MotoGP '06

If you can get past the problems or are fortunate enough not to care you are going to find a great biking sim with amazing depth and longevity. It’s one of the best loved games on Live, and this release shouldn’t do too much to change that.

If you're a fan of the Moto GP series, than you'll have no problems jumping right in and twisting the throttle. But keep in mind that if not for a few minor tune-ups, this title is nothing you haven't seen in "Moto GP 3."

"Tourist Trophy" remains my pick for digital motorcycle racing, but if you own an Xbox 360 and have been craving some cycling action, MotoGP is where it's at.

Then again, weak audio is a small price to pay for some high-quality motorcycle racing goodness, and if that were the only price you had to pay, this game would be a must-have for the 360. It’s not, though; MotoGP 06 costs $60 but suffers from some hitches that weren’t present in MotoGP 3, a mostly identical but far less expensive game. Still, MotoGP 06 is a cool new bike for your Xbox 360, and an even better used one.

This is a satisfyingly realistic and detailed simulation, and if you have the motivation to get accustomed to its ruthlessly realistic controls it will last you a very long time. [July 2006, p.122]

Underneath there is a decent racer trying to get out, however, the missed opportunities to tweak the game, the awful screen tearing and framerate problems and the crash bug mar the experience to some degree.

MotoGP 06 is a game that really could have done with 6 months more work, but you can’t deny that MotoGP 06 is still the best of its type, even if framerate problems, online bugs and graphical complaints spoil what should have been a successful debut for the series on the 360.

It’s well put together, a joy to behold and a marvel to look at, but it’s just a lot of never ending sameness.