'MotoGP 09/10' (Xbox 360)

Also available on: PS3
Developer: Monumental Games
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Racing

Considered the Formula 1 of motorbike racing, MotoGP features all the speed and glamour you would expect from the top echelons of motorsport. Capcom's MotoGP 09/10 sees Monumental Games - the studio founded by former employees of Climax - taking on development of the long-running series from Milestone. Following the mixed reaction to MotoGP '08, the developer hopes to bring the much-loved sport back to life on the Xbox 360 and PS3. Unfortunately, the game falls short of providing a technically realistic simulation to please the racing enthusiasts. However, MotoGP 09/10 still delivers an engaging and well-designed arcade experience that will happily eat up the hours.

The game features three classes of racing - 125cc, 250cc and 800cc - with options for arcade races, championships and a longer career mode. It should be noted from an early stage that whatever mode is chosen, the game is very much an arcade racer. If you are searching for an intuitive experience that really replicates the technical and skilful precision of racing 200mph bikes, then this isn't it. The difficulty setting can be pegged at gentle, moderate, severe or insane, but the game is always pretty forgiving. Despite the massive speeds that are being reached, it's fairly hard to fall off the bike and you can happily blindside other riders yet remain firmly on the machine.

However, the lack of genuine simulation is not necessarily a bad thing as MotoGP 09/10 is still a very fun and playable game with enough options to provide a worthy challenge for most skill levels. The game's championship mode involves selecting a rider from the three racing classes and then competing in a 17-track season. Players have to start in the 125cc class and then secure at least third place by the season's end in order to unlock the 250cc contests.

In the 125cc mode, the game paints a coloured line on the track to guide players to the optimum racing line, including the apexes for each corner. The line goes from green to red when the player is driving too fast into corners, which provides a good tuition for new racers. The AI is reasonably good, with rival racers either rolling along in easier settings or making it really challenging to overtake on higher difficulties. Likewise, shifting up from 125cc to 250cc or higher requires much quicker reactions - it may not be technically realistic but it does test the skill level.

On the Xbox 360, the right trigger handles acceleration and the left trigger handles the front brake, while the left analogue stick is used for leaning into corners and the X button controls the rear brake. To gain speed on straights, the player needs to press and hold the A button to tuck in and reduce drag. However, the rider can barely turn while tucked in, which does feel a touch strange at times. Players can also choose from three different cameras - a standard behind-the-rider view, a glance-back to check traffic and an aerial track overview.

Championship delivers a strong racing challenge, but it's the career mode that surprisingly stands out by offering a rounded experience of managing a race team. After choosing a rider, country and team name, the player must select all branding for their bike and leathers from some limited yet functional customisation options. Players then race over a series of events, with the action punctuated by managing various aspects of a racing team. For example, press officers can be employed to attract sponsorship, and so money, or engineers can be hired to improve the bike's performance.

Effectively managing your team involves hiring and firing to ensure that the optimum skills are available. However, employees must also be paid and so players must perform well in races or compete in cash events to keep the payroll ticking over. Aside from earning cash, players can also gain reputation points from their actions in races, such as overtaking and slipstreaming instead of causing collisions and crashes. Getting more reputation points opens up access to better bikes and staff to improve your team.

Graphically, Moto GP 09/10 is not the jaw-dropping visual feast of Forza Motorsport 3, but its functional sense presentation always complements the racing. Tracks including Le Mans, Donnington and Estoril are all faithfully recreated and include a decent amount of detail at high speeds. The colour palette can occasionally look a little bland, but it's never a showstopper. However, the game's audio is rather weak, especially considering the power of the engines in these bikes. It would have been great to hear the real roar of the motor, but it's often more of a whimper. The Scottish commentator is also really irritating, with some odious comments being delivered repeatedly, and often at the worst moments.

Career and arcade modes are available to play over Xbox Live, with up to 20 riders being supported in multiplayer contests and leaderboards offered for race times. There was limited opportunity to really test the online action at the time of review, but the component will hopefully stack up well, as long as technical issues don't occur. Certainly the multiplayer over local networks operates admirably, with options for either vertical or horizontal split-screen ensuring hours of enjoyable racing.

Overall, MotoGP 09/10 fails to deliver the genuine, authentic racing experience that enthusiasts may be hoping for. Instead, it offers an engaging and worthwhile arcade racing package that never outstays its welcome. The championship and multiplayer modes are genuinely good fun, and the career provides a variety of RPG-style options around the racing. Capcom intends to support the game with post-launch downloadable content unlocking the 600cc Moto2 class races and two additional tracks - Silverstone and Hungary's Baltonring. Add all that up and MotoGP 09/10 becomes a worthwhile purchase for all petrol-head gamers.