Something of a niche market, games involving motor bikes are few and far between. Aside from say, Trials HD, I can’t think of any motor bike games that have managed to leave any sort of lasting impression on me.
Sadly, SBKX Super bike World Championship, is not going to change that. As a casual gamer, who barely has a passing interest in motorcycle sport, it’s just too difficult for it’s own good.
The game has three different modes – arcade, simulator and xbox live.
The arcade mode sounds like it should be offering simple, accessible thrills to ease you in. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this arcade mode feels like what a simulation mode is like in other racing games.
You can also opt to go for a career mode, where you create your own racer and do you best to work your way through
The simulation mode is even more difficult, with every factor affecting the handling – the speed, the weather, the tyres, even the rider’s weight!
The best that the game does to help, is to provide an illuminous racing line indicator, giving you an idea as to where you should be on the track. Unfortunately, it’s pretty useless and unless you know exactly where to break and what angle to turn, you’ll find yourself heading off course pretty soon.
The fact that it is so hard, might explain why the game rewards you with achievements left, right and centre. I got one simply for putting the disc the in the drive and loading it up (“money well spent”). I then found myself getting one when I set up my rider and then another when accepting my first race in career mode.
The audio of the game can grate a little, with the endless droning of motorcycles, the developers have added a rock inspired soundtrack to help offset this problem. But it doesn’t so the game any favours.
Graphically, the game does do it’s job well. It’s nothing genre breaking, but there are a few nice touches.
Kudos should be given to the developers, Milestone, for their attention to detail, with their replication of the manufacturers such as BMW, Yamaha and Brembos bikes spot on.
They have also done a great job in emulating the controls of a motorcycle and at times the handling can surprise you in a good way. When you rider looks like he is loosing balance, a sharp turn in the opposite direct will sort that out.
But this doesn’t change the fact that the game is just too serious for it’s own good.
Racing games, by their very nature should be fast and exciting, but what SBK X does is offer you a bland alternative.
The sad fact of the matter, is that the game is too hard – even on rookie mode. So unless you are an expert with motorbike racing games, SBK X is not going to welcome you into the genre lightly.
Verdict: 6 out of 10
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