Tuned and Tweaked- MotoGP 10/11 Review

As the Forza, Gran Turismo, and Need For Speed: Shift franchises struggle for domination in the auto racing arena, Capcom’s MotoGP has been enjoying its unchallenged status at the de-facto motorbike simulation. With an output of seven console iterations within a span of eight years, the series is undeniably prolific- yet remains in the shadow cast by its four-wheeled brethren. While latest entry MotoGP 10/11 isn’t likely to instigate a mass exodus from the car racing realm, the title’s balancing of verisimilitude with player assists is certainly admirable; expect to devote a healthy amount of time mastering these bikes.

Capturing the thrill of throttling through a S-shaped curve at breakneck speeds, with a knee gliding a few inches above the tarmac, isn’t easy to express to couch-confined gamers. Skittish bikes might articulate the sensation of peril, but wiping out every few minutes isn’t neither a satisfying nor realistic recreation of the professional racing world. Surrendering a sense of corporal threat, MotoGP focuses on the nuances of handling a 600cc crotch rocket, despite the occasional grimace-inducing crash.

As such, managing front and rear brakes, body position, and avoiding contact with the twenty other careening riders in event races, requires a bit of determination. Initially, simply following the optional racing line can be difficult, as each corner requires a meticulous calculation of speed, inertia, and trajectory. Even with the game’s copious amount of assists, it’s easy for novices to come rocketing out of a straightaway, hurtling over the chicane. Yet once players adapt to MotoGP‘s handling, the game reveals enough complexity to keep the pickiest petrol-head absorbed. Admittedly, it took an hour before I stopped seeing the game’s tracks as auto racing circuits, and began distinguishing the sections which would accommodate a bike’s wider turning radius. With time, MotoGP‘s motorcycles fell under my control, completing clean laps and passing competitors instinctively. Gradually, the assists starting coming off, as I become acclimated to MotoGP’s fullest level of simulation, which demands total concentration from players. Even pausing to answer the phone can transport players out of the zone; thankfully, developer Monumental Games included the ability to rewind time during the title’s campaign.

Plotting your dominance in MotoGP 10/11‘s career mode involves establishing your team name, colors, and rider. Beyond the actual weekend races, the campaign tasks players with attracting sponsors, and managing a front office- hiring and firing engineers, mechanics and PR reps. The mode is a solid complement to the title’s track-based competitions, and could bring together the sport’s enthusiasts, especially since a co-operative teammate can share in the responsibilities. While unavailable at launch, the game also promised to deliver a plethora of free downloadable content, designed to recreate the 2011 MotoGP season.

While last year’s game was no visual slouch, a number of graphical tweaks have been made to GP 10/11. From overhauling the title’s interface and load screens to dramatizing the racing environments, the game compares favorably to its competitors. Most noticeable is the game’s signature effect- delivered when players are racing full-throttle down straightaways. With simulated windshake and hue desaturation, the game does its best to convey the sensation of straddling a rocket capable of hitting 217 mph. Less obvious is the lighting hailing from a radiant midday sun or menace conveyed through ominous cumulonimbus clouds. Regretfully, the game’s framerate can infrequently weaver. Although minor, these slight performance hiccups are capable of breaking a racer’s requisite concentration.