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The latest instalment in Climax Studios and THQ’s MotoGP
series heads straight to the Xbox360. After having three titles
appear on the Xbox, Climax Studios have decided to up-the-ante with
a Next-Generation instalment of the series coming home as the first
of it’s kind on the Xbox360. However, at current, most releases
hitting the Xbox360 as the first in their field have been
more-often-than-not considerably disappointing, knowing that they
have their respective markets sewn-up and never reaching for
anything more than acceptable. But with Climax Studios being widely
regarded as the top of their game when it comes to Motorbike
ventures and last year’s MotoGP
3: Ultimate Racing Technology being an unparalleled success
on the Xbox; there’s high-hopes for MotoGP ’06 on the
Xbox360 here at Electronic Articles.
The basic play hasn’t been expanded too much since last
year’s release on the Xbox, and consists of the Quick Play,
Training and Career options you would expect, along with a host of
Multi-Player features. The Career Mode feels a lot more tangible
than that of before and, whilst the controls will escape beginners
just as equally as in those predecessors, a more immediate option
becomes available upon completion of your first MotoGP Tournament;
Extreme. The Extreme 600, 1000 and 1200 series offer a slightly more
approachable take on the sport – if only slightly. While the basic
Career sees you travelling through the seventeen courses of the
MotoGP in either the 2005 or 2006  season, Extreme Mode unveils
seventeen totally fictional Tracks and a ton of fictional bikes.
While few changes are made to the handling, your rider appears far
less likely to launch into the atmosphere simply through taking a
slight bend at 5 MPH too fast.
The bike handling is by far the most discerning accreditation
in the title, but also acts as its double-edged sword. While MotoGP
aficionados will fall immediately in love with the turn-recognition
and speed-brakes required for beneficial play, many will have been
put off simply by playing the demo available from XboxLIVE!
Marketplace since E3
2006. Realism is the objective here and, while
I’m still no sports-bike expert, and my knowledge has grown little
since my review of the previous title last year, it’s quite
apparent that even a basic knowledge of how sports-bikes travel is
appreciated by the title. Three Brakes exist, Left on the L Trigger,
Right on the Right Trigger and a third on the X Button. Entering a
corner will mean heavy braking on the Trigger corresponding to the
corner you’re about to turn, tapping the Accelerator as you round
the bend before releasing the Brake and thacking the throttle on
full as you exit. Even knowing this basic principle won’t be
enough though, not until you managed to come flailing-off on the
first five corners of your first five Races – MotoGP ’06
is a game that pulls-no-punches, and makes you learn quickly from
your mistakes.
As you progress through the Career Mode and unlock further
Difficulty Settings, the game forces you into apparel talent as the
harder options will simply require you to race as if you yourself
were a MotoGP racer. The Rookie  Difficulty Setting will allow a few
minor crashes and still grant those with skill Pole Position,
however, simply one stage up – Pro – sends the demands reeling
and many players will find themselves replaying the Career many,
many times before successfully finding themselves atop the
playfield.
The Multi-Player options, once more, sees MotoGP ’06
excel. The online play is simply fantastic; up to sixteen players
with very little Lag playing through any of the offline Multi-Player
options available. Obviously, the usual Race option is in there, but
also a Tag mode – similar to that of the Tony Hawk’s
series – which sees you “Tagging” each corner as you get round
it in the quickest time, and Stunt Mode; a gameplay option that sees
you rewarded for pulling Wheelies, Backspins and other stunts as
well as clearing Track Sections without Penalties for Points.
Graphically, MotoGP ’06 enters the arena of
Next-Generation rather uncomfortably. While pelting around the
Tracks in excess of 200 MPH offers a spot-on partake of the sport,
with the Graphics Engine having been built for high-speeds, when you
slow to a light pace it’s obvious the game gets a little confused,
drawing and re-drawing sections of Trackside grass and arrangements.
This, coupled with a few minor drops in Frame-Rate could be seen as
disappointing, especially given the lack of background detail in the
official MotoGP Tracks. However, these Tracks are sparse because
they are modelled on their real-life counter-parts which, in-turn
are sparse themselves. Once entering the Extreme Mode – with
it’s detailed buildings, ocean-front backdrops  and often
astounding appreciation of Real-Time Lighting, a grip will have been
attained on the handling, finding very few times at which you
won’t be travelling at pace, and here MotoGP ’06
sparkles. The reflections on helmets and shinning metal are often
astonishing and the rider animation is flawless. The package,
despite a few minor flaws, propels itself to being one of the best
looking Xbox360 titles currently on general release with just a
little appreciation for exactly what MotoGP ’06 is
attempting to achieve.
The sound quality, much like the graphics, is almost
flawless. Bikes screech and shudder in an unbelievably believable
fashion and the scuffs of the rider’s leathers on gravel as you
launch off the hot metal will make you grit your teeth with
consolidated agony for your on-screen avatar.
MotoGP ’06 is a package that will equally disappoint
and please Xbox360 gamers. Those looking for an immediate
sports-bike Racing title will be disappointed, even if they manage
to persevere to the Extreme Mode. However, those looking for the
ultimate hardcore MotoGP experience will not find a better
alternative, on any machine. Last year’s release left me believing
that some minor A.I. assistance for newcomers, similar to that seen
in F1
2005, may have been a necessary option to entice players
not familiar with the sport, however MotoGP ’06 has simply
ventured to prove that this would taint an almost perfect MotoGP
experience. The title still won’t be to everyone’s tastes;
however those with a passion for the sport will find it very hard
finding reasons as to why they shouldn’t be buying an Xbox360
after just their first experience with the title.
 
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