I have been a motorcycle enthusiast since getting
my first (street legal!!) bike at age 10. Since then, I have ridden/owned
the real thing, and played every cycle game I can get my hands on. When this
title from Ubi Soft came my way, I did virtual wheelies to try it out.
Moto Racer for Gameboy Advance is an interesting
game for those that share my passion, and have the need to run with the rebels
in the palm of their hand. It lacks a lot in realism, but it is a satisfying
experience overall. I think Ubi Soft has honestly done all they can with the
limitations of such a genre, and did it as well as can be expected. Though, I
felt something was missing.
Moto Racer is similar to the old standard: Hang
On. Your race against other players on various terrains and in various
situations. There are a few different modes to choose from. You can race in
motocross (rugged terrains) mode, GP (street/paved racing) or "in town" thrills.
There are also Championship challenges that allow you to earn your way along as
you progress and succeed.
In "Cross" mode, you have the ability to race in
just two terrains to begin, but as you win (or at least place 3rd), you can
unlock new terrains. They have done a decent job with this experience– not
keeping it to the US only. You can race in Texas, or across the world in
France… and everywhere in between. This allows for different views and
obstacles. Did you know that chickens run rampant on the back roads of France??
Unlike "Excitebike", this means you aren’t stuck in an oval track going around
and around. This is rear-perspective, realistic driving action.
In GP mode, you are racing with a faster, better
handling street (ok, modified) type bike. You know the ones… where you have to
lean and drag a knee on sharp turns. Leathers are mandatory. I found these bikes
to be the best handling ones– which is logical. Paved roads are better for
traction; basic physics. Again, your choices are limited to begin with, but as
you succeed, you are rewarded with new places to race.
"Traffic" mode has you traversing city streets.
Your obstacles are greater, as is your skill level as you want to succeed here.
This was the most challenging to me, though I spent more time on GP than
anything. What can I say– I like speed and good handling bikes.
The look and feel of the game was pretty good,
though it was a bit too forgiving when hitting obstacles. I do not think this is
a game flaw, but an option to be selected. I left it in the default modes, so I
was able to drive THROUGH trees, chickens and rocks without crashing. There is a
bit of a slow-down, but otherwise you pass right through things– even cars in
Traffic mode. The terrain rendering was pretty good, as were most of the cycle
graphics. Sometimes, the other riders looked like stick-men, but that’s OK for
such a limited platform. The colors were washed at times, and playing without my
light attached was difficult. In some terrains (the desert), the land looks too
much like the road. Once you get off course, it’s hard to get back on–
quickly.
The sounds, however, were terrible. Oh my
goodness, were they bad. The motocross bike sounds like gravel in a blender–
being chopped up. The GP bike was similarly eerie in sound. I have no idea what
bikes they used for their sampling and inspiration, but I hope I never ride on
one of those sick-sounding things. They were really bad. The effect noises were
equally bad. Maybe they laid down the sounds on the way to the chip-making
facility. I know that GBA sounds can be good– so there isn’t an excuse, here.
Even my headphones did not help in this case.
The game plays very easy. Using your right button
makes the bike surge and gives a boost of speed. I did not use it much. I found
it easy enough to race without that distraction. No such thing on any bike I
have ridden, so I don’t think about it. Besides, with my luck, I would have
"turbo boosted" right into a bulldozer or something. Other than that, driving
your bike is easy and quick to master. You can unlock combos which, again, did
not help me much. I suppose I am just a boring, straight-forward driver. They
provide you with a few standard bikes to start with and, again, allow you to
access more as you get better. You can get an all-over rounded bike, or tailor
one for your driving needs. I stuck with the all-in-one for most racing until
the other bikes were unlocked. Boring driver, remember?
It’s easy to pick up and play, and easy to not
play. It wasn’t so amazing that I kept wanting a "biker" fix, but enough to
enjoy when I took the time. I prefer games that make me think about them when I
am not playing them, but this isn’t one of those. Still, it’s a fun racing
game– made the most of on this small platform. I hope, if they ever do a
sequel, they will take more time on the sounds. Maybe I should have tried it
without the helmet and biker gloves…. but I try to be a safe driver!!
Gameplay: 7
Very easy to learn, and very forgiving when you make mistakes. That may be a
flaw if you want more of a challenge. Getting used to how a bike handles on that
particular terrain takes some practice, but once learned, progressing through
the levels is easily done.
Graphics: 7
Some of the graphics looked great for this platform, but the color washing
was enough to be a hindrance. If you are racing in an area with clearly defined
color differences, it is no big deal. If you, however, are racing in an off-road
area where the road and terrain colors are very similar, you better pay close
attention and not blink. You may find yourself suddenly lost and trying to
figure out which way the road is.
Sound: 3.5
I think I have never played a GBA game with sounds this bad. That’s saying a
lot. The sound team did a miserable job with the bikes noises. The voices were
"fair", but even there, things were lacking. It really seemed like it was a
last-minute job.
Difficulty: Easy
It couldn’t be much easier to play. I played it for a couple of hours and
did well– before ever looking at the manual. That’s how I gauge the
ease-of-play with some games. Usually on the smaller platforms, as I know some
kids won’t take the time to READ the manuals (I never did!!).
Concept: 6
It’s a racing game with all of the bonuses and secrets that’s come to be
expected in such games today. Your successes are rewarded with new bikes, combo
moves and terrains. Otherwise, it’s standard fare for racing.
Multiplayer: N/A
Yes, you can play with another player using the link cables, but I did not
try this.
Overall: 7
I liked this game, despite it’s shortcomings. I have seen better racing
games for this platform, but I have seen far worse. The ease of play keeps you
playing, and the rewards from unlocking levels and bikes are nice. Although you
can play in many different countries, there’s nothing too "different" about each
one. Still, being given the new places to ride is nice enough. They come up with
exciting, new things for you to NOT hit with your bike. Seeing yourself on the
Winner’s platform at the end is quite nice. There are enough challenges and
rewards to make this an enjoyable experience– they just need to work on that
horrible sound!!
