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STICK WITH MOTOGP.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 13
Date: August 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Lots of great bikes. Even Buells. A lot of the license tests are just like real tests you would take in a State certified class. But, that's where the simulation ends.

The game is hard to play. And the physics are so far off it's pathetic. Not even close. The physics are almost backwards. As anyone who rides a bike can tell you, hard braking while in a turn is going to put you on the pavement. Not here. Once I was on a downhill straightaway heading into a turn. I brake hard before reaching the turn and end up in a highside flip. What the...? Bogus!! That might happen if I lock the rear wheel and then release the back brake. At this point, I put the game down. As far as I got in the game: you're not racing in a pack, but trying to catch one guy. Deplorable.

After putting this game away, I popped in MOTOGP 2 just to get my GP fix. That game is awesome!! 21 to 25 lap races with 21 riders in the pack that can last 45 minutes. By the time you're into the last 5 laps you're NOT battling the bike, you're battling the leaders for 1st or second place. And you're exhausted. Just like real bike racing. If you're looking for a great sportbike game, play the MOTOGP series instead. It shreds on this. To the reviewer below who said MOTOGP isn't realistic. The physics are spot on!! Especially traction physics. And if you want simulation in that series there is a simulation setting that makes the bikes handle with more realism. It's a no-brainer when compared to TOURIST TROPHY. I get the feeling some of these reviewers have never ridden bikes.

This one gets 2 stars for the bikes and the tracks. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT.

Tilt A Whirl In a Can

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I have at least four different motorcycle games, dirt bike and road race. This has to be the worst physics of any of them bar none. If you slow down and lean too much, its as if the world keeps moving and you can somehow slide sideways even when you should be traveling forward. Very disconcering. I played this game for about an hour and just couldn't believe my eyes. VERY touchy controls with the standard PS2 controller. The bikes were cool, and there seemed to be alot of choices, even some old vintage bikes. If I had it to do over again after seeing this game in action, I would have gotten something else.

Not that "real" to be the Real Riding Simulator

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: June 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Considering the Gran Turismo pedigree, I have to say I'm a little disappointed by this, what should and could have been the definitive motorcycle game. Instead I'm left feeling the game's lacking major incentives to play it, the physics engine lacked development, and the game generally feels unfinished and in serious need of a polish.

For starters, the lack of the currency system that make the GT games so playable is completely non-existent. Considering this code already exists in GT (and so much is obviously lifted straight from it), why was it not included? I want to win money and spend it on my dream bikes, not race my guts out to be awarded a dog of a 1980's 250cc or something like that! And what would I want or even care to change my helmet and leathers? It says something about what's otherwise lacking that they have to make a point of telling you that for completing a race you've unlocked yet another set of near identical riding wear.

The graphics are of course pretty spectacular, apart that is from the on-board cockpit views. (Which is *the* only way to play in my opinion.) The cockpits are blocky, blurry lacking in colour, definition and contrast, like bad photos added at the last minute. I like the way the bike shifts under you properly, rather than the rider's view being like a fixed camera on the tank as in so many other bike games, but the graphics here are usually pretty awful. Take a look at the mirros on the MV Agusta and it looks like the graphics are made of Lego. It just looks unfinished in my opinion.

The physics engine is something of a mixed bag. Setting the controller to Pro mode in the options gives separate front and back brake control, and while you can drift the rear, it seems impossible to lock the front. Instead you can grab full front brake while over on it's side mid-corner and you'll be fine, no chance of locking and washing the front out. Similarly, it seems equally hard to made the rear loose grip on acceleration, especially when banked hard over. Completely unrealistic for the larger capacity sports bikes. The best and most complete motorcycle physics model I've ever seen was Superbike 2000 on the PC. It's a shame that Polyphony couldn't at least replicate the fidelity of that.

It seems there's some glaring omissions and odd choices in the bikes included too. Where's the iconic '94 Ducati 916? The original '91 Fireblade, or classic GSX-R1100? Instead we've got about 100 bikes, half of which you'll never, ever be tempted to try. Maybe some of the omissions are down to licensing difficulties (perhaps the 916 is already soley licensed to Ducati's bike game of a year or two ago, for example?) To be fair, it could be some of my most longed-for bikes are locked until later stages, though I don't see them in any of the various selection menus.

