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[bob_arctor]

Dammit. I won't be able to get it till tomorrow. But it's out. $39.99 as well. Can't believe no one here has posted impressions yet. Anyway, here's to hoping they didn't dumb it down any and that the LIVE play is still as lag-free.

 

[Lunar Aura]

demo sucked. not an improvement but just a plain jane sequel.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Dammit. I won't be able to get it till tomorrow. But it's out. $39.99 as well. Can't believe no one here has posted impressions yet. Anyway, here's to hoping they didn't dumb it down any and that the LIVE play is still as lag-free.

I want to try this before I buy it. I wasn't in on the fun last time. I know not that many people buy it, but it sure has a hard core community online. I remembe part 2 won Gamespot's racer of the year against a lot of other games.

 

[bigNman]

I saw a good review on gamecentral (they are very harsh). They gave it 8 out of 10 and were impressed by the addition of a street racing mode and the online mode where you can play through the career mode online. I might check it out for the pc as as I have got into moto gp this year. (kicks the arse off f1)

 

[123rl]

If anyone plays it soon I'd love to hear what the framerate is like. Cheers

 

[arrarro]

I played a few minutes this afternoon before going to work. I choosed single player this was enough to take the game back for a refund...

The framerate is perfectly set to 60 fps during the race but wait for the replay or have the demo to go on loop to be seriously disappointed by choppy motion. Moreover control of the bike is "strange". I had to set sensitivity to 8 to have a quick and adequate response but at the same time you cannot take corners as you wish because of some "memory effect" in the controls that let the bike go all in the opposite way when you try to stand after a bend.
Another questionable thing is that every bike you choose is way faster than anyother else when you run using full throttle. AI is lacking so much you feel to race with puppets all the time....
I leave to others any further judgment but my opinion is that this is a very poor motogp simulation/arcade game.

 

[123rl]

Thanks. That's a bit disappointing though

I wasn't happy with the demo so I wasn't expecting much. I loved Moto GP2 so I really wanted this to be great

 

[op_ivy]

hmmm. i love theseries, but, unless i find this for dirtcheap... i think i'll be skipping this. i'm trying really hard to drastically reduce my gaming purchases untill 360 hits.

i wish they had moved this to next-gen... ah well. i'm sure they'll continue the franchise.

 

[Jesiatha]

Unfortunately the lobbies in Live were rather anemic yesterday. Maybe 8 games total, and I worked my way up to 140th in the rankings on my first pass through each track (doing one lap each starting from a standstill). If anybody here wants someone to race online, add Jesiatha to your friends list.

edit - The Grand Prix mode is more of the same, which is great in my opinion - MGP2 is my favorite game of this generation. I haven't tried Extreme yet. They took out the sims setting though .

 

[Wax Free Vanilla]

AI is lacking so much you feel to race with puppets all the time....

No change from the previous versions then.


The AI is terrible on “Champion” difficulty, the bikes brake way too early to take the apex, its like they’re applying the brakes 2-3 seconds before you, so you just zip straight pass them and waltz off into the distance. The AI will provide zero challenge to good Moto GP veterans. It is very disappointing, it’s like the development team have said sod the AI, let’s add some dull arcade oriented road race tracks instead.

THQ and Climax suck.

Why didn't EA snap up the Moto GP license and get Milestone to do a follow up to the excellent Superbike 2001?

Silly question really, they'd rather acquire some shitty celebrities for their NFS: Underground franchise. Pfft... Fuck you to EA.

 

[GitarooMan]

I really enjoyed previous versions for the Xbox Live play (the Retard quotient is somewhat lower than most games). It's disappointing to hear there hasn't been too many improvements.

Well, MotoGP 4 for PS2 comes out in November...

 

[Gregory]

Not many improvements? It`s a lot more improved than GP2 was. It has a totally new racing mode with lots of new tracks.

It is without question the best in the series. PS2 Moto GP4 ? No. Just no.

 

[GitarooMan]

Not many improvements? It`s a lot more improved than GP2 was. It has a totally new racing mode with lots of new tracks.

It is without question the best in the series. PS2 Moto GP4 ? No. Just no.

I was referencing more the AI issues and how people seem to be indicating it hasn't been improved. To me, the street tracks aren't a feature as I'm more about racing on the actual Moto GP tracks. I'm sure it's a quality game, I'm just not sure it's worth 40 dollars to me.

 

[Jesiatha]

Lots of whining...

But it's by far the best racing experience on Live, and likely to be my favorite game again this year....so quit your whining!

 

[yodathesoda]

I was addicted to Moto GP 2 online got my way pretty far up the ranks but this game just feels off. Can't really explain it but the handling just isn't working for me.

 

[Kruza]

edit - The Grand Prix mode is more of the same, which is great in my opinion - MGP2 is my favorite game of this generation. I haven't tried Extreme yet. They took out the sims setting though .

You’re right about sims setting being taken out. But just by going from experience playing MotoGP 2 several hours before playing 3, the handling sims setting seems to be much closer to 100% than it is to 0% to me. But off-road sim setting seems to be much closer to 0% since I notice whenever riding with both wheels off the track it’s more difficult to fall off the bike while turning.

