Racing fans, and more particularly motorbike fans, have been dying to get their fix for a little while now. MotoGP 09/10 is finally here and it’s time to get those leathers out, rip off the tyre warmers, stick your helmet on and prepare for one crazy ride.
Moto GP 09/10 features four different game modes, namely: Career, Championship, Arcade, Multiplayer and Time Trial. The Career is the most involving and exciting mode of the game. You start your career at the bottom in the 125 engine class. You are required to choose a rider number, rider name, team name, sponsors, and engineers in order to perform future upgrades to your bike, as well as press officers to unlock better sponsorship deals. The Career mode also allows for a decent mix between racing and managing your career in order to become one of the best in the circuit.
Once you have finished a whole season by placing third or better overall, only then will you be able to move up to the next engine class. The three classes are 125, 250 and the Moto GP. This gives the player the immersion to completely participate in an actual Moto GP, hire and fire mechanics, decide whether or not to commit to wild card racers, alter the setup of the bike’s gearbox ratios, tyre compounds, brake assists and suspension. It is an extremely involving career that works very well throughout the game.
The biggest problem is that unless you have unlocked each of the other two classes above 125cc in the Career mode, even in arcade or multiplayer split screen, you will be stuck with the 125 class. Nevertheless, by starting off in the 125 class, it allows the player to get used to taking corners at a comfortable speed and slowly working your way up to riding with the big boys.
In Championship mode, you are given the choice to ride as one of the professionals on all of Moto GP’s circuits as you progress in each season. The game has four different difficulties and there is also the option of turning off the racing line, which makes things a little trickier.
Unlike previous Moto GP titles, the feel of this game is completely different. You have to use both front and back brakes strategically and even shift your weight backwards when braking and forward whilst accelerating, by either holding the X button or Up on the left analogue. This adds brilliantly to the gameplay mechanics, as the bike handling is quite sensitive when cornering. It is difficult at first but becomes extremely rewarding once you master it.
Another feature that most will be grateful for, is the ability to rewind time and have a second chance at a corner. Everytime it is used, points will be subtracted from your overall grading of either A, B or C. The grading allows for leveling up faster and unlocking famous riders for use in Championship, Arcade and Multiplayer modes.
Moto GP 09/10 is, as the name suggests, the pinnacle of bike racing games and includes each official Moto GP track and many of the professional riders. At first glance the visuals aren’t earth shattering. The riders could do with a little more detail, although it can be forgiven because of how colorful and smooth the game is.
It’s great to see a decent Multiplayer mode in a MotoGP game, or any motorbike racer for that matter, as it allows for some good old split screen play.
Overall Moto GP 09/10 is not quite a simulator, nor an arcade racer, but something exactly straight down the middle. It presents itself well, has a unique career mode with a cool upgrade, and a deep team management system that becomes very satisfying and involving the more you play. If you’re a fan of the genre or series, definately take it for a spin.
[starreviewmulti id=2 tpl=20]
