GameSpot editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 05/17/2002
- Updated on: 05/17/2006
- Released on: 05/19/2002
- Originally published on GameSpot: MotoGP (Xbox) Review
THQ's MotoGP for the Xbox is the latest game that attempts to re-create the sport of Moto Grand Prix motorcycle racing, and for the most part, it does a very good job of doing so. Like the pair of similarly titled PlayStation 2 games from Namco, THQ's MotoGP lets you race against the sport's numerous real-world riders on a number of licensed racetracks throughout an entire racing season. It also offers a remarkable amount of replay value for a licensed racing game, and it boasts what's arguably the most precise control of any console driving game to date.
MotoGP not only looks superb...
You'll notice two things about MotoGP the moment you fire it up. First, it makes great use of the Xbox's powerful hardware to produce some superb visuals. The bikes and riders are rendered using a high number of polygons, and the attention to detail everywhere is remarkable. You'll easily take notice of minute details like your bike's slotted rotors, the imperfections in your tire compound, the grooves in the asphalt, and streaks of rainwater on your visor. Additionally, your bike and rider's movements are animated beautifully. As you begin to pass other racers, you'll see them crane their heads backward at you. Brake heavily and you'll notice your front forks compress under your bike's weight. You can even see the riders working their left ankles while shifting. MotoGP also makes great use of motion blur to convey a manic sense of speed, and weather effects like rain, wet surfaces, and waves of heat are an impressive sight to behold. As far as driving games go, MotoGP is surpassed only by Rallisport Challenge, and even that is purely a matter of taste.
After taking in the graphics for a while, you'll then notice MotoGP's control scheme. For the uninitiated, the game can be played--and played competitively--using nothing more than a simple gas, brake, and steering setup. Like this, the bikes will handle somewhat like cars with a bad case of understeer, which isn't too far from reality. However, there's also the option of utilizing separate front and rear brakes on the bike, something that nearly all motorcycle games in the past have failed to make use of. The dynamics of using separate brakes has a very real effect on your cornering and braking performance during a race. Braking with the front brakes has a more significant destabilizing effect on your bike's balance than braking with your rear, though conservative use of the front will get you around corners faster than the safer, steadier rear brakes. What's more, using the controller's right or left analog stick, you can not only lean your rider respectively left and right, but pitch his center of gravity forward and backward as well. Leaning forward reduces your bike's drag coefficient, and this translates into improved top speed. Likewise, snapping your rider upright will increase drag, which will let you come to a stop quicker. No other motorcycle game--and few driving games in general--have offered this level of precision.
As with many racing games, MotoGP is split up into several distinct parts. There are five total, and they include the usual time trial, quick race, and career modes, as well as a pair of unique training and arcade modes. The career mode is obviously the heart and soul of MotoGP, but it differs slightly from the way that this option is presented in similar games in that you don't actually assume the role of an established rider. Instead, you have to create your own rider from scratch, and in so doing, you're given several different customization options that include choosing from different bikes, leathers, and paint jobs. You're also given a certain amount of skill points that you can distribute among four different riding attributes: cornering, braking, top speed, and acceleration. You earn attribute points by competing in and finishing races and through constant training. You actually use the same rider in training that you do in the career mode, so any attributes that you earn in one mode will carry over into the other. It's interesting to note that, if you're so inclined, you can skip training altogether, but since you earn skill points in this mode, you'll be more competitive in racing if you stick with it.
...but its sophisticated controls are also outstanding.
MotoGP (Xbox):
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