to include and play your own ripped soundtracks during the game. Very nice touch.
Various gameplay modes and unlockables make this a very replayable title and one that will keep most racers busy for a very long time. Being increasingly addictve doesn't hurt replayability either.
I didn't really have much of a desire to pick up MotoGP and never really had any interest in the game or the sport it portrays. I picked up thegame because I knew many Xboxers here were asking about it and so I thought I'd give it a shot. I am very glad I did, as it's one of my favorite racers out for the Xbox right now. Actually good to great racers have been plentiful on the Xbox, and MotoGP is no exception. This one is a solid buy for any racer and even worth a second look for those not into racing games.
Review By: JakeT
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