MotoGP 3 Review

By Martin Coxall Published 29 September, 2005

A pulsating engine and lots of leaning. What more could a Real Man want?

Version tested: PC

Do you hate people who like to make things difficult for themselves by using the wrong tool for the job? You know the kind of thing they do; picking teeth with a breadknife, changing channels on the TV by throwing something at it, sleeping on beds of nails, washing clothes by hand, that kind of thing.

You know who the most vocal and unashamed perpetrators of this errant behaviour are? PC Gamers. Time and again they demand that game studios take polite analog-controlled console-based loveliness and break its will by contorting it into a rude, charnel creation subjected to the horrific whims of the Standard PC Keyboard.

Why do people do this? Why take something as wonderfully balanced, poised, graceful and so, well, analog as MotoGP URT 3, and then shoehorn it into the twitchy, blecherous nastiness of a PC keyboard interface? It's distressing to see a great console game reduced to a hard-to-control, flailing imitation, just to satisfy the inferiority complex of the PC gamer. It's just not cricket.

Console yourself

The game is so much less pleasant and fun to control on a PC than on a console, and the reason for this should be obvious: This is a console game, born and bred. Play it on a console, you owe it this much.

'MotoGP 3' Screenshot hamster

The trials of the new sport of giant hamster racing was going well.

For a Real Man, having a massive throbbing engine between your legs is the most important thing in life. For those of us not real men, this may well be the next best thing - sitting alone in our living rooms, whilst a small plastic box make vroom-vroom noises and we pretend that we're actually there. And this it achieves magnificently; it is an excellent artifice.

Control issues aside, the game handles beautifully. It has possibly the best biking physics engine yet committed to bits. The bikes corner silkily, and the thrill of a knees-on-tarmac hairpin at 200 mph feels about as gusset-rippingly terrifying as you would hope for.

Unbrakable

There are an decent series of tutorials included, which will take you through throttling, leaning, braking (which helpfully mentions to you that braking is 'often neglected' in MotoGP, implying that real men know that only frilly-cuff wearing dandies brake in this game, thanks very much), cornering, sliding (there is something mind-numbingly stupid about power-sliding on a two-wheeled vehicle at 140mph. That's why I did it at every opportunity), hairpins, racing lines and what-may-you.

'MotoGP 3' Screenshot textures

Ooh. Textures. Shiny.

Once you're through the very forgiving tutorials, you're onto the Industry Standard Career/Tour/Championship mode. This plays much the same as this mode always does in racing games: realistic renditions of MotoGP tracks around the world (in as far as being able to drive at a wall head-first at 200mph and walk away unscathed can be considered realism) you can play in a maudlin mope, thinking of how much other people get paid for doing that for a living. And it's fine if you like that sort of thing. Done well, even. The tracks are carefully modeled and come with a fine learning curve. But, if you've played previous MotoGP games, this bit's more of the same.

But there is something new, which makes it a compelling new purchase. The “big thing” which is the new addition to the current incarnation the series is the OMGWTFBBQ Extreme!!! mode, which allows you to participate in a number of (fictional) city and landscape street races, weaving through narrow streets, hairpins nestled high above mountainous cliffs, foreboding forests in tropical rainstorms - the usual suspects are all present and correct. Yet the tracks for these are so incredible in their scope, detail and beauty, that they rise to a state of anything but ordinary. Oh my, yes. Lickably beautiful to a track.

Corruption

In Extreme mode, you can practice a track by yourself for as long as you like, and then when you feel confident of leaning into even its most absurd chicanery, you run in a qualifier. Qualify within a certain percentage of the leader, get your position on the grid, hop on to your two-wheeled-genital-enhancement and throatily roar your way to victory. This gets you money, which you can use to spend on upgrading your bike's stats. If you're lucky, your bike might just avoid dying of Corrupt Blood it got from an infected realm.

'MotoGP 3' Screenshot warning

WARNING: Cinematic camera angles should not be used whilst driving. This is for your own safety.

All told, it's a rather neat little package. Good handling, beautiful landscapes, varied tracks, variety of modes and well-aimed tutorials make this probably the finest in its class, possibly the finest biking game of its generation. It is, however, not without a couple of flaws. First, there's the voice of the Man Who Likes Motorbikes Who Used To Be On Top Gear. He has an awful voice. Minor quibble.

