Don’t I look cool in spandex? Review

Don’t I look cool in spandex?

Motorcycle racers have got to be some of the most insane people on the planet.

They race at extremely high speeds with only a thin layer of clothing and a crash

helmet to keep them from sustaining copious amounts of bodily harm. Sounds pretty

cool, huh?

Well, I guess it is pretty cool as long as you don’t wipe out. Human Anatomy

101 has definitely shown me a thing or three when it comes to bad motorcycle

accidents. So for all you racer types that want to keep your vital parts intact,

might I recommend playing a video game instead?

To kick off the launch of the Playstation 2, Namco has brought forth Moto

GP, a fast paced motorcycle racer. Featuring real tracks, real riders and

real bikes, Moto GP manages to bring gamers the ultimate in two-wheeled

racing…though that’s about it.

Five modes grace the main menu of the game, offering a variety of ways to

tear up the track. Arcade mode leads the pack, with a single race that pits

players against a field of twenty other riders. Season mode follows close behind

with a four-race championship that will ultimately separate the men from the

boys. Next up, we have the Time Trial, which sets you up on a solo run against

the clock in typical time trial fashion. Challenge mode offers various scenarios

for racers to overcome, some of which are based on performances in the other

modes. Doing well in the challenge results in medals and possibly a few unlockable

goodies. Lastly, we have the Versus mode where you and a friend can butt heads.

One of the really cool aspects in Moto GP is the ability to switch

between the arcade and simulation styles of play. The arcade style is great

for learning each of the tracks without having to worry too much about bike

physics. For players who want an awesome ride with a realistic feel, though,

the simulation style is where the action is. No more bumping into other riders

or taking turns in the horizontal position because now you’ve got to deal with

a pesky little problem called gravity.

Regardless of what style of play you choose, bike control follows along the

line of a simulation. Even though the bikes are quite agile, they still won’t

be able to take a tight U-turn at speeds approaching 200 mph. I advise spending

some time in arcade mode before making the jump to the touchier controls in

sim.

Graphically,

Moto GP makes a solid effort with no huge problems. Everything from the

bikes to the riders will give players the smooth visual experience of being

at the racetrack. One particularly stunning visual achievement that you’ll find

in the game is the accurate depiction of the way bikes and riders move. As the

bikes move from side to side, riders will shift their positions. Tight turns

will send the riders dangling precariously over the edge of their machines.

Also, collisions with other cyclists give both bike and rider a set of wings

they never knew they had.

The only graphical problems worth mentioning fall into the anti-aliasing department.

This is a game that could benefit from a little edge blurring, though overall

the graphics are very good.

Moto GP‘s audio experience fits in very well with the visuals. Decent sound

effects along with an energetic sound track keep the excitement of the game

going strong.

Another neat little feature found in Moto GP is the race replay. When the

race is finally said and done, you’ll automatically be shown a cinematic replay.

Several different camera angles make it seem almost as if you were watching

the event on television. There’s even a trackside cam that vibrates as the bikes

pass and a helicopter cam that takes some awesome overhead shots. It would have

been nice to be able to control which angle is viewed, but even without that

feature, the replay is something to behold.

Moto GP has the heart of an arcade racer, the attitude of a console

game, and the body of, well” a motorcycle game. It does everything it needs

to do, but that’s about it. You won’t find any mind-boggling special features

or revolutionary gameplay, but what you will find is a solid two-wheeled racer

that gets the job done.