And what's with the racing? All the races I've tried so far in TT mode I've been racing against a sole competitor, with no practice or qualifying stages, and he gets to start about 1/2 mile ahead! What kind of fun is that?!

To sum up, it's ok, but falls a long way short of what I was hoping for. After the greatness of GT4, Polyphony have stumbled a little on this one.

Tough motorcycle Game to Play

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: May 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game has realistic graphics and sound and I had heard that it was a fun game however I discovered that the controls were too sensitive and spent most of my time crashing. It has a very difficult learning curve and the slightest push one way or the other on your joystick will have you eating the pavement (especially in the curves). If you're still thinking about buying this game, rent it first.

Good, but can it dethrone MotoGP3?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Yes, the graphics are great. Yes, it has the same tracks as Gran Turismo--is that a good thing? Not sure if it completely supports this, but it seems as though it might also support 1080i, which would make it look even more fantastic.

But the main things it's missing is feel, physics, and great 2 player.
I never feel like there is any connection between the throttle and the rear tire. MotoGP3 has spot-on feel and telegraphs extremely well through the dual shock controller. On throttle and brake you can feel the limit of grip shockingly well. On this? The controller is dead in my hands.
For physics, it seems like there are certain areas on the track the bike doesn't even come close to doing what you want it to---I don't know the track name off hand but there is a downhill straight followed by a left kink and a left turn that goes under a bridge (Apricot?) and if you come down pretty fast the computer tosses you to the left side of the road without explanation when you hit the kink. The physics are generally quite good, but there are some inexplicable things that go on in bizarre areas. I realize it's supposed to be mimicing elevation changes in some areas, but it's just not all that realistic.

Also, it doesn't seem to suck me in. It's really quite easy, as are all the tests. Does that mean it's bad? Heck no, but it takes a BIG back seat to MotoGP3. A friend and I play head-to-head all the time (almost weekly) and TT doesn't have as much entertainment, nor will you run with other bikes when you're playing 2 player.

Gee, you can change the color of you bike and your gear. That makes for a great game!!!!!! Who needs good AI of other riders when you can have a shiny bike that's color coordinated with your leathers? There is a very detailed riding editor which is fun to get the rider in a better position, but I don't know how much it affects the physics.

All the games have the problem of not letting you choose horizontal split screen on a 16:9 screen--you typically have to change to 4:3 on the PS2, then 16:9 on your screen to get horizontal split, but the bikes look pudgy. If you select 16:9 it defaults to vertically split, meaning you can see 3 feet to the side of each motorcycle--not helpful at all.

Not the best race game.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: January 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

A pretty good game except it's really difficult to make the motorcycles corner! Great graphic's,good track slection's,but poor physic's while attempting high speed turn's.

Solid effort, but inconsistent

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 14, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I had no doubt Polyphony Digital could create another great race game, even one with half the wheels of the others. But "Gran Turismo with bikes" this game really isn't. While there are many varying bikes to collect, you never get the sense you own your machine and can customize it how you choose. You don't actually buy bikes in TT, you win the right to use them by winning short challenges. Most of the challenges are stupidly easy; others are devilishly hard. The actual races aren't that much more exciting. Much like Gran Turismo, the opponents are robotic in their technique, making many races boring parades that aren't especially difficult to win. A rare crash will cost you hardly any time at all. What Tourist Trophy does right are its bikes, which all feel and sound different from one another. The scooters are surprisingly fun, the big 1000cc monsters can be unwieldy, and the 125cc-250cc bikes are just right. The graphics also hold up well, even as we're a couple of years into the new generation of hardware. I hope Tourist Trophy has life as a series on the PS3; it seems like one of those games that will be great in its sequel(s), if it's lucky enough to get that far. If you're into motorcycle racing games, you know that quantity has taken over quality on store shelves the past few years. Tourist Trophy's variety of rides and familiar tracks make it a worthy choice. Just don't expect quite the refinement of the Gran Turismo series.

