The fast growing sport of
championship motorcycle racing has been one that has been represented in several
different gaming franchise, not the least of which has been the dominant MotoGP
franchise. While the series has changed publishing hands several times since its
inception, the level of quality and dedication to realism has stayed a fixture
throughout. Now, the franchise finds itself in the capable publishing hands of
Capcom for the latest entry, MotoGP 08.
MotoGP 08 doesn’t break the mold,
staying pretty true to the series’ roots and central tenets, offering realistic
racing mechanics and many customization options for tweaking your bikes.
However, this time around, the franchise is looking to expand its fanbase by
offering a few different control options to make the game more accessible to
inexperienced racers. While the game isn’t very big on presentation, and there
are some issues with the controls, MotoGP 08 is a solid addition to the series
and a nice starting point for players who are looking to jump in.
MotoGP 08 adds some new features to
the series, including some cool new tracks, like the Indianapolis track and a
new circuit, set in Qatar. The Qatar circuit adds a new night racing element,
which is a nice new feature for the game and looks pretty impressive due to some
nice lighting effects.
Staple features like powersliding
make an appearance in this entry, and pros will find that the racing moves
pretty realistically. However, if you’re a newcomer to the series, the physics
model can be a bit overwhelming at first. Luckily, the developers have been
pretty lenient in providing several different racing mechanics for players of
all ability levels.
There are three separate difficulty
modes: Arcade, Advanced, and Simulation, that ramp up the realism level with
each successive tier. While most players who aren’t moto-fanatics will want to
stick to the Arcade handling, those who know the subtleties of the sport will be
the most comfortable with the two higher difficulty levels. However, if you
aren’t skilled in knowing when to brake and when to throttle when going through
a curve, then be prepared to bail a lot.
While the mechanics are generally
pretty solid, I couldn’t help but find them to feel a little floaty and
artificial in each difficulty mode. The brakes always handled a bit too softly
and wouldn’t grip to the road as well as they should have, and even with
substantial tweaking they never feel quite right.
The career mode is the central part
of MotoGP 08. You can race through three different classes: 125cc, 250cc, and
MotoGP, which each getting higher in AI difficulty, as the MotoGP class will
have you racing against some of the best motorcycle racers in the world. As you
progress through the races, you’ll be able to earn sponsorships and sign with
different teams, earning upgrade points and unlocking new customization features
to get your bikes running the best way possible.
Aside from the career mode, you’ll
be able to do the Championship mode, which has you racing your way through 18
races for a full season without the customization or upgrade features of the
career mode, and Quick Race and Time Attack modes. Online, you’ll be able to
race other players in quick and ranked matches.
Graphically, the game looks pretty
no-frills, with decent looking racer models and nice tracks. The lighting
effects can look impressive at times, but the general look is pretty plain.
The sound isn’t much in MotoGP 08.
Aside from a theme that plays in the menus and some engine whine, there really
isn’t much to talk about.
MotoGP 08 is a solid racer, offering
a robust career mode and adaptable racing mechanics that will help newcomers
feel welcome. However, the sparse presentation and somewhat hollow feel to the
racing won’t do much to bring in those who don’t have more than a passing
interest in the franchise.
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Gameplay: 8.0
While there are some general issues with handling and floaty mechanics, the
game plays quite well. The different difficulty levels will facilitate the
gameplay for newcomers, and the career mode is pretty deep and involving.
Graphics: 7.5
There are some impressive lighting effects here and there, especially in the
night races, but the game has a barebones look to it without a lot of graphical
frills.
Sound: 7.0
Not much to talk about here, aside from a menu theme and standard engine
sounds.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 7.5
MotoGP 08 makes a noble effort to simplify the controls so as not to
overwhelm newcomers, but the presentation feels pretty hollow and likely won’t
appeal to those without a lot of interest in the sport.
Multiplayer: 8.0
Pretty standard fare here, with quick and custom matches playable over Xbox
LIVE.
Overall: 8.0
The game’s mechanics have been streamlined to help bring in new players, but
the overall feel of the game and low-key presentation is still one that caters
to the hardcore fans of the series and no one else. Still, the deep career mode
will keep fans busy for a while and should be worth a look for them.
