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The only game in town for realistic motorcycle racing on PS2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 17
Date: February 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Being an avid motorcyclist (CBR600F4i) and also enjoying some casual gaming with my PS2, I perused the list of realistically-themed motorcycle racing games available for the platform and came up with a list comprised of two titles: MotoGP and MotoGP2. While there are some PSOne games available, the graphics offered just aren't up to PS2 standards; besides, I didn't buy a PS2 to play PSOne games!

That said, I think MotoGP2 is great, although it does have some shortcomings. Visually, the graphics are probably 80-85% of what Gran Tursimo 3 is, although the rain streaking on your visor in 1st-person "Wet" mode is pretty impressive. The sound effects aren't great, but they do help to indicate when you're starting to slide your tires excessively, or if another rider is right on your tail. As for the music, I personally like the techno soundtrack and don't find it anywhere near as annoying as many reviewers seem to. The Replay mode is nice, although the inability to dynamically change camera angles is inexcusable--when I'm wheelie-ing down the front straightaway, I don't want to see the onboard camera view of the sky, I want to see me and my bike in show-off glory!

As far as gameplay goes, I found it to be pretty good, although like with GT3, I find that the analog buttons of the DualShock controller are not up to the task of duplicating a smooth throttle roll-on or progressive brake squeeze, making acceleration and braking a somewhat "blippy" affair. Each of the 39 bikes available is rated based upon Top Speed, Handling, Braking, and Acceleration, but to be honest I found that they all ride identically. Similarily, when adjusting the five different settings available (Acceleration, Transmission, Wheel Size, Handling, Braking), I found no really meaningful effect.

While riding, there is no "Look back" feature to check out who's behind you, so you basically have to rely the sounds that bikes right on your tail make, or hope that your rider decides to perform a head check animation during a straightaway--these are the only indications of a pursuer that's "hot on your tail". Neither help you to perform much in the way of defending your lead, so you have to rely on pure speed and clean lines--not a bad thing, I guess, but somewhat disappointing.

I did like that you can hold down the "Action" (R2) button in conjuction with the throttle and/or brakes to perform burnouts, wheelies and stoppies--while not very useful, it's a cool touch. Also, I like that the gameplay difficulty can be tailored much better than in Gran Turismo 3. If you turn "Sim" mode on, for example, and choose Manual Transmission, it becomes quite challenging. Conversely, turn "Sim" mode off and get an Automatic Transmission, and you'll be powersliding out of turns and basically having a blast--it may not be very realistic, but it's a lot of fun, and much more rewarding (for me) than the authoritarian demands for constant precision made by GT3. After all, when I want the most realistic motorcycling experience possible, I just go ride my bike!

All in all, while I wish it were a Superbikes-themed game, I really like MotoGP2. It's just difficult enough, and has enough depth, to be entertaining and have good replay value, but it's not so difficult that you have to make a huge commitment of time to start having fun with it. And if you're a fan of motorcycle racing, or a motorcyclist, it's about as good as you're going to do with a PS2.

outstanding

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 8
Date: February 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is a great game if you know a thing or two about how motorcycles function and how they can be optimized for use in a race. I find it amazingly challenging, and more than a little bit exhilarating. I also own motoGP 1, and they are very similar but two has more tracks , wet weather conditions if desired, and better depiction of gradient changes which cause the bikes to accelerate or decelerate according to whether or not the gradient increases or decreases...plus the sounds are more pronounced and the graphics are cleaner...a great game for the racing enthusiast who likes to bring the race home with him or her.

More like MotoGP Version 1.2

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 10
Date: January 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

As a Motorcycle Roadracer (TZ250)and fan of the 500 GPs, I anxiously awaited this title. MotoGP was an okay game. I chalked up its shortcomings to being a first release title and thinking like with other games the next generation would be better. But I was wrong. All the short falls of the first are here in the second. The games new features are still weak when comparing it to other types of racing games.
My biggest complaint has always been with the acceleration and braking. No matter how you configure the buttons whether default or analog or use the right analog stick, the throttle is an on/off switch. Braking is also not proportional to the throttle. The brakes are extremely weak. Playing in arcade mode which should be easier is not. Getting around the track becomes a series of jabs at the throttle/accelerator and coasting into corners.

Sure there is the addition of new tracks, but why only 5? Why is it when NASCAR games can include all the seasons tracks, we only get 5 more tracks for a total of 10 out of 16 tracks visited by the MotoGP tour

Replay mode is also dissappointing. There is no camera angle control. The ability to change camera angle has been around since the original Gran Turismo. Why was that not included?

This game plays more like MotoGP Version 1.2 than MotoGP 2.

