RIDE 3

RIDE 3 confirms the excellent work done by Milestone with the second episode of the series, delivering a rich, compelling racing experience packed with hundreds of motorbikes, lots of tracks and customization options.

Ride 3 is an easy entry into the motorcycle simulation genre. The level of detail on and off the track is visually satisfying. Over time playing the AI can get a little boring, but multiplayer provides some variety, at least if you win and don't get dead last like I do more than half the time. For someone wanting to get into a motorcycle racing game this is a strong contender. Veterans of the genre may have their niche, but Ride seems to have a good community following. To those veterans I say it is for you to decide if there is enough new content to warrant the purchase. Either way, I hope to see many of you at the finish line!

A new instalment for the Milestone franchise that surpasses the past entries in every way, especially in the graphical department.

Ride 3 is the third installment of the bike racing series by Milestone. With 230+ different bikes and up to 30 tracks and a solid physics engine with nice graphics, this game is a real masterpiece for all the bikers, both amateurs and pros.

Ride 3 is without a doubt the best episode of the series. It points in a very positive direction for the future of the franchise that could actually stand out as a Gran Turismo for bikes. However, there are still efforts to be made to achieve this, just as a rough diamond must be carefully crafted to truly shine. That said, Ride 3 holds high the flame of motorcycle passion. Enough so that all fans of motorcycling can go for it fearless. Gentlemen, start your engines.

RIDE 3 is the bike racing game to beat this generation. A much-improved presentation, with a focus on the thrill of the ride, comes alongside improved load times.

Ride 3 greatly benefits from the introduction of the Unreal Engine 4 in terms of visuals and physics. It is still conceptually far from a rigorous simulation, though, as suggested by a huge Career mode structured to exalt collectors as well as motorbike enthusiasts through 230 models that feel adequately yet not exaggeratedly characterised in their different performances.

Ride 3 tries its best to be welcoming, but only true motorbike buffs will want to stick with the game long term. Those hardcore fans ought to be satisfied, as Ride 3 plays well enough and is packed with authentic, lovingly-detailed content, although a repetitive structure and bland visuals limit the experience a bit. Ride 3 may just be the best racing sim on two wheels, but some of its four-wheeled competitors still lap it.

The amount of aesthetic and mechanical customizations is at historic highs, just as incredible as the number of vehicles and classes that make up the last Milestone work.

Ride 3 is better than the previous entry in the franchise, in all respects. Moto handling is good and content amount is huge. Unfortunately, there is no local multiplayer to compete with friends and online MP deserves more work. Plus, the game's tracks are still a bit empty sometimes.

Ride 3 is a big step up from its predecessor, with excellent handling and a huge array of racing styles that elevate it toward the top of the podium.

A leap of quality for the inclusion of the Unreal Engine 4 with respect to the previous game and the increase in content, but it is light years away from being the Forza of the bikes.

Ride 3 is the only option for bike lovers. The passage to Unreal is a new start for the franchise and the high volume of the content is a great plus. It's a pity that AI and Physics aren't always perfect and the career mode is as entertaining as it is long.

The fourth (!) racing game from Milestone this year is undoubtedly their best. But that still isn’t enough to make it an enjoyable experience throughout.

Fundamentally a solid and detailed racing sim. [Issue#158, p.86]

Unevenly polished and uninviting to novices, RIDE 3 is nevertheless a decent simulation that motorcycle enthusiasts will get plenty of mileage out of.

Ride 3 feels like Gran Turismo with bikes, especially with the updated graphics and physics thanks to the Unreal Engine 4. We only regret that the AI is one of the worse we've ever seen, and that Milestone already offers 3 DLC packs on launch day.

RIDE 3 will be loved by fans of motorcycle sims, but likely won’t be the game to invite new audiences to the genre. The sheer number of unlockables is impressive and the extensive campaign mode is sure to give fans a lot to sink their, er, wheels into. However, some slightly sloppy visuals and the difficult to pick up gameplay will keep it reserved for that niche audience.

Milestone has managed to deliver a game full of great motorcycles and a superb career mode that will keep you hooked for many hours. On the downside, the developer should consider upgrading its technology, a technology that is responsible for some dated graphics and one of the poorest AIs we've encountered on a racing game.

From a presentation standpoint, Ride 3 is outstanding. The bikes look fantastic and I love all the customization options. Unfortunately, it is lacking in terms of gameplay. With this being a video game and all, that’s a bit of a problem. If you really need a bike racer then this may be the best of your very limited options, but with the harsh learning curve, lack of teaching, and uninspired game modes, there are far superior racing games on the market.

As much as I liked my time on the throttle of Ride 3, there are moments when it feels like a game that’s more concerned with the history of motorcycles as products than the actual experience of riding them. There’s a staggering amount of content and stuff to collect, which will be more than enough reason for some players to seek out what Milestone has delivered here, but the pacing and difficulty often made that content feel more like an obstacle. The speed, danger and finesse of a motorcycle is nice, but maybe a bit more freedom wouldn’t hurt.

If you were expecting Ride 3 to be the perfect fusion of quality and quantity of content, then I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news for you: An adequate sequel that has more bugs in it than your helmet visor after a breakfast run, almost no soul to its racing spirit and the bare minimum of fun spread throughout its sporadic modes. The third time definitely isn’t the charm for Ride 3.

The title features an impressive range of different types of bike but, unfortunately, it's still difficult to discern any handling differences between bikes within the same class. It's a bit disappointing that Ride 3 doesn't step things up more in this department, but it's still a much better-tuned instalment. With not a lot of competition in sight, Ride 3 is something of a Forza-equivalent for bike racing enthusiasts, but there's still plenty of room for improvement.

RIDE 3 can’t quite go the distance. Although still fun in bursts and with a variety that racing fans of the wider sport will no doubt appreciate, there’s a lack of depth that sells the game short, and it is unable to quite muster up the magic to take that final push.

On paper Ride 3 offers a lot of variety both in terms of quantity of bikes and track options. It’s possibly the most refined Milestone game to date and you could spend 20 hours playing through the career and have a perfectly acceptable experience, but you’ll be left wanting more. It does little to innovate or move the genre forward. In many ways, Ride 3 is like eating a 14 piece KFC bargain bucket all to yourself. Initially it’s satisfying and feels like great value for money, but about halfway through, indigestion starts to make you question why you didn’t just get a Zinger burger instead. Sometimes, less is more.