MotoGP 2021 is an impressive game that features the right balance of complication and a lukewarm welcome to new players trying to get into it for the first time. It’s a polished experience that sets the bar for the motorcycle racing scene.
Milestone apparently knows what the hell they are doing with the MotoGP series. I had forgotten how far their efforts in racing go back, starting all the way in the PlayStation 2 era and taking up MotoGP starting in 2007. Regardless, the series has run the same path of Gran Turismo, where over time it has gone through a tremendous amount of change on its way to being the most realistic Grand Prix motorcycle experience. This year it might have gotten the closest it has with realism.
Let’s dig into it.
PlayStation 5 welcomes motorcycling
This is a gorgeous game on the PlayStation 5 that brings realistic visuals from the racing field. The textures are smooth as silk for this game, forming superb modeling (both cycle and rider), and the right amount of everything to make you climb into the racing experience. You’ll notice it from the first race, where the environments and fast-paced racing just fly by without a glitch or a hitch. It’s a nice-looking game in motion and feels fast.
Another bright spot in the visuals is the lighting and shading effects. While you can certainly include them in the above description, they are outstanding upgrades that help push the presentation further. It always amazes me how people under-appreciate such things when it comes to racing simulators, but they’re good here. Really quite good. Positioning of the sun, how that affects shadows, even down to track lighting makes it look and feel cooler.
In addition to the visuals, the sounds and controller feedback are also up to the challenge. The sound of a motorcycle is exquisitely captured for this game, though if you’re not used to hearing a motorcycle with a high pitch, you’re not going to have a great time with your 3D audio headset. I do think it adds to the ambiance of the racing experience.
The controller…my goodness the controller. As stated in my Returnal review, developers are putting some good presentation use to the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. MotoGP 2021 is no different, as it adds the rumble of the engine to the feedback. The accelerator and brake also are accounted for in the controller experience. It’s another layer of presentation that we didn’t know we needed as gamers.
The only knock against this game is the cutscene animation. I’m not sure what the deal is with sports games and cutscene animation on the PlayStation 5, but it has to get better. It looks last generation.
Overall, it’s one helluva PlayStation 5 upgrade. The hard drive helps with loading times too, though not Spider-Man: Miles Morales fast.
Careering it
I’m a huge fan of career modes in sporting games. Huge fan. I created my racer and called him Duck Dodge. Could be a Daffy Duck reference. Could be a Dodgeball reference. You can decide. Anyway! I created him, dressed him, got him hooked up with a manager, sponsor and team, and then got him on the calendar to go racing.
There is just the right amount of complication to the setup process to make it feel like you’re part of a real racing experience. It’s solid, it’s Gran Turismo-like, and it’s appreciated. While I do love arcade racers, knowing and learning more about the ins/outs of the motorcycle Grand Prix scene makes me feel smarter as a human being who enjoys racing games. I will admit that my understanding of engineering on a motorcycle is incredibly limited, it still fascinates me how detailed the process can get when it comes to affecting racing. Codemasters’ F1 series taught me so much about the sport through the same process and functionality, though I’m still a dum-dum when it comes to tweaking that game’s features.
Anyway, once you get your character going, and your team and manager set, then you get to select which Moto you want to participate in (2, 3, or MotoGP). From that point on you try out tracks and set your racer up for some events. Racing on gorgeous tracks and trying to out-qualify your fellow riders with better times makes for a wonderful racing experience. The career mode is nutso long. You will get plenty of play out of it, mostly tweaking your bike and snagging better times on the track. Again, you’re looking at an F1 and GT type of experience here, so prepare your own calendars to make sure you have the time to commit because it is a commitment.
That in itself is a debatable downside. For gamers wanting an entry point to the series, the amount of complication and effort it takes to keep up with the MotoGP experience has a bit of a steep learning curve. Is it impossible to get on the same level as other MotoGP hardcore fans? No, but it will take time. The game might be intimidating for newbies, but it’s nonetheless accessible. You still can enjoy the game after learning how to control the bike and how to adjust it (doesn’t have to be a deep dive to be successful in the game). This downside, as I stated at the beginning, is debatable. For someone like me, who pretty much ignored most of these games for nearly two decades, I came into this review fresh. I did have a few frustrating moments at the start but got my racing legs going after more than a few crashes. I’m still trying to understand the engineering side, but it’s possible.
Anyway, there is a lot of content here waiting for the dedicated gamer to dive into. It’s a well-crafted game.
Conclusion
MotoGP 2021 is an impressive game that features the right balance of complication and a lukewarm welcome to new players trying to get into it for the first time. It’s a polished experience that sets the bar for the motorcycle racing scene.