Put on your leathers!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 8
Date: January 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

For those of you who played and loved the first instalment of this phenomenal arcade/sim hybrid you are in for a treat. Everything about the first game that was fantastic is back. The multi angle replays, heli cam view and gorgeous graphics are perfectly intact. As with the beautiful rendered tracks, bikes, and decent rider physics (for an arcade racer) and most of all the spot on game play. Where Namco stole my heart is with the inclusion of an action button. Anyone who remembers Delphine's original Moto Racer and the wheelie button that enabled you to catch and pass the pack will appreciate this. Namco's action button is just that, a "Wheelie" button. When coming out of that last chicane before the straight-away home give it a mash and watch your front wheel climb skyward in one of the most beautifully rendered and accurate portrayals of a two-stroke power monster wheelie. It's fantastic. Add in the addition of the new riders, bikes, weather effects and 5 new circuits and you have the best ever motorcycle racing game on any system! My only complaint (There's always one) is the wet weather tracks are very near impossible to manuver on without crashing. But it looks so good you probably won't even care. Enjoy. If you have ever ridden and enjoyed motorcycling, this is a must have title. Namco's definitely got their game on!

Fun but several flaws

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: February 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have to disagree with the person who wrote this is the best motorcycle game out there. That compliment belongs to EA Sport's SBK2001, no contest. However, my PC is an endless source of irritation, and having purchased the PS2 for DVDs and GT3, I decided to give Moto GP 2 a try.

One thing this game has over SBK2001 is the ability to release your inner McCoy/Haga: the game models rear-wheel steering, and the track is soon full of the blackies that result. Also, I found analog throttle control adequate; while it's a bit touchy, it's not on/off and you can fantasize it reflects the peaky torque of a 2-stroke 500. This doesn't quite make up for the rotten modeling of leaning: a slight change in direction is followed by an extreme and implausible lean angle that's so cartoony it looks spring-loaded. This is less irritating when playing in 1st-person view, but suspension of disbelief is impossible during the much-hyped replay feature.

Lowsides are pretty easy to commit, but highsides don't happen frequently enough, and when crashes happen, the physics aren't modeled well. The bike flops down and the rider falls uniformly; contrast this in SBK2001 where both bike and rider are thrown spectacularly and believably, almost as a consolation prize to the player who dumps it. Maybe because the game's bike physics are so basic, you can't bump other riders into the gravel. Again, in SBK2001, this was a great feature both for winnowing the competition and also as punishment by the other riders were you to slow down abruptly or take a bad line.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I can't get a decent launch from the line in the game; everyone gets a gap on me before the first turn. In the challenge mode, I have a feeling my times are being brought down by bogged-down RPMs; still, it's more of a challenge than the license tests in GT3.

The game's sound is slightly better than an old Atari console, but not up to PS1 standard, let alone PS2. Especially annoying are the transitions: when you pass another rider, there's no gradual decay in their engine noise, it just disappears.

As I look over all my gripes, I wonder whether my 4 stars have more to do with how much I like bikes than how much I like this game. I suppose virtual apex-carving is still more satisfying on GT3, but you just can't "high-side" on the last turn of Trial Mountain (though I've come close).

Valentino Rossi !!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: January 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This has more racers then the first game, including Valentino Rossi !!! The best racer ever. It has more tracks too. The graphics are awsome. The realism of the game is perfect, the controls make it just like riding a real superbike. This is not some easy game where you can go flying into the turns, you have to break and downshift, and when you hit the apex of the turn... wide open throttle. 180 MPH!!!

This game is the Best!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: September 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Okay....For starters I know pretty much nothing about Super-Bike racing titles,or the actual real racing season.I am pretty much a GT1/GT2/GT3/& Project Gothem fan!The only reason why I purchased Mopto GP2,was on the account of a friend of mind talked so highly of it!So..now thats out of the way, on to the review! When I recieved Moto GP2 I was totally surprised at the graphics! They were outstanding for the amount time that went from Moto GP1 to Moto GP2.The game play is simple,and has a very short learning curve(except in simulation mode,which is a lot more realalistic).There arent many options that you will find different from Moto GP1,but there are more tracks,and a cool photo display area!So,in a nut shell, this game has GT3 graphics,whith a cycle racing edge!The only reason why I gave it 4-stars instead of 5,was because of the limited diferences between the first release,and the sequeal(Moto GP2)!

Valentino Rossi !!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This has more racers then the first game, including Valentino Rossi !!! The best racer ever. It has more tracks too. The graphics are awsome. The realism of the game is perfect, the controls make it just like riding a real superbike. This is not some easy game where you can go flying into the turns, you have to break and downshift, and when you hit the apex of the turn... wide open throttle. 180 MPH!!!

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