RIDE 5

It is a very robust video game and, without a doubt, one of the best two-wheeled simulators in the history of entertainment, but it is a reality that it is not a product aimed at the general public, since its level of realism and simulation can be an obstacle for casual gamers who prefer to opt for a more arcade alternative like Forza Horizon, to receive immediate fun in return without having to fully immerse themselves in multiple customization options that require a lot of patience, dedication and above all, predilection.

Ride 5 is not a huge, evolutionary leap from the last game in 2020. Instead, Ride 5 continues to refine and add depth, options, and polish to an already excellent racer. The continued lack of a thorough, step-by-step tutorial is puzzling. Ride 5 has options for inexperienced riders, but it’s clearly leaning hard into being an exacting motorcycle sim for fans of the sport.

Despite taking three years to develop, RIDE 5 didn't significantly improve upon its predecessor in terms of new features. Even if we had higher expectations, this is still the greatest moto game that isn't directly based on a real championship and a very good place for new moto sim fans to get started.

Ride 5 proves clearly that when it comes to motorcycle physics, Milestone currently has no equal. It’s by far the best installment to date and while the pace at which the series evolves may not be fast, the most important thing is that the Italians are heading in the right direction.

THE moto simulation title to play, not more, not less.

Ride 5 offers a fulfilling motorbike racing experience for both newcomers and seasoned veterans. Amazing graphics, a vast selection of bikes, and realistic mechanics all contribute to an engaging experience. The game is a fantastic option for console and PC players who do not own a simulator. While the game’s high level of realism may make it difficult for beginners at first, the game’s extensive career mode and A.I. assisted options make the journey a breeze.

Ride 5 is the perfect game for fans of virtual bikes, and compensates for the lack of real competitions with great races and plenty of content for single and multiplayer.

Milestone proves once more that when it comes to Monocycle Racing, they are the one to beat, as RIDE 5 stands head and shoulders above everything else in this genre and sets its own standards.

RIDE 5 improves, optimizes, enriches the experience of the Milestone series thanks to a lot of new content, including several brand-new tracks and a well-structured and interesting Career mode, which focuses on the traditional Gran Turismo-style progression system while missing the opportunity to rationalize the difficulty balance according to precise and not circumventable rules.

Ride 5 is yet another impressive offering from Milestone. By focusing on the current generation of hardware, the motorcycle racer isn’t held back and is able to live to its full potential. It all results in a great-looking experience that is easier to get into than ever before and is just as fulfilling to master.

If you’re committed, RIDE 5 can be a helluva lot of fun. Its challenging yet rewarding racing mechanics are best in class for this genre of game, and the selection of tracks and bikes on offer are second to none. Despite being marketed as easy to learn and hard to master, Milestone still has a long road ahead if it truly wants to make the RIDE series properly accessible to the wider market. A lack of a training mode is a sore oversight for the fifth iteration of the series. However, if you’re deadset on becoming the best motorcycle racer you can possibly be, then you’ll find no better game to get your knee down in.

I have to be honest, 3 years after the fourth episode I would have expected a more evolved fifth chapter and, instead, net of a decidedly more focused and engaging career, the competition against the AI suffers from illogical behaviors that the player is forced to manage manually, while technically you don't notice a leap in current-gen quality that could have been expected, without the ballast of a cross-gen development. At its best it is always Ride, an almost unique game in the panorama of simulation racing and therefore a point of reference for those looking for this specific type of experience. But there is potential here that goes far beyond the improvements expressed in this chapter, closer to those of an annual series than a triennial one.

If you ask me whether RIDE 5 is worth buying or not, I’d say (as usual): it depends. If you played all previous games in the series, and still can’t get enough after the last installment, then the answer must be positive. It’s the RIDE you know and love, just more refined than the last time around.

Ride 5 makes another small step into the right direction. The overall atmospheric career is a solid foundation, but also lacks additional production-value in its presentation. Ride 5 however does deliver on the track with very playable racing-gameplay, that not only challenges experienced players but also gives newcomers a chance to succeed.

Ride 5 is not perfect, but it offers enjoyable in-game moments. We appreciate the work of the developers regarding the graphics, sound and animation. The graphics of the bikes is excellent and worthy of this generation of consoles. The soundscape is phenomenal. There is a good level of realism of the bikes and riders. The amount of tracks and bikes available is also excellent. Unfortunately, the driving model is not enough, it is imprecise, especially on the braking system, that makes some races really frustrating. A real shame for a title that, in our eyes, could really be the best of Milestone.

A rather old-fashioned bike sim that focusses purely on racing beautiful bikes in a solid and smooth game engine. It’s not riotously fun, but the quality’s there. [Issue#32, p.91]

It's perfectly clear that Milestone isn't trying in the slightest to take any risks in the newest sequel of Ride. it certainly provides a thrilling driving experience but the rest of the package is rapidly falling behind, be it in terms of visuals or content.

RIDE 5 is more of the same, but it has all been updated. For example, it looks even nicer, you have plenty of (more) choice of bikes and tracks, and also the feeling on the bike is excellent. On the other hand, the AI is not very intelligent and the career mode fails to convince. Still points to consider in a game that in general is fine. Especially for fans of the series.

Ride 5 is still a very good and beautiful game, rich in content, which will keep you busy for long hours if you are not afraid of its repetitive aspect. To advise without hesitation if you discover the license or for a recovery after a missed episode.

Motorbike racing fans will no doubt enjoy the bulk of what RIDE 5 offers. It’s an improvement visually with excellent haptic feedback for PS5 players, and quality racing simulations. However, it may be a bit harder to convince newcomers or players content with RIDE 4 to spend their hard-earned dollars on RIDE 5 without a more expansive or engaging career mode. RIDE 5 lacks the push in great modern sports games to create more value for the fans behind simply simulating the sport.

While not perfect, RIDE 5 certainly has bags of potential. If you're willing to put in the time to get to grips with its punishingly realistic gameplay, then there's the reward of some truly exhilarating first person racing that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Ride 5 is a stunningly realized motorcycle racing sim with excellent attention to detail that is held back by frustrating controls, a steep learning curve, and the fact that it barely iterates upon the previous entry in a meaningful way.