It’s taken
some time, but motorcycle racers are slowly beginning to gain massive
attention from the gaming community. As more developers take notice of this
unique racing style, additional gamers follow suit, engaged by the two-wheel
excitement – enraged by the feel of asphalt against unprotected skin.
Motorcycle
racers were once best in the arcade, having giant machines you could actually
ride on. Those days are over, but racing games are only getting better. Climax
and THQ’s new title, MotoGP ’06, is a prime example. The game is a smooth
blend of arcade-style excitement, simulation depth, and next-gen graphics that
do more than turn heads – they keep your eyes fixated on the screen.
Featuring 17
official MotoGP tracks, the new edition comes out speeding. Bikes and riders
are official as well, though I hardly took notice of that as I wrapped my
hands around the controller for the first time. The first lap wasn’t too far
off my first with Tourist Trophy. I drove as fast as I could, spun out at
nearly every turn, and got a taste of the game’s powerful crash physics.
Undeterred,
I got back up on the bike from the same position I crashed. You don’t have the
option of magically transporting yourself back to the middle of the track, one
of many uncharacteristic elements that make the game more realistic than the
average racer.
The
highlight of this game is its controls. Difficult to master, hard to get into,
but made for those who want to persevere. MotoGP ’06’s controls were designed
for skilled players. Separate front and rear brakes (trigger buttons) let you
tackle corners differently; depressing both buttons simultaneously will stop
you dead on the track.
Mastering
these functions is easier said than done. The constantly winding, turn-heavy
courses do not allow you to drive at full speeds all the time. I had to learn
to brake frequently again, which is something I try to avoid in most racers.
But it’s necessary, and it doesn’t stop the game from bringing the thrills and
jaw-dropping excitement of real racing to the player.
The main
quest takes players through the Grand Prix, Extreme 600, 1000, and 1200.
Difficulties range from rookie and pro to champion and the hardest of them
all, legend. These are the fiercest, toughest races you’ll encounter.
Opponents are rather forgiving early on, but I’m convinced the developers did
this to counter the enormous challenge of learning how to control the
motorcycle properly. One crash is all it takes to set you back. You could
catch up, but going off course leads to penalties that are impossible to
erase.
Training
missions and side challenges are somewhat helpful in learning the controls.
They take you through the basics – pop a wheelie, hold a turn without running
into cones, etc., and gradually move toward tougher obstacles.
Training
missions are only as beneficial as the amount of skill the player gains from
doing them. Challenges, however, reward you with additional upgrade points.
You’ll start off with 18 points and four categories to where they can be
applied: max speed, cornering, acceleration, and braking.
One flaw in
this scenario is that the challenges do not require near-perfect skills. In
many cases you can screw up, go off course, knock over a few cones, and still
cross the finish line in time to get a check mark.
Another flaw
is that neither the challenges nor training missions are clearly explained.
Previous MotoGP games will have prepared returning fans. Anyone who’s played
Gran Turismo should understand the explanations as well. However, if you’re
new to this series and have not played GT, expect to spend a good hour or two
figuring things out.
Stunning
effects blanket the screen throughout each course. Shadow and lighting are
taken to new heights on the Xbox 360 – from the blinding glow of the burning
sun to the subtle color changes as you enter a patch of thick clouds, MotoGP
’06 is a gorgeous game.
Animations
are fluid, realistic, and are entertaining to watch. Crashing your bike means
it’s time to reach for some popcorn as your rider — and anyone else he
collides with – never crash the same twice in a row. Though some crashes are
similar (you can only be thrown from a bike that’s been flipped upside down in
so many ways), no two were exactly alike.
The
immensity and forcefulness of each crash makes the intensity of each race
several times more exciting.
Xbox 360 is
just beginning to pick up speed, leading up to what promises to be a stellar
fall season. MotoGP ’06 is one of the best racers for the platform, and is a
great way to spend your summer days (you know, when you’re not pretending to
want to go outside and get some sun. Like we’d ever do that!). The super-tight
controls feel ultra-slippery when you discover how hard it is to take hold of
the track. That’s part of the challenge, and solving the problem is a big part
of the fun. Once again the MotoGP series comes out on top, and you’ll only
find it on one console – Xbox 360.
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Gameplay: 8.5
MotoGP ’06 is the
fastest, most entertaining motorcycle racer available for Xbox 360. Excellent
controls and wonderful track design are the top two reasons for the game’s
success. The thrills are never-ending, the challenge is high, and the replay
value is up there with the other MotoGP titles. Crashing your bike is as
exciting as it is devastating. You’ll be immersed from the beginning of the
first race, even if you barely have the skills to keep yourself on course for
more than 30 seconds.
Graphics: 8.2
Thus far,
no 2006 racer has had as much graphical appeal as MotoGP ’06. Shadows and
lighting play a huge role in the game’s beauty, flexing the 360’s muscles for
a series of realistic effects.
The
downside? The graphics take a dive during replays. Every flaw in the
background – which are covered up in gameplay by impressive effects and
strategic camera angles – suddenly becomes visible. Clipping enters the fray.
Spectators are flat paper cutouts. Background textures are weaker and have a
small amount of pop-up. You’d think that if Gran Turismo and Tourist Trophy
look their best in replay mode (on a console that was released six years ago),
MotoGP ’06 would follow suit. Its gameplay visuals are superior, so this
doesn’t make any sense.
Sound: 7.5
Sweet engine
sounds that’ll knock your ears off. The music is strangely quirky and
completely out of place, but you might not think so for long. After hearing so
many weird tunes in the same game, it eventually came to the point where I
expected over-the-top sounds to pump through the speakers. That’s exactly what
I got. Good? Bad? Neither. Most of the time, it doesn’t do much of anything –
it’s just there.
Difficulty: Medium/Hard
The hardest part
is mastering the controls. Second: knowing the course. Third: staying ahead of
your opponents. All three combined ensure that MotoGP ’06 won’t be an easy
game for anyone.
Concept: 7.5
I can’t say I was
blown away by any particular innovative feature. MotoGP ’06 is primarily an
extension of the previous games, enhancing the gameplay, physics, graphics,
and sound wherever possible.
Multiplayer: 8.0
Split-screen
online or offline. Take three friends online via Xbox Live, play solo via Xbox
Live, or play together offline on the same screen. Like Tourist Trophy, MotoGP
’06 takes more patience than a multiplayer game should have. Die-hards will
love it, but casual fans, newbies, and other players will likely stick to the
single-player mode and get their multiplayer kicks elsewhere.
Overall: 8.4
It’s a tough road
ahead, but it’s one you won’t be able to resist, with many rewards and much
satisfaction to be had.