The second flaw stems from a minor genre confusion that has started to creep in to this series. When MotoGP was released, it was a Biking Sim. Yet, with later incarnations, the games started taking on an arcade feel to them, which has left a few of the more sim-like controls a trifle complex for the game at hand. In keeping with the (wise) move towards arcade fun, a simpler, more automatic set of controls should have been provided as a default option.

Of course, it's only really on the PC that the unnecessarily complex controls are even a problem, which highlights the only serious problem with this game. It is a pity, for it is a would-be 'great' game, and on the Xbox would be reasonably scored as such. But, on a PC, the complexity of the default controls and the horrors of the PC keyboard for this kind of thing force the mark down to a mere 'very good'.

7 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Martin.

About Martin Coxall

Read more articles from Martin by visiting the Martin Coxall archive page.

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Comments (31) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • TILT #1 6 years ago

    Shouldn't a new PC racing game look rather better than this? Of course, one might now be spoilt by screenshots of NextGen consoles, but I thought that a PC game should at least top the quality of currentgen console titles a la Forzy Motorsport... and I don't think MotoGP does.

  • Talha #2 6 years ago

    Come to think of it, WHAT PC racer looks decent these days compared to the absolutely incredible variety on the consoles (GT4, Forza, WRC, Burnout etc etc)? Scandalous, but true.

    Cusiously enough, there is a MotoGP for PS2, but that is 4 - and is not the same game. Makes things simple and easy, doesn't it?

    The game is great, and the best part is that a half-decent demo is free to download. IMHO it injects a much needed dose of on-edge excitement in the PC racing genre. Rejoice!

    By the way, couldn't the ragdoll physics be extended to actually enable bodily harm, like broken bones, shattered necks, splattered brains etc, and possibly even killing the rider (yippeeee!!!).. Then you can make the player pay his way to recover the full health.

    I will wait for the royalty cheque from THQ relating to URT 4, since they will undoubtedly use my idea!!!
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/05 @ 08:18

  • Talha #3 6 years ago

    Well its not just about the resolution - it is the overall feel, the lighting, everything. The screenshots look so obviously synthetic and that is not dependent on the resolution. But graphics alone don't a game make.

    What is unfair is bashing Martin for simply liking the XBox controller. Well, for starters you have to make considerable investment of time and money to get a controller working on a PC - you get that for free with the XBox!!! ;-)

  • Bezzy #4 6 years ago

    Christ. If you don't have some kinda console-like joypad rigged up to your PC in this day and age, then I wash my hands of you ALL!

    I have a robot plugged into the computer which presses the controller buttons for me, and I just give it voice activated messages. I say "jump", it says "HOW. HIGH. QUESTION. MARK." and I say "18.25meters" and then it presses "X", and THAT IS INTERACTIVITY MY FRIEND.

  • TILT #5 6 years ago

    "Again (and again) comparing low-res with high-res, kinda unfair to me.. "

    Nah, not really... I mean, most PC FPSs are leagues ahead of their console counterparts in terms of graphics. Half-Life 2, Doom 3 or Far Cry on my mid-range rig destroy every single PS2 shooter I've seen so far. And judging from the screenshots, Doom 3 on PC looks noticeably better than the xbox version. So, the PC can deliver both higher resolution and better graphics. But apprently, not for racing games. (BTW, I thought GT Legends was a similar case.)

    Talha: Yep, synthetic describes it well. One'd think a PC would do better.

    I don't really care so much about graphics... being a console player, I've kinda gotten used to playing games that tend to look worse than PC games. That's why I was surprised to see that there actually are games that look better on consoles than on PC. And I'd really appreciate a technical or marketing explanation why this would be so.

  • DaveT #6 6 years ago

    "Talha: Yep, synthetic describes it well. One'd think a PC would do better.

    I don't really care so much about graphics... being a console player, I've kinda gotten used to playing games that tend to look worse than PC games. That's why I was surprised to see that there actually are games that look better on consoles than on PC. And I'd really appreciate a technical or marketing explanation why this would be so."

    I'd imagine the way they doubted it would sell much (A non-FPS/strat game on a PC generally doesn't do well) and so didn't sink huge amounts of money into making it look stunning.

    Just a hunch mind.

  • ralphwolfenstein #7 6 years ago

    Where does this idea that it doesn't look good on PC come from? It looks great on PC, significantly better than the Xbox version... Those screenies don't really do it justice...

  • Talha #8 6 years ago

    1) Some people here are being either sarcastic or ignorant - obviously I prefer the former variety

    2) Most people thankfully have seen my point, and I salute them all.

