Official premier
motorbike racing is the NASCAR for those who just prefer the sleek racing
rockets and the riders that speed through the track, and the universal appeal
makes it an international favorite among racing fans. Gamers who love the racing
event have loved the MotoGP series on another console but thanks to
Capcom obtaining the license, MotoGP 07 debuts on the PlayStation 2 with
some mixed results. Oh, it still feels like a MotoGP game and the strict
difficulty is back but it just doesn’t come close to matching the near
perfection of past games in the series.
Whether you’re a
fan of Brazil’s Alex Barros, USA’s Nicky Hayden or Japan’s own Shinya Nakano,
MotoGP 07 brings all the major international pros to the circuit. All the
usual MotoGP elements are in place including the various international
venues, the hot motorcycles (everything from a Honda to a Yamaha) and a strict
competition that will have you really working hard to make a mark in the
championship series. There are five main modes of playing the game and that
includes Multiplayer mode (which, sad to say, doesn’t include any online play).
It also features challenge play so the first they you’ll want to do when the
game loads up for the first time is accept the invitation to test out the game’s
tutorial.
Quick Race is
basically the game’s exhibition mode that allows you to race using any of the
official pros available, bikes, tracks and conditions (sunny, rainy or somewhere
in between). It is here where you can perfect your skills and better learn the
game’s controls. Then there’s Time Attack, a game mode where you essentially
race against yourself (literally if you add a “ghost” rider that represents your
best lap time) to improve your lap time. Then there’s Multiplayer mode, where
you can go up against a friend in a Quick Race or Time Attack mode as well as
the game’s main Championship mode. As I mentioned above, Capcom didn’t include
any online options … and it doesn’t even support the PS2 Multitap for up to four
players. Then there’s Challenges mode, a game mode that sets up a series of
scenarios or conditions you must meet in order to move on to the next series of
challenges. One challenge might have you attempting to win a Quick Race in
Laguna Seca while another one has you attempting to beat a certain lap time.
Championship
mode is the heart of MotoGP 07 since it is the game’s season mode. It is
here that you pick your favorite rider and take him through a series of
qualifying and 6 to 8 circuit races. While it isn’t as incredibly deep as other
racing games, Championship mode does touch on aspects of a rider’s career that
makes sense in real life. For example, you’ll have to opportunity to alter your
bike’s mechanical setup for a better performance. This means you’ll be changing
tires, suspension and tending to the gear ratio in order to fine-tune your bike
to meet your own style or racing. This mode will also track the other riders’
rankings so you’ll know who you have to watch out for during the next circuit
race. Your goal, of course, is to maintain the top position in the circuit (and
racing through real life tracks like Le Mans and the Istanbul Park Circuit to
name a few) and gain as many medals as possible.
As far as the
controls are concerned, this is the type of game you can pick up a controller
and start playing since the default control scheme is easy to figure out. What
will have you glad you tried the game’s tutorial is the demanding and
frustrating physics that makes making sharp turns or keeping from skidding off
the tracks such a challenge. With enough practice you’ll know just when to brake
while leaning during sharp turns and you’ll figure out a way to push through the
other racers but even if you do the game is unforgiving when it comes to the AI
or the qualifying time. Your rivals never seem to make a mistake and you’ll
never see another racer miscalculate a turn. Mess up once in this game and it
means your time and position … or sometimes you’ll have to restart the race all
over again. Top that off with long load times and you will find that these major
flaws just hold the racing action back considerably.
When it comes to
the game’s graphics, MotoGP 07 is not as pretty as its predecessor but
it‘s not ugly either. The point is that this game just isn‘t as pretty as it
could have been even on the PS2. The backgrounds and textures are just not as
attractive as the other games in the franchise but when it comes to the rider
models and the bikes, the graphics show off a somewhat pretty face. At least the
replays look decent enough.
The game’s sound
is also something of a weak spot. There’s a soundtrack and it almost feels
nonexistent since what few musical bits you’ll hear are repeated often. You
won’t find any voiceovers explaining the rules and you won’t hear any other
sound effects aside from the revving of motorcycle engines and tires skidding on
the track ever so often.
MotoGP 07
for the
PlayStation 2 is a demanding and flawed game but devoted fans will find a few
things to like about this motorbike-racing simulator so everyone else who can’t
overlook the problems should look elsewhere. Racing fans will like most of the
challenges provided here but the infuriating difficulty setting, long load times
and ugly graphics just make this a game that is a nice try but just doesn’t have
what it takes to rev our engines the right way.
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Gameplay: 6.5
The game’s
controls are actually easy to learn and that’s the good news. The bad news is
that the movements and physics will make sharp turns seem like hell. The AI is
also unmerciful so if you mess up once you might as well restart the race. There
are some decent game modes but you’ll start wishing Championship mode were
deeper.
Graphics: 5.5
This is
certainly one of the most unattractive PS2 games and one seriously plain-looking
MotoGP game. Replays look pretty decent and so do most of the riders and
bikes but the tracks look really plain. Even the blue skies look drab.
Sound: 5.0
There’s a
soundtrack somewhere around here but all we really get is a few repetitive tunes
that repeat often throughout the experience. Just about the only thing you’ll
hear is the revving of engines or your wheels skidding in the dry tracks.
Difficulty:
Hard
The ultra
realistic physics makes this a game simply for the loyal devotees but then again
some events will feel unrealistically hard and the AI can unfairly turn the
tables on you. Capcom must think that nobody else but you should be the only one
to make realistic mistakes.
Concept: 6.5
The game’s
Championship mode will put you through a season of motorbike racing action and
you’ll even get to compete in well-known tracks like Le Mans just to name a few
national and international venues. You’ll even go up against a number of the
sports’ hotshots. There’s multiplayer but it’s only offline.
Multiplayer:
5.0
You can race
against a friend but if you want to play the game online, you can just forget
about it. There are enough riders to pick but why can’t we play against a large
number of players? This is just not acceptable, Capcom.
Overall: 6.5
Capcom’s
attempt at bringing a strict motorbike racing simulator is a good try but it
just doesn’t come together smoothly in all the right places where it counts the
most. MotoGP 07 is far from perfect even for hardcore motorbike racing
enthusiasts but it you’re willing to forgive the game’s various weaknesses you
might just find yourself find this is a flawed yet acceptable entry.
