Title: Moto GP '06
Genre: Racing/Driving
Platform: Xbox 360
Developer: Climax
Publisher: THQ
Release Date: June, the 9th 2006
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Only one year after Moto GP 3 release for Xbox, we are already here to review its successor, Moto GP 06, developed for Xbox 360. Moto GP 3 was, without any doubt, one the best racing games available on Xbox: will Climax be able to achieve the same result on Xbox 360?
Moto GP 06 is, for sure, the best motorcycle race simulator currently available: however, some imperfections and negligence of the software house do not allow the game to take the final step toward being a masterpiece. Even if, fortunately, the feeling of the game is very similar to all the titles of the series, nothing has really changed from the last "chapter" a part from the graphic aspect, which is astonishing not taking into account of some imperfections that can be annoying in a while.
Season 2005 or 2006?
Moto Gp fans will not face problems after having inserted the game DVD in their Xbox 360. Same menus of the last 3 editions, same music. Hence, we are immediately ready to get into the main single-player mode: "career".
First of all we have to decide in which season we want to play: 2005 or 2006? The main differences between the seasons are the order of the tracks and the name of the riders we will ride against. As you probably have understood, at first it is possible to play only with Moto GP career mode, because all other extreme "careers" (600, 1000 and 1200) will be unblocked after having ended the 1st season of the official championship. It's worth saying that the championship is perfectly identical to its real counterpart also thanks to tracks which are exact copies of the real ones. It is, thus, impossible not to be delighted by the presence of "Laguna Seca", one of the most spectacular tracks in the championship and "unjustifiable absentee" in the past edition.
Moreover, the presence of all riders and of the official motorcycles (Yamaha, Honda and Ducati above all) help in completing the game, also thanks to the great graphics and sound.
We will start the game creating our "alias" through an editor that allows us to modify different parts both of the rider, and of the motorcycle: unfortunately, all this has been already seen in Moto GP3 and nothing has been enhanced or changed, which makes the editor scanty. At last, we will be given some "credits" that can be spent increasing several skills as velocity, acceleration, etc.
Before the starting of the race, besides the classics (Friday tests and qualifying games), it is possible to accept some challenges. As a matter of fact, THQ and Climax have decided to introduce this new game mode, consisting in (for example) compete with the championship leader, in order to help us gamers knowing different tracks and all necessary tricks to win.
These challenges will, as well, be useful to earn some extra credits but, after few hours, you'll be annoyed by them and you'll just skip to the "main event".
Moto GP 06 level of difficulty is divided in rookie, professional, champion and legend (initially blocked). Everyone who has played to Moto GP 3 should start directly as champion even if, in my opinion, neither this level will be a real challenge. The issue is, probably, in the AI that cannot be defined "up to date": first of all, riders seem blind as they are literally unable to see you and avoid to run into your alias and, moreover, even mighty riders as Valentino Rossi can be easily defeated! Not really likely!
The control system is well mapped on the Xbox 360 joypad: the "A" button is used to accelerate, while the 2 triggers are addressed to the brakes (front and rear) and the "X" allows us just to forget other buttons and brake safely even if our lap time will increase considerably.
"Extremely" funny
As said before, finished the first championship season, we'll have the possibility to enjoy the "arcade" part (always if we can define all yet described stuff as a "simulation") of the title: the "Extreme" mode.
Directly from Moto GP 3, the "Estreme" mode allows us to use not-common motorcycles, to race in "mad" tracks (graphically not as detailed as the "official" ones) and it has the characteristic to be very easy to master. Clearly, also in the "Extreme" mode it is possible to customise several parameters and set-ups: however, here it is also possible to boost our motorcycle buying new spare parts using the won money.
Xbox LIVE: the game real strength
Moto GP 06 online mode is, with no doubts, the best mode in the game. Next to the classic mode, the Xbox LIVE integration with the "career" is able to remarkably increase the game longevity. But, what is this "integration" about? Making a long story short, selected the track, we'll be able to choose if to "accept the challenge" online or offline.
During our tests, we never face lag problems and this makes the online game-play enjoyable: definitely, playing against human opponents is always very satisfying.
Technical (graphic) section
Graphically speaking, Moto GP 06 is one of the most spectacular Xbox 360 game, probably only beaten by Fight Night 3: nevertheless, the game has, sometimes, problems that can ruin the game experience. In particular, I'm speaking of the annoying frame-rate drops, that are able to destroy all the sense of speed the title tries to let us feel: unfortunately, this happens often during bends, where the fps counter signals a "<30" negative peak (normally Moto GP 06 runs at 60fps).
Another problem is the near absence of "v-sync": when sometimes you'll face something like a misalignment between frames...oookk...that's the "no v-sync" problem.
Luckily, there are not only imperfections! As said before, motorcycles and tracks are well implemented, as well as lights effects and shadows. Mention of honour for weather conditions on tracks: Shangai wet asphalt is terrific!
Final Comment
Ending this review, we have to say that, even if in next-generation it is legitimate to pretend more, Moto GP 06 is a good race simulation, especially because it is the first on Xbox 360. The arcade-style that surrounds this "Climax game" makes it not really suitable for gamers who wants to "decide-the-way-things-have-to-go" completely: on the contrary, if you're fond of LIVE, like me, Moto GP 06 is a game you don't want to lose.
Evaluation
Presentation and Package: 6
The game menus should change...at least once every 10 years!
Gameplay: 8
Also in this case the game looks very similar to older versions: however, if something is almost perfect, it remains almost perfect.
Graphics: 7.5
"Sweet meat will have sour sauce", never a saying has been more appropriate. Tracks and riders almost "real" against frame-rate drops and not perfect v-sync.
Sound: 8
The mark is intended for the roars of the engines. All other sounds are directly from Moto GP 3.
Longevity: 8.5
To complete the game, you'll have to unblock all riders and you'll have to win the championship again at difficulty "legend". The end? Nope...there is LIVE.
Multiplayer Factor: 9
Multi-player mode is a masterpiece. Online races are always very enjoyable!
Overall Evalutation: 7.8
Taking into account of Climax history of successes, we would have liked more from Moto GP '06. A new game-play mode and enhanced graphics for the "Extreme" tracks would have helped raising the overall evaluation.
Original article by Sergio Giannone, XboxWay Staff