    To make things really clear, I LOVE THE GAME, enjoy it immesely. The game DOES NOT LOOK CRAP - just not as good as console racers. Again, NOT CONSOLE VERSION OF MOTO GP, but racers in general.

    IF you are agreed with above, fine. If not, I STILL RULE SO SOD OFF!!!! Of course I am in no mood to start a dispute... ;-)

  • kangarootoo #9 6 years ago

    What does it look like moving? Has anyone seen it moving besides the reviewer and Talha? As I am fond of saying, static screens of racing games are only half the deal. The screens can look quite basic, but add a high frame rate and a slew of visual effects and things start to look rather different.

    The MotoGP series on XB has consistently maintained high frame rates, not sure how the PC version compares.

    Is it fun to play? Most important question right?

    My grammar sucks today. Honestly, I am more interested in eating my breakfast than typing this, so something has to give (and I don't really want beans all down my shirt).

  • Talha #10 6 years ago

    @Jaspoid: thanks, I hope you meant that.. Anyway I write what I see, and btw I played the game with all settings cranked up, so I am afraid that wouldn't qualify as lying, just opinion!

    @kangarootoo: I presume most people here have seen the game moving, and it achieves a good framerate on a mid-rangish PC (that'd be mine..). As I said, it looks pretty good, just not amazing. The sense of speed and the thrill is all there, however.
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/05 @ 10:43

  • Darren #11 6 years ago

    Surely anyone wanting to play this on the PC will own a dual-analogue controller anyway. I've got the Logitech Rumble Pad 2 controller and this game plays every bit as well as the Xbox version, in fact I'd say it plays better. Anyone playing PC racing games with a keyboard only deserves everything they get if you ask me! lol

  • Talha #12 6 years ago

    I actually bought a crap steering wheel for my PS2 and the only good I got out of it was a USB connector, which I am using now with my DualShock to connect it to my PC. Heaven!

  • Darren #13 6 years ago

    I've re-read the review and I think it's grossly unfair that the reviewer has marked the game down for it's keyboard controls. Does that mean the PC version of FIFA 06 will score lower than the console version for having keyboard controls too?

    The point is that anyone buying a racing game for the PC will surely either own a steering wheel or a console-type analogue controller anyway surely? I haven't played a PC racing game with the keyboard since the day I first bought one over seven years ago!
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/05 @ 10:54

  • ralphwolfenstein #14 6 years ago

    "What does it look like moving? Has anyone seen it moving besides the reviewer and Talha?"

    I've seen it moving. It looks great - just like the xbox verion but with richer colours, and higher definition obviously which shows off all the fancy textures. My only complaint would be it's a bit too clean and clinical on a monitor

  • Talha #15 6 years ago

    @jaspoid: Sorry mate for misunderstanding you. Re-reading the review it DOES seem that Martin is dissing the devs for making the game playable by a keyboard. Anyway we should never approach a PC racer without an analogue something, because keyboard is crap for them.

    @ralphwolfenstein: Excellent way of putting it mate - it does look too clean and clinical. Here we have a situation where the low resolution of the consoles actually presents an advantage!! See, with fewer pixels to work with, console devs can get away with more effects and somehow the imperfection in the image does make the game better.

  • ralphwolfenstein #16 6 years ago

    that's an issue I have with lots of PC games TBH - I hope hi-def 360 stuff retains that slightly more natural sheen you get from a console game

  • Stickman #17 6 years ago

    As has been mentioned previously, the whole control argument is a bit of a moot point. If you can find a PC gamer without a controller, then...well...then you've done well, cos there aren't many.

    Ran out of steam half way through the comment.

  • Talha #18 6 years ago

    "If you can find a PC gamer without a controller, then...well...then you've done well, cos there aren't many.".."

    Erm... that would be pretty much everyone round these parts! But then hardware is expensive for our income levels and most people owining a PC here are not gamers, so u might have a point.

  • tomdominer #19 6 years ago

    where is the xbox version review?

  • MikeD #20 6 years ago

    @tom: it's in the last paragraph. 'great game' for xbox.


    O.k. give Martin Coxall console games to review from now on. Because it's obvious he thinks coxall of pc's.

