Climax and
THQ impressed nearly everyone with their initial Moto GP debut a few years ago;
the game offered up sharp controls that were actually realistic but as fun to
control as any arcade-style racing game. They followed up with the solid Moto GP
2, and once more, they serve up another round of bike racing – better than ever,
although slightly dated in spots.
Motorcycle
driving isn’t a particularly common thing. Sure, we’ve all driven cars, and
probably owned at least one. But how many of us have even driven a motorcycle –
let alone own one? Moto GP tries to give everyone the bike they would want if
they could have one of their own: you can pick from loads of motorbikes, tweak
them to your pleasing, paint them however you wish, and even apply custom decals
or text. Then you can deck out your rider in custom leathers.
Motorcycle
driving is a bit different from your standard four-wheeled vehicle. Aside from
actually having to lean into your turns, or avoid rubbing up against a wall
(that would probably cause a full-blown crash, not just some scratched paint),
you’ve also got to consider both front and back brakes, as well as rider
balance.
Luckily, the
game – as it always has – sports an extremely intuitive control scheme. You
control the rider’s body with the left analog stick. Moving it up makes him lean
forward for a bit of an extra speed boost. Tilting it backward sets oneself up
for a wheelie (and some style points). The right analog stick takes care of gas
by tilting it forward as much as you need, and the left and right triggers take
care of the front and back brakes. If you choose, you can settle for a
traditional face button control scheme, but once you get the hang of playing the
way it was intended, you’ll never look back.
One of the
biggest additions to the game is its new extreme mode, which gets you off of the
dull circuit courses and onto some really exciting tracks. Racing through a
desert or a forest or a bustling city is not only refreshing, it actually makes
for a considerably different play experience. These courses don’t just look new,
they feel new, and you’ll find yourself dealing with new obstacles like not
taking a clear line of sight for granted, what with mountains and buildings in
the way.
Extreme mode
is one of the single-player career options, and there are three different
varieties – the Extreme 600, Extreme 1000, or Extreme 1200. Each indicates a
more powerful class of bikes, and more challenging opponents. There’s also a
more traditional Grand Prix available in career mode, which takes place on more
familiar circuits specifically designed for these kind of races.
Plowing
through the career modes is fun and involving, but sometimes it’s nice to hop
right into a game whenever you feel like it. Luckily, the game has that base
covered with its Quick Race mode, where you can pick a track and race on it
immediately, even changing options like the weather if you wish. There’s also a
Time Trial mode, which is more or less the same idea, but features ghost racers
so you can effectively practice against yourself. There’s also plenty of
tutorials to help prepare you with tips and tricks for effective racing.
The
developers didn’t stop at the offline game, though. Moto GP 3 actually features
several unique online functions. Of course the game features online races and
rankings, but there are a few other tricks up this sleeve. When playing the
career mode, for instance, you can pause the game and jump into an online career
mode, essentially turning the computer AI into real opponents. While the AI is
by no means bad, this is a great way to propel yourself through the career mode,
face some interesting opponents, and maybe make some friends – without even
intending to. Additionally, the game offers a “spectator mode” online, where you
can simply watch the race and study the best player’s techniques. One person can
even serve as the overall announcer, commenting as if this were a televised
race. Luckily, the commentator’s voice is easily toggled off in case some
annoying fellow happens to be in charge.
The graphics
in the game are by no means bad, but starting to look a little aged, as they
haven’t improved much since the original Moto GP. Courses look fine at blazing
fast speeds (in mellifluous 60-frames-per-second, no less), but a sudden crash
can highlight some gnarly textures or chunky models. The riders themselves
aren’t looking so hot (nor are the umbrella-holding ladies that accompany
everyone before a race), but the bikes do, admittedly, look fantastic. Overall,
it’s not a bad looking game, but we’ve all seen by now that the Xbox is capable
of much more.
Sound is
pretty good here. The engines sound fantastic and distinctive, and you really
seem to feel a racer approaching on your side with it’s buzzing noise. The
soundtrack is mostly forgettable but not terribly offensive, a mainly generic
mixture of techno and rock-type material that won’t rag on your nerves but won’t
tickle your fancy much, either.
Overall,
Moto GP 3 is a fine installment in a series of continuing quality. It’s still
the best motorcycle racer out there, with fun controls that manage to be true to
the real thing. The new extreme tracks are very much welcome, and everything
else manages to return here in proper form as well. While the production values
aren’t incredible, they’re not awful by any means, and the solid online mode
should keep this disc spinning in your Xbox for a good long while.
|
Review Scoring Details for MotoGP: Ultimate Racing Technology 3 |
Gameplay: 8.0
Not really
changed since Moto GP but refreshing with radically different courses, the game
is down to earth but loads of fun to play.
Graphics:
7.0
Not bad, but
we’ve seen what the Xbox can really do by now.
Sound:
7.0
Decent, bearable
but ultimately forgettable.
Difficulty: Medium
There’s a bit of
a learning curve here, but the tutorials make getting to know your bike easy and
fun, and you’ll be riding like a champ with a little practice.
Concept:
7.5
This could have
easily been a yearly Madden-esque update to the series, but with a daunting new
collection of levels, it feels like a massive step up.
Multiplayer: 8.5
With a nifty
online career mode, as well as general modes of play, this is a great title to
play with friends in your living room or across the globe.
Overall:
8.2
Moto GP 3 is a
fine game, a great new title in the THQ/Climax series, with some ambitious ideas
that turn out pretty darn well. It plays basically the same as before, but it’s
a whole new ballgame, so to speak.
