Publisher: THQ
Ages: teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
None
To ride the world's most advanced two-wheeled racing machines, THQ's MotoGP 2 delivers an intense and in-depth racing experience. This PC version of MotoGP 2, which is the best motorcycle game for the Xbox, offers an excellent virtual riding experience that includes great graphics, decent control and entertaining options that keep players coming back for more.
As the name implies, the game is based on the 2002 MotoGP series and features 16 real-world tracks, and the event's bikes and riders. A career mode lets players create a rider and compete in the full MotoGP series. Here, players get to choose bikes and leathers and adjust parameters such as braking, acceleration, speed, and more, and then race in circuits. Typical of race games, players gain points by winning races. In the game's quick race mode, players can dive right in and race, and a fun stunt mode lets players execute crazy stunts-wheelies and more-for points.
The controls are adequate, but the game was obviously designed first for the Xbox and doesn't play as well on the PC. While the Xbox control system is intuitive and relies on the analog control to adjust such details as lean angle and acceleration through turns, and even lets players shift the weight of riders to increase traction, the PC's digital controls aren't as precise. They're not bad, but somewhat lacking in comparison.
The extraordinary graphics do a great job of depicting the bikes, tracks, and riders, as well as various weather conditions. The game also offers fun and entertaining multi-player modes that include quick race, grand prix, championship, tag, and stunt mode, which are more fun than simply competing against the computer.
MotoGP 2 is a great motorcycle race game for the PC. It's realism may be a bit much for younger players who may prefer more forgiving arcade action. But MotoGP 2 offers depth and a good, entertaining experience to those who invest in it.
8/4/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
