MotoGP 20 went on sale last week in a most curious situation, since the motorcycle world championship should have started several weeks ago (in fact it did for the smaller categories), but has been paralyzed by the current situation derived from COVID-19. Milestone game launches at uncertain time, since even recently it has been questioned whether it would end up celebrating this World Cup after the cancellations of several Grand Prix.
So while the only way to enjoy motorcycles is found on our console, Milestone launches MotoGP 20, an evolution of a formula that the Italian studio has been perfecting for years and that this year's release leaves us with the best to date. The reasons for this statement? You'll find them by reading our review of MotoGP 20.
A somewhat tough game for beginners
It had been a long time since I'd played a motor game other than on four wheels. Gone are THQ's MotoGP, including the legendary Project Gotham Racing. For years Milestone has become the study that comes to mind when you think of motorcycling. The Italians took the MotoGP license but they have also left room for their wildest and street side with games like Ride or MXGP. Each game has its own touch and while the last ones are more arcade, in MotoGP they focus on prioritizing simulation and the experience of the quintessential motorcycle world championship.
It is precisely this simulation that can throw many players back. MotoGP 20 assumes that you have been playing this for several years and that you are used to its controls, mechanics and so on, so after choosing a difficulty you are presented with a menu with a few game modes and how to play.
After a disastrous first Grand Prix that I took as a learning formula, I delved more into the game options; retouched AI, race aids, layout, interface and more. At the next Grand Prix things were better, but I'm not lying if I say that used rewind mechanics almost every other turn. The controls of a motorcycle are not the same as those of a car and here the vital thing is to think that with your stick you control the weight of the rider and not the direction of the motorcycle as such (an obvious statement for all biker and regular player of this type of games).
MotoGP 20 requires learning, several hours even where you have to learn the braking times, the way you take turns, the intensity with which you accelerate … In short, everything is based on self-learning in case you are a new player. Luckily, the game lends itself to not being discouraged since its gameplay is very careful and it is fun.
Fun around the world
It will be clear to you, but MotoGP 20 is a tremendously fun game And I think part of the blame lies with a tremendous AI that I find to be the best I've seen in a racing game. The gameplay does a lot, of course, and as it is a type of game where any mistake penalizes a lot (slowing down a bit earlier or not tilting the body enough can make you end up on the gravel easily) the attention you pay to it. every moment is maximum, so you stay on your toes at all times.
But is that the artificial intelligence of the enemies is going to make it very difficult. Not because it is kamikaze in the online way, but because of the intelligence when it comes to launching the attack, reserving, taking advantage of any small mistake of yours. I have had battles that have filled me with adrenaline in which for 3 laps 2 more riders and I went ahead every few corners, even one of them ended up on the ground by forcing too much. Those moments are pure gold that make you forget for seconds about the real world cup.
It should be noted that we can customize to the maximum the type of experience we want, making the simulation more demanding by removing aids or by raising the AI level. In any case, the best option is to try and find the one that best suits the experience we are looking for.
Modes for every taste
MotoGP 20 has several game modes. In the Grand Prix we will contest the tests we choose for a weekend, customizing the duration, the category and choosing the pilot that most convinces us. On the other hand we have the online mode, where we will play races with other real players and finally we have two very interesting modes. The first is trajectory mode, where we will create a pilot and decide if we start from Moto3, Moto2 or directly in MotoGP. There we will have to sign for a satellite team.
This year elements have been added that make the career path more complete and strategic, since we can sign technical staff to obtain important improvements on the bike and representatives to get better contracts and benefits. Carrying out tests in the free sessions we will obtain some points that we can spend in developing these improvements, which must have several staff members to carry out, each with different statistics, that make them stand out in a specific discipline.
Apart from the strategic component, this career mode makes us live from the eyes of our character every season of MotoGP, the best option for those looking for the complete personalized experience. If we only want to carry out a championship with a real pilot, we can access this option from the Grand Prix game mode.
The other game mode that deserves a mention in part is the one dedicated to the historical figures of motorcycling. Every day we will have different challenges that consist of participating in a race on easy, intermediate or high difficulty. Depending on our position we get some coins that we can spend to buy a legend or motorcycle. With these legends we can participate in this game mode or in the Grand Prix.
Impressive details
MotoGP 20 will not be one of the games that have shown better graphics on PlayStation 4, but that does not mean that it does not have truly amazing details. Each motorcycle is recreated with a sickly detail, where we can see even the chain move between the engine and the wheel. Each part of the bike is recreated, the light reacts differently depending on the material … On the other hand, the riders are also completely recognizable, with their typical helmets and overalls. You can also see them without them, at which point we realize that it would have been better if they didn't take off their helmets.
The faces of the riders leave a lot to be desired, but it is not that it is something important in a motorcycle game, especially when the vehicle itself has such detail. The circuits, meanwhile, are also recreated to the millimeter, with all the references of the real ones. The lighting also comes into play, leaving the most beautiful pictures in full light, but especially in Qatar, a circuit where we will start the day training and we will see how it gets dark until running lit by the light of the intense lights.
In terms of sound, we have what you would expect from a motor game, with different effects depending on the position of the camera (the camera inside the helmet is incredible). We also have comments by Ernest Riveras, MotoGP commentator for as long as I can remember, in each session introduction, as well as its end. A touch that is appreciated.
Conclusions
MotoGP 20 is a great motorcycle game that brings us a currently uncertain world championship to our homes. The gameplay is very careful and it is fun, in addition, the AI plays a fundamental role by giving us epic moments with aggressiveness and cunning.
Of course, if you have not played their latest titles you will find a somewhat steep learning curve that will take you several hours to overcome. The fact that the game is so interesting and fun helps make learning less enjoyable.
MotoGP 20 has the game modes that one can expect from a title of these characteristics, although the way of motorcycling legends could be a bit more worked and the challenges are a little more original.
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