MotoGP '06

A staggeringly high poly count and sumptuous dynamic lighting mean haring down a straight at 230 mph on a 1200cc superbike is a genuinely electrifying experience. [July 2006, p.76]

It seems all those evenings spent in containers sampling engine revs were time well spent, then - indulgence is a glorious thing when it's put to such good use.

While we would have like to see more personality of the GP circuit and a few more gamemodes than what we say in the previous installment of the franchise, MotoGP 06 remains a very impressive title on the Xbox 360.

These speed bumps aside, MotoGP '06 delivers exceptional bi-pedal racing action for anyone who likes to roll at high speed and who understands the difference between driving a car and riding a bike. A really fast bike.

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.

Moto GP 2006 gets a squeaky clean bill of health...and then some. The Xbox 360's first 2-wheeled racer is a godsend. [July 2006, p.69]

A line will be drawn in the sand, and MotoGP 06 will sit right on it. Those that adored the previous iterations of the franchise will most certainly like the next gen version of their beloved. Those that hated the previous games will keep on hating; probably because they suck at it.

Look, the only real downside to this game is that it's pretty much a near identical port of MotoGP 3. A couple new tracks, a couple new bikes. But overall, it's the same game with a new coat of paint. That paint just happens to be the prettiest coat you've ever seen. New MotoGP players are going to drool over this game. Veterans of the series have a reason to trade their current versions in. Even as a near port, this is still one helluva racing game.

If you're a fan of the series then that will either be enough for you or it won't. We suspect that it will, because stability is as important as progress in those sports updates that already lead their field, and hey, the addition of some serious next-gen sense-candy doesn't exactly hurt.

But Moto GP 2006 is still one of the better racing games for the Xbox 360, sitting right alongside Project Gotham Racing 3 as a top-notch simulator. Enthusiasts, such as myself, will be pleased, and everyone else should still get on board and see what all the two-wheeled excitement is about.

If you have any interest in racing, you'll want to get this game. The online play alone makes the game worth the investment. The upgrades to this year's game aren't dramatic, but the improved online play, challenges, and handful of new tracks make this a worthy upgrade.

If you own the very similar Moto GP 3 you may resent coughing up cash for an incremental improvement (keep in mind the game retail for 60 bucks), but serious sim-racing fans that can overlook the minor technical issues will find a highly rewarding racing game with depth, a lot of options, and plenty of potential competition.

Even with those downsides, MotoGP is as demanding and impressive a racer as you're likely to get for the 360 this year. It's more lively and entertaining than the PS2's Tourist Trophy, while being just as technically impressive.

MotoGP 06 is great to look at and fun to play, carrying the next-gen torch for the genre that Hang-On kicked off so many years ago. It's simple, fun, and beautiful. What more could you ask for in a racing game?

For a next-gen price tag you expect to get a next-gen product, and sadly MotoGP '06 hasn't quite made a successful leap to the next-generation.

Maybe it's unfair to compare Moto GP '06 and "Tourist Trophy" because they are on different systems(Xbox 360 and PS2, respectively), but whereas the latter comes off as clinical, Moto GP '06 gets the blood pumping. [July 2006, p.107]

If you can look past the bugs in MotoGP '06 and are a fan of the Xbox predecessors then this game is a must buy. If you are new to the MotoGP franchise and just want quick bursts of fun, then the Extreme mode is ideal and is playable online from the start.

It’s a tough road ahead, but it’s one you won’t be able to resist, with many rewards and much satisfaction to be had.

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]

Usually games that tend to offer something for everyone, end up being nothing for nobody. Moto GP 06 is an exceptional exception to that rule.

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.

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.

MotoGP 06 is an excellent progression for the series. Fans that have been playing the previous games will have no trouble getting into this one.

This year’s MotoGP cements the foundations laid in titles gone by, without actually building anything of substance upon them.

Sim or no sim, it's a kick-in-the-pants ride. [Aug 2006, p.81]

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."

The speeds are high and the gameplay is solid online and off. MotoGP has made a good first showing on the Xbox 360 and this is one racing game that might take your mind off "Project Gotham."

A superb game. Well done, complex, and challenging, it presents an experience that is worth the play. It suffers only in difficulty and specialization. If you’re into simulation racing games, you’ll like this game.

A cut and paste version of MotoGP 3 for the Xbox and it shows that more often than not. Fans of the series will certainly find plenty to enjoy, but if you have already been down this road before there isn’t much here to solidify a purchase.

The detail paid to both the physics engine and the graphics is remarkable and worth seeing if you crave realism.

Climax has taken an already near-perfect racer and polished it to a level of realism I didn’t expect this early in the 360 lifespan.

Minor technical issues and some bare-bones single-player modes aside, this is without a doubt the best simulation racing game on the Xbox 360.

"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.

Finding your groove in this game, if you are new to this sort of thing that is, takes a good amount of time.

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.

I have a very low frustration tolerance, but in spite of my string of infuriating crashes and last-place finishes, MotoGP kept me playing, partly because I was drawn in by the game’s exhilarating sense of high velocity, and partly because every once in a while I would hit a turn just right and realize that if I could figure out how I did that, I could win a race.

An intense racing atmosphere hides behind controls that demand your full attention and patience. Once mastered though, fantastic track design tips the scales from "good" to "great." [Issue 8, p.90]

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.

Moto GP 06 on Xbox 360 is no cheap date, but rest assured that you get what you pay for. This baby puts out like nobody's business.

This is a great MotoGP game loaded with game modes. No one is going to breeze through the classes or unlock every achievement quickly. It’s a game that will take anyone a long time to beat.

The extreme sense of speed, beautiful graphics, precise handling and lines that I strive to perfectly hit every time I pick up my controller make for a nice addition to my X360 library.

What's on offer though is the slick refinement of everything from the first 3 games, with graphics updated for the HD era and some killer online action for 16 players, twice that of PGR3.

This is a niche game. If you aren't into motorcycles, you can probably pass on this game without too much regret. If you are, you should probably rent it first to find out how it stacks against your particular preferences since it's got elements of simulation as well as elements of arcade style. As for me, it's a trade in.

Battling 15 online riders is absolutely thrilling, but beginners will need plenty of practice, as most will find it difficult just staying on the track.

The game itself is very well structured and is pick up and play, but it just does not have the impact we expected for the next generation.

Some of the best graphics video gaming has ever seen. [Issue #11]

It won’t make you jump out of your seat, but it definitely works.

It’s a nice touch that Climax included the 2005 and 2006 rider line-ups and racing liveries as a response to missing a season of updates. It’s this passion for the title, which makes MotoGP ’06 a great choice for bikers and fans of online racing.