  • Darren #21 6 years ago

    If it's a great game on the Xbox then it's a great game on the PC because the only thing separating the two versions apart (aside from higher resolution graphics) is an analogue controller, something that any self-respecting PC gamer will own anyway! If not why are they buying MotoGP 3 in the first place...?
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/05 @ 12:15

  • reflux #22 6 years ago

    +1 hamesters

  • symmetry #23 6 years ago

    I've re-read the review and I think it's grossly unfair that the reviewer has marked the game down for it's keyboard controls. Does that mean the PC version of FIFA 06 will score lower than the console version for having keyboard controls too?

    The point is that anyone buying a racing game for the PC will surely either own a steering wheel or a console-type analogue controller anyway surely? I haven't played a PC racing game with the keyboard since the day I first bought one over seven years ago!

    Nailed it. Right. On. The. Head.

    /agrees 100%

    EDIT:-

    So I guess you should mark Battlefield 2 down as well because the helicopters and jets are nearly impossible to control with keyboard and mouse (well, at first anyway), I mean who would think of using a JOYSTICK!?
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/05 @ 17:07

  • Stickman #24 6 years ago

    Talha - "Erm... that would be pretty much everyone round these parts!"

    Eh? Are you honestly saying that most people who use a PC for gaming don't own a pad around you? Where is this place?!
    Edited by 1 at 29/09/05 @ 18:58

  • ruckus #25 6 years ago

    Worst Review(er) Ever

  • Talha #26 6 years ago

    @Stickman: that would be the tiny speck of dust on the vast visage of Asia, called Pakistan

  • Subquest #27 6 years ago

    No need to echo what most of the above have already said..... but will anyway!

    You know who the most vocal and unashamed perpetrators of this errant behaviour are? PC Gamers.

    When did PC gamers start this campaign to make racing games playable on a keyboard? Is it not common practise to use the best peripheral for each game - Racing game: wheel or pad. Footy: pad. FPS: kb/mouse etc.

    What on earth is a Games reviewer doing analysing a PC racing game whilst using the keyboard! No wonder you had issues with the controls. I expect more from EG, seems like this review slipped through quality control...
    Edited by 1 at 30/09/05 @ 09:56

  • Stickman #28 6 years ago

    Talha - "@Stickman: that would be the tiny speck of dust on the vast visage of Asia, called Pakistan"

    Fair enough then. What with this being Eurogamer, I was thinking Europe.

    Totally agree with Subquest. What on earth were you using a keyboard for while you reviewed this?

  • Talha #29 6 years ago

    Actually the site is really rather good, gives a lot of intellectual stimulation (no kidding here), I usually trust its reviews the most. Plus the threads are a treat unto themselves, with a lot of quality exchange of views going on. I totally feel at home here and that is a big credit to EG.

    Compare this to the US gaming sites, which are almost always messy to look at and completely bland and corporate. As for the games, we get all kinds of game here usually well within time, quite frequently even before Europe! So there is no loss of relevance.
    Edited by 1 at 30/09/05 @ 11:26

  • gypsumfantastic #30 6 years ago

    Good afternoon, you dreadful people.

    First, I do humbly apologise for being the worst reviewer EVAR, but this can't be helped, I'm afraid, it's all to do with my bad genes.

    But I feel it only fair to point out to you people why are you are stupidly wrong idiots, and why I am well better than you at knowing stuff about games:

    Regarding the use of controllers plugged into your "rig" so you can pretend that you are playing on a proper games machine in between daddy's doing his spreadsheets:- NO.

    99% of PC users do not have an analog joystic. 60% of all PCs are laptops. These things are the standard PC form factor, and if you sell a game as being "PC CD ROM" I will test these claims to the point of demonstrating their PC inferiority-complex-stretching wrongness.

    You can plug a joystick into your hideous Dell gruntbox, and pretend that you have a console, because Mummy and Daddy won't let you use the living room telly, but it's not. Wrong form factor for the game.

    This game plays rubbishly on PCs. It therefore not a good PC game.

    This game plays beautifully on an XBox, therefore it is a good XBox game.

    Disclaimer: I own no XBoxen, and don't like its controller either. Now hush your wrong mouths, peasants.

    Martin
    Edited by 2 at 03/10/05 @ 19:31

  • Subquest #31 6 years ago

    99% of PC users do not have an analog joystic.

    This is probably true, but irrelavent. What percentage of PC gamers with a penchant for racing games do you suppose own such a device?

    ...and pretend that you have a console, because Mummy and Daddy won't let you use the living room telly...

    If you have any sense, and if you want to maintain your career as a games journalist, you need to learn where you went wrong with this review. If you don't like the PC - don't waste our time reviewing games on it. And if you do, at least use the right fucking controller.