As far as the Grand Prix side is concerned, the only difference is the Losail Circuit in Qatar. That track essentially replaces the Suzuka Circuit, which has been recently dropped off the current schedule. I wish Shanghai (Chinese GP), Laguna Seca (United States GP), and Istanbul (Turkish GP) were included as well, but I understand why it wasn't since the latter 3 weren't on the schedule in the 2004 season in which this game is based on.

I was referencing more the AI issues and how people seem to be indicating it hasn't been improved. To me, the street tracks aren't a feature as I'm more about racing on the actual Moto GP tracks. I'm sure it's a quality game, I'm just not sure it's worth 40 dollars to me.

I think you’re underestimating the quality of the Extreme mode in this game. I know, because I felt just like you before I played MotoGP 3. Upon getting this game I was intent on solely playing the GP side and pretty much ignoring the Extreme side since I expected the street courses to be blah, but I was wrong. The design and layout of the street courses -- 16 in all -- are really nice. They in no way seem like they were just throw-ins and an afterthought to the GP circuits. Trust me… you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good this mode is once you play it.

I was addicted to Moto GP 2 online got my way pretty far up the ranks but this game just feels off. Can't really explain it but the handling just isn't working for me.

One thing I notice right off the bat while riding 4-stroke bikes in MotoGP 3 is that engine braking in this game isn't nearly as effective as it is in MotoGP 2. Can't just enter a curve hot at the turn-in point and just let off the gas and be able to clip the apex perfectly. You have to use the brakes a lot more often prior to entering the curve.

Plus another difference is that you can stand up on the bike just before applying the brakes whenever going really fast down a straightaway and approaching a tight curve. This helps to enhance braking performance (similar to how tucking your head in helps to give extra speed to accelerate down straights).

Kruza

 

[GitarooMan]

I think you’re underestimating the quality of the Extreme mode in this game. I know, because I felt just like you before I played MotoGP 3. Upon getting this game I was intent on solely playing the GP side and pretty much ignoring the Extreme side since I expected the street courses to be blah, but I was wrong. The design and layout of the street courses -- 16 in all -- are really nice. They in no way seem like they were just throw-ins and an afterthought to the GP circuits. Trust me… you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good this mode is once you play it.

Good to hear the Extreme mode is solid. I'm trying to slow down on buying games, but it's so hard to resist a game that's actually fun to play on Xbox Live. It'll be hard to resist picking up this weekend

 

[Jesiatha]

You’re right about sims setting being taken out. But just by going from experience playing MotoGP 2 several hours before playing 3, the handling sims setting seems to be much closer to 100% than it is to 0% to me. But off-road sim setting seems to be much closer to 0% since I notice whenever riding with both wheels off the track it’s more difficult to fall off the bike while turning.

Definitely closer to 100%, but not all the way there. I haven't had a chance to race online yet, but Gonzo said that everyone was sliding in the races he played.

Either way, I'm looking forward to getting some time in on Live. And I'll have to try out the extreme mode too...

 

[bob_arctor]

Some quickie impressions:

Looks slightly better--sharper, more detailed, solid 60fps gameplay, Extreme courses rock--reminds me of a next-gen Super Hang On or a less pretty RSC 2, but with bikes

Controls are tight, as always. Seems perhaps more forgiving. Still fast as hell. "Challenges" are gone. Masses weep openly with joy and relief (there's the "Tutorial" mode now, dunno if this unlocks anything though).

Still the King Of 2 Wheel Racing.

 

[123rl]

I think it's great. Very smooth, looks great and controls perfectly.

IMO it's the best bike game ever and probably the best sim racer in years

 

[Jesiatha]

This may just be because my bike isn't maxed out yet (currently around 65/30/65/65), but the turning radius definitely seems off to me. I don't think there were any turns I took in first gear in MGP2, but now I find myself needing to slow down to first on quite a few (the final two turns in Donington, turn 3 at Estoril, the first two at Motegi, etc.). This is probably on purpose because I took almost everything at a much higher gear than real life....but it's thrown off my shifting! Is this just me?

 

[Roland Hood]

Some quickie impressions:

Looks slightly better--sharper, more detailed, solid 60fps gameplay, Extreme courses rock--reminds me of a next-gen Super Hang On or a less pretty RSC 2, but with bikes

Controls are tight, as always. Seems perhaps more forgiving. Still fast as hell. "Challenges" are gone. Masses weep openly with joy and relief (there's the "Tutorial" mode now, dunno if this unlocks anything though).

Still the King Of 2 Wheel Racing.

Pretty much exactly what I was thinking, especially the controls being more forgiving and the new Extreme courses. Nice to race on something other than a GP track now.

 

[Shinobi]

Hmmm, still gotta pick this game up...would like to try it online, though I know I'll get smoked.

 

[Roland Hood]

I like this Tuscan track, nice scenary with the walls and trees and tunnels. A couple U-turns and S-turns. Don't like Barcelona, though, hard to see the turns coming up in the dark.

 

[Roland Hood]

This game has the best high speed thrills in recent memory, I'm getting the hang again of manipulating the lean, gas and brake with the R/L analog sticks...overtaking that damn Oda and Nishikawa around a sweeping turn to the finish line is good stuff.

 

[HokieJoe]

Shit, I was all hyped about picking this game up, and then they delayed it. I pretty much just wrote it off until I read this thread. So, damnit, I guess I'll be picking it up tomorrow you game pimpin' effers.