Well done

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: May 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Looking for an arcade motorcycle racing experience? Well, you'd better look elsewhere, because Tourist Trophy is for racing simulation fans only. For starters, Tourist Trophy is from the makers of Gran Turismo, so that should tell you what you're in for here. The learning curve is very steep as you have a plethora of bikes and tracks to choose from, all of which are difficult to get a hold of to say the least. The physics are the most realistic you'll see in a motorcycle racing game, and you'll be crashing plenty until you get the hand of it. For a PS2 game the graphics are surprisingly sharp, some of the best to be seen in a racing game on the platform. That said, Tourist Trophy is not a game for racing novices. For fans of Gran Turismo, Tourist Trophy should prove to be a worthy distraction, but if you're speed in racing games is limited to Need for Speed games, then this is definitely not for you.

A great game with one drawback.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Being right-handed, I wish the option to steer with the right analog stick and throttle/brake with the left analog stick was available. Alas, it's not. Yes, I'm well aware the throttle is on the right in the real world. Even so, I'd gladly trade a more realistic controller layout for greater steering precision.

Happy motorcyclists have bugs in their teeth

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: February 08, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Tourist Trophy review
Polyphony's entry into the world of two-wheeled racing. The game is made by arguably THE experts in simulation race gaming. No flash or Hollywood, just hard core, technically accurate racing.
I'm certainly not the master of racing games. But I was irresistibly drawn to this game for the love of motorcycles (in which I can say I`ve got quite some experience). I have enjoyed the look and feel of the game, but am struggling because of the unforgiving precision required by the game. --- I'm not used to driving with my thumbs :-)

The Look
The graphics are stellar - You can race and watch from a third person point of view, like you were floating behind the bike, or just a track view, or as though you were on the bike. In the `cockpit' view, some complain about the tracks being in perfect view, and the instrument panels being blurry. Well, that's how the eye works, you can watch the gauges or the track, the other will be out of focus. I actually find this a comfortable view. Like real motorcycles, you'll never look at the speedometer, but will watch the tachometer in the corner of your eye for when to expect the power curve and to help guide your shifts. There is a great variety of tracks including city and dedicated racetracks. All of the races are visually great, but if you're racing, you won't have much time to watch the scenery.

Game Progression
I'd recommend starting with the Licensing stage. In this, you pass some basic steps coached all the way, which opens up more bikes, tracks, and gives you enough of a tutorial to step up to Challenge mode. In Challenge mode, you can pick a bike from a selection of bikes, then attempt to beat the computer on a given track. If you take the lead and stay in front, bingo - bike's yours (remember to exit - and it saves automatically though). As you'd expect, if you challenge bigger bikes or higher level, the bikes available range from novice to expert, you'll face respectively better opponents. With your bikes, you enter races. Through game play, you'll race at night or in the day, but weather and light never play a big part in this game. Quite unlike motorcycling where the first thing you're exposed to is the elements.

Gear-heads.
Not much tweaking is available for the bike, you can adjust gears, sometimes suspension and exhaust, but the garage is there to get you on the track and not waste time buying and building a super bike. You can customize riding style (lean, body position, leg and arm angles, etc.) for each bike and I like this feature because you can make the game mirror reality. You can earn a bunch of leathers, helmets and gloves, but I guess that's for people that save replays and print them out on the computer (which you can do in this game).

Races
Great competition, so great I'm still getting beat on a regular basis. The drawback is you'll never face a track full of other bikes. Not a huge flaw, but you'll miss that if you're got real riding experience. I guess the game makers had to draw the line somewhere without overloading the graphics AI engine. Again, technical expertise is the trademark and feature here. You _will_ crash, or high-side, or tailspin, or nosee, if physics says so -- not to mention you'll get disqualified for leaving the track hard-top. The most important lesson here is to pick your cornering lines carefully, watch your lean, and know exactly when to brake and gas out of a corner. I know that's three most important things, but they all work together.

If you want technical, great looking, two wheeled racing, this is the best. It's a lot cheaper than the Ducati I have my eye on. If you have a low frustration tolerance and prefer to bounce off walls - well - get a different game like Burnout.

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