Knee-Dragging at it's finest...
As with any game that has been released for the 360, the first thing everyone notices is the graphics, and this one is no different. Extreme detail on the tracks, and gorgeous backgrounds make for some very nice eye candy, although they're a little hard to concentrate on while you're buzzing around the track at 170mph. Not only the tracks were re-done, but also take a closer look at the riders. They visually look about as realistic as anything you'll see, and THQ even put the time into small things, like the rider twisting the throttle, or hammering on the clutch, or even clicking up to that next gear. With all this stuff put together, Moto-GP definately makes for a real visual treat.
The second thing you might notice about this game is the learning curve, which will vary by gamer. I am an avid video-game racer, on both bikes and cars, and it took me a couple of hours to get these controls down. It's not even so much the controls that will give you a hard time, but the handling of the bikes, and the lean of the camera angle, make for a deceiving ride around the track, especially when you're doing it for the first time. While this was frustrating for me and most other gamers I've spoken to that have sat down with this one, the handling is far superior once you get past the first few races. The sounds of the passing objects and the other bikes roar, and the view, almost makes you feel the rush of actually being on the track.
I guess the largest complaint of the previous titles was the lack of options. While THQ has yet to eliminate those problems, they took a major step forward with this offering. Not only can you race with the Moto-GP bikes, but there are "extreme" classes to race in as well. Those classes range from the 600cc bikes, all the way to the 1200cc bikes. Adding these additional classes makes for a much better replay value, and gives you the opportunity to race in a "street" scene, instead of just the track. On top of the new classes, there is also a newly added "challenge" mode that adds more depth to the game by creating some timed runs through small sections of the track. Some of these chalenges can be very difficult, while others are a little easier. Eithery way, it's great and needed addition to the game. Through the magic of X-Box Live, you now have the ability to line up, up to 16 racers on the track at once and have a go-round, except this time, there is some added incentive. If you are using an "extreme" bike, you can put your own custom decals and text on your bike, to show off to everyone on-line. While this is a small addition, you'll be surprised how long you will spend working on the look of your ride.
While this game is a major improvement over the previous titles, it does have some minor glitches and flaws that might hold some of the less serious racers back. The ambient sounds are great, but the sounds of the bikes do need some work, as they sound a little off from the real thing. Kind of taking a page out of the Gran Turismo series, the AI is basically designed to ignore you, so don't expect them to move around a lot while you're racing in close quarters. They will sometimes back down to really close encounters, but for the most part, you're on your own. The new additions are fantastic, but THQ does need to add a few more modes, or maybe some recognizable extreme bikes to put this series over the top. Overall I would consider this game to be the best on two wheels that I've seen yet. Some of the amateur racers might get bored by the lack of options, but the hardcore fans of the series will be delighted by the improvements made to this title. It kept me busy for well over 25 hours, and that's just the single player racing, not to mention the great on-line play. Bottom line is, if you're a fan of 2 wheel racing at all, you'll probalbly get some good use out of this one. I look forward to the next title in the series, and I would recommend this to anyone who is a fan of bikes.