It has been quite some time since a publisher has released a half decent GP racing game. The best GP games have been found only in the arcades. It is from the arcades that Namco brings Moto GP to life on the Playstation 2. If you have ever played the arcade version or the similar Cyber Cycles you will know what to expect in the PS2 version.

Take the Ridge Racer engine and replace the cars with high-powered motorcycles and you are pretty close with this game. The graphics are a mixed bag. They do blaze along at 60 frames per second refresh rate with absolutely no slowdown or pop-up. The track designs are taken from their real-life counterparts and the machines are detailed from the actual production bikes of famous racing teams. Where the graphic engine falters is in the same place as Ridge Racer V. While Mark will disagree, I can find the jaggies are noticeable from the lack of anti-aliasing. It may be a picky complaint but the overall look of the game would have been better with some sort of anti-aliasing in use. Having that said, the game is nice to look at and play. I want to also mention how incredible the replay mode is. It looks like a real television broadcast. The superior power of the PS2 is clearly demonstrated here.

Gameplay varies depending on the mode you choose to race in. The game modes include arcade, season, time trial, challenge and VS. Challenge mode is something I found refreshing. In this mode you are able to test your Moto GP skills in a variety of challenges. Some challenges are cleared by attaining specific goals in Arcade, Season and Time Trial Mode. Others require that hidden requirements are met. Once challenges are cleared, players will be treated to medals and special rewards. There are over 50 special rewards to be found, creating a well balanced replay value to the game. The meat of the game is found in the Season Mode. Here you are a rider on a real-life professional team. Win races to earn points toward your overall standings. The rider with the highest points in the standings will be awarded the title of World Champion. Within the Season Mode, varying difficulty levels allow gamers to progress to the more challenging tracks and race requirements in order to be crowned World Champion.

Control of theses powerful machines is not an easy task. On the first couple of tries I was extremely frustrated and did not want to play any further. What I didn't realize was that this was not some easy arcade port, but rather more a simulation. It wouldn't make much sense if a bike could take a hairpin going 100 miles per hour, thus it doesn't hold true in Moto GP. You will have to adjust to the controls in order to gain full control over your bike. This means a lot of slowing down and then speeding up again. It is this necessary combination that keeps you on your toes throughout the race. Get lazy and you will find yourself smashing into a wall or sliding off the course. This utmost attention actually starts to tire you after a few races.

Moto GP scores high in value because there is a lot here for the hardcore GP fan. Not only can you race as one of over 20 top GP riders but you can also start from scratch to create your own rider, machine and team. You want a variety of machines? You can choose from over 32 different bikes. In addition the game sports a very credible 2-player mode whereby the screen is split into two horizontally. The graphic engine remains the same in 2-player mode, a very nice addition considering most racers drop framerate and draw-in. In terms of tracks, you will find 5 of the major stops in the GP circuit. Whether it is Suzuka in Japan or Donington Park in Great Britain you will find a wide range of challenges. Perhaps a few more tracks could have been thrown in or even a track editor.

Finally a GP game worth looking at. Namco has done a very admirable job in bringing the excitement and pure speed of GP racing to the superior Playstation 2. While some gamers may find the physics annoying, GP enthusiasts will not be disappointed.