So far on the PlayStation 4, there has been no out-and-out racing simulator which takes you through iconic race tracks and sees your character narrowly defeating your greatest foe to enjoy the taste of glory. That is all about to change as Milestone Games have released their first MotoGP game on the PS4, as well as the PS3, PS Vita, PC and Xbox 360. Boasting impressive visuals and a realistic racing experience, MotoGP 14 is the racing title which speed-freaks have been waiting for on Sony’s latest console.

Personally I have always seen the MotoGP games only being aimed towards fans of the sport. Having played some of the titles in the past I believe that this was the case even right up until Milestone’s last release with MXGP, which I reviewed earlier this year. MotoGP 14 provides PS4 owners with an option to experience non-stop adrenaline and see first-hand that the series can cater to both fans of the sport and those who are seeking a great racing simulator.

From the promotional material which was published prior to the games release, we were able to see how well the game looked thanks to the Yebis 2 game engine. One of the first things you notice about MotoGP 14 is just how beautiful it is: from the sparkling sunshine to the rain soaked tracks, the game looks wonderful in all conditions. With the sheer amount of sponsors that every team has plastered all over their bikes and attire, it makes each race very colourful and only the exciting racing on show can overshadow the delightful graphics. While there has been an obsession with the graphical power of the latest consoles instead of focusing on gameplay, MotoGP 14 does look like a great PS4 game but there are still a few problems with how it looks.

As much as the details on the bikes and the riders look exquisite, the environment out with the track seems to be lacking. While you spend most of your time focusing on the tarmac, when you take in the wider picture it does look poor.

Another aspect to help bring you into the MotoGP experience is the roar from the engines and the screeches from the burnt tyres. There is no music during the races and by doing this, it helps you concentrate more on your bike as you can feel and hear how your bike is performing. Many may link motorbike-themed games to rock music or having an attitude but there is no appearance of this in the main menus. The menu music is the same throughout the entire game and the only example of a different style of music is in the previews to each race track which is all real life footage.

With me being a relative newcomer to the MotoGP games, I was apprehensive about how well I would be able to control a MotoGP bike at high speeds. Thanks to the number of options available, getting used to the gameplay mechanics was no problem at all. A tutorial mode is often seen as a last resort in many games but this game’s tutorial talks you through everything you need to know about how best to control these speed machines and this knowledge is crucial. You are able to choose from three different types of motorcycles including Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. For me being introduced into the game, Moto3 bikes were a great start as it allowed me to learn the basics before increasing speed and difficulty of the bikes.

As you enter some Instant Races, you become comfortable with how the game plays relatively quickly. The way in which I’ve heard various racers describe the best way to race is that you go slow into a corner and fast out of it. This philosophy is true in any racing scenario and it certainly makes sense here, especially when you’re having to maintain your balance on the bike. If you opt for the highest performing MotoGP bikes, you will find these bikes squirm as you go into a corner too quickly and acts like a constant reminder that you’re approaching a corner too quickly. As well as the game nailing the on-track graphics, MotoGP 14 executes the feeling of having your knee to the ground unlike any other motorcycle game I’ve played and the constant sensation of speed is consistent throughout. There was never a moment where I thought that the game was unfair or that something wasn’t explained properly. The game is also as serious as you want it to be: to help you erase some of your errors, the game features a rewind feature which means that you can rerun 6 parts of the race where things haven’t gone as planned.

The amount of options you have at your disposal makes it simple for anyone to play and enjoy MotoGP 14. You can opt to use racing lines, assisted brakes, assisted steering, the number of laps, the difficulty and if you wish to qualify or not in a Championship race. While this is common in many modern racing games, the competitive nature and overall feeling of speed stands out in MotoGP 14.

Although the game could be enjoyed by all types of gamers, it still feels as though many of the game modes are the same. While, again, this is a problem with a modern racing simulator, a lot of the game modes are similar even if you can customise each race differently. For someone, like me, who played the game mostly on easy may find that you have to put in a substantial amount of time to be able to compete on some of the harder difficulties, even medium proves to be difficult with some of the easiest options selected.  Even though I have mentioned that the majority of the gameplay is very similar, the game is still jam-packed with content.

In addition to entering an Instant Race and the other typical race modes you would normally find such as Championship and Time Attack, there is also an in-depth Career Mode and two other interesting options. The MotoGP Career Mode sees you starting your career off in Moto3 and sees you learning the game in the third tier of Moto racing and gradually working your way towards MotoGP. You are provided with a few teams to choose from and, depending on how well you perform, you are given the freedom to join a better team or stick to your original plan. In addition to this, you have some feedback from your rivals as well as rumours being posted on the MotoGP website.

The other two game modes I was referring to are the Real Events 2013 and Challenge the Champions mode which sees you taking on true-to-life events or fictional events which have been created using real racers. This adds an extra layer to the experience for those who are enthusiastic about MotoGP and some of the challenges are both fun and difficult to perform.

While there are various online modes, I was unable to find anyone to play against in order to test the servers or to see how well the online modes ran. Despite this setback, it seems as though Milestone is taking the online mode very seriously as there are Quick Match, Create Match, Custom Match, Sprint Season as well as Split-Screen Co-op modes. The Sprint Season mode will arguably see people returning to it as you gain points in Moto3 and if you achieve enough Championship points, you will be promoted to Moto2. If you get promoted, you are always at risk of being relegated the next season if you don’t gain enough points. For those who have played FIFA online, they will be aware of this system and definitely seems a good reason to return to the online races.

Although I have limited experience in hardcore MotoGP games, I can safely say that MotoGP 14 is the best motorcycle game I have ever played. With so many options to choose from, the game can cater for any needs and provides a great insight into the unique world of the MotoGP series