MotoGP 06 Xbox 360 Review – MotoGP Racing on the 360
During this year’s E3, THQ showed off a playable version of MotoGP 06. As everyone was talking about how good the game looked, they soon announced that the demo would hit the marketplace sometime within the next day or two. Members of the press were starting to take notice that Climax had made a racer that would show the Xbox 360’s power.
If you played the demo, you already know the game offers a great sense of speed but it also is very tricky and the hardest of the series to control. While it took home the best Racing game at E3, it has a few quirks. Read on to find out the details in the full review of MotoGP 06.
Gameplay
The fact Climax was able to produce the game in such a short time and deliver it as promised is a feat. However, the game suffers at times from slow down and those with HDTV’s will notice tear like effects on certain tracks. Having played every version in the series, this one is the most difficult to learn the controls. In any game where speed and time is so important, the controls are an important part of the game play. It’s not that they are horrible; in fact, they are the best of the series but are very touchy. Fans will notice this and have to adjust. After a few races, the controls actually help the game achieve the level they were aiming for.
While they added new tracks and have all the classes back, which is great, I just wish more time was taken to tweak the customization of your bikes. It is a chore to get a bike looking as good as the ones already in the game. I have seen some great looking bikes online and then heard the person took hours to create it. It should have been easier and more user-friendly. So it has a few issues but it plays great and has some great online modes. We did notice that at times when playing online an error message would pop up stating the records could not be updated.
While a new title should be free of glitches or bugs like this, at least there is an easy work around for this issue. Play a few races in the single-player mode and set a time and let it record it. As far as the tear effects seen on HDTV’s, there is no known fix as of the time the review was written. To be fair to Climax and THQ the slowdown is not very noticeable unless you’re really looking for it when it happens. The AI racers are more aggressive and even in the rookie series their goal is to take you out. This is a new twist since in the past you could take out the AI and never get touched by that racer. I like this and it seems more realistic and provides something everyone was looking for.
There certainly are elements of the controls that are frustrating. I would not be doing our readers justice if I did not mention this point. I will say that once you spend time with the controls in default mode first and learn the way the tracks react, it is a great racer. It will take time and practice unlike the other versions where you could adjust the controls and fly like a madman. I think the changes were needed. They may have gone a bit too far too fast but that is a matter of personal opinion and not based on any facts. They added the 2005 and 2006 stats and racers and even including 34 tracks not including the reversed ones. In the end, the single-player mode alone shows that the game was worthy of the title it won at E3 despite a few flaws. It certainly offers a real challenge to anyone who loves the sport. Throw in the great weather effects and tough tracks and it is a great single- player racing game.
Control / Playability
I already touched on the controls in the game play section. They are pretty much the same as before only a bit more sensitive and at first long time players will try and use the same techniques. Chances are you will find yourself smacking the asphalt pretty quickly. Best way to get use to the controls is to use the default set-up and feather the breaks and move the rider a little less until you learn the sensitivity of the controls.
They are well set-up and work great with the Xbox 360 controller, but I would have liked a sensitivity option for the rider’s movements. It’s going to even long-time fans some time to be able to learn the controls. It will also frustrate anyone at first after. About a half hour or so, most gamers will soon learn of the controls and begin to set decent times.
Xbox Live
The online mode supports up to 16 racers at one time and finding a race is pretty easy. Although like most games for the 360, friends will find it hard to join rooms and compete when in championship mode or ranked races. There is a way around this like in Burnout Revenge. Have a friend join a private chat and then let each other know what room you’re in. I do not like the fact you need to do this and I wish Xbox would remember the friends list is there for a reason. However, for now this is the way to compete for real rather than just in stunt mode or unranked races. It is possible to set-up a championship among friends. The only problem is if you’re not going to sit for hours to complete it you must save and then have the same friends rejoin later or it will not work. We tried this out and it does work. It also is a way to earn a few ranks and even some cash which shocked us that it would work.
Each racing game has its own unwritten rules that gamers expect so you may join a quick match and find a group that won’t tolerate any touching. PGR 3 comes to mind, but more like in Burnout Revenge you will find the right room. It just may take some time. This is where I wish the Xbox 360 games were made like the original Xbox ones where a group of friends could race all night and still rank up. Of course this is a review and not an editorial, but it would be nice to race with the ones you want to without having to trick the system. The online mode plays as well as the offline modes. Most will probably want to join a room with a few friends before taking on others just to get used to racing online due to the fact at times you’re racing with friends and AI bikes.
Graphics / Presentation
I talked about the slowdown at times, but my biggest gripe was the lack of the customize mode as far as options. The tracks and lighting are great, although at times the sun will cause dark spots on the track. For die hard racers, this will only help add a realistic feel. Every track has some unique look or challenge to it and they did not rush creating them. The bikes look great and the leathers and helmets all set the feel and look of the game perfectly. Even with the somewhat strange customize mode, you can get a decent looking paint job, just not one as detailed as the preset bikes or riders you unlock.
Overall, the game is a real looker and while I have heard many complain about the tear effects while playing in High-Def, I still think the MotoGP 06 looks great. There has been no news or press releases from THQ about a fix for this issue. The replays are well done but one thing missing after each race is the highlights. For some reason, Climax did not include this and I really missed this in the game.
MotoGP 06 Xbox 360 Screenshots
Audio
The music in game music fits. Although you can race with custom soundtracks, I personally find it more of a distraction. It comes in handy to be able to hear someone right up on you without the music up too loud. They made each class of bike sound different and very realistic. In a game like this where you’re concentrating on the next turn and setting times, you’re not playing it to enjoy the audio. While it is realistic and well done, it’s just as easily blocked out.Â
Replay Value
This is a great MotoGP game loaded with game modes. No one is going to breeze through the classes or unlock every achievement quickly. It’s a game that will take anyone a long time to beat. Throw in the online mode and the added game types like stunt or owning the track and this one offers plenty for the racing fans out there.
Overall Score
Overall Score: 8.4/10 [not an average]
Additional Comments
MotoGP 06 is not perfect but does show where the next gen racers are heading. While it is frustrating at times, fans will take notice of the small changes and added depth to the series. Those who love the series may need time to adapt to the changes but will love it just like the rest of the series. It’s not perfect but certainly a great game.
Related Links
Review by XBS Head Writer Rich Reed
Filed under: Reviews • Xbox 360
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I am really starting to like this game it is fun i recommend to anyone who likes any types of racing games to check this out it is worth it! great review as always Blair!