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MotoGP 07 is the first take on motorcycle racing since Capcom took over the license from THQ. And it's THQ's Moto GP series from the past few years that most racing fans probably remember, but those days are over. Capcom and Milestone are now the sole creators of Moto GP licensed racing games, which means fans of the previous series must be wondering what to expect. With three consoles now more than a year old, those fans probably didn't expect the next Moto GP game to be released only on the Playstation 2. Even though that's not the end of the world (the PS2 is hardly gone from the landscape) it has to be part of the reason the game looks so bad. And, boy, does it look bad. If it's not bland â€" the tracks and surrounding landscapes â€" it's choppy and grainy â€" the bikes and riders. Even for a racing game, where a sense of speed is the most important visual factor, this game looks bad. It does move smoothly and the racing is fast, but that only helps so much. If you've grown accustomed to any of the current consoles you'll have a very hard time putting up with this view.
That's one thing this game does differently from the previous series. Another is the difficulty. It's not that THQ's game was easy or that Milestone's is too hard, but it is fair to say that this Moto GP is less forgiving and closer to being a demanding simulation. You'll have distinct control over the front and rear breaks, and you'll need it. One top of some extremely tough competition from the computer, the qualifying times are brutal from medium difficulty and up. And with every second counting, it's all the more stressful because it's easy to spin out unless you accelerate very, very carefully. It's a very tough game and, for some, that's a good thing. MotoGP 07 has no online multiplayer, so playing the game revolves around the championship and the challenges. The challenges put you on the same 18 tracks from the championship and real circuit. The championship mode offers 18 races, one after the other. There is no character creation, no advancement, no winnings, no bike customization, no story â€" nothing but earning points to win the championship against the computer. That, and photos of the drivers are all that motivates the player. It doesn't get much thinner than that. The act of driving and racing motorcycles in Moto GP 07 is a solid foundation to begin the new series, but that's almost all there is. The lack of an online mode, customization and eye candy put this first installment several steps back from where the series was just last year. Here's hoping it catches up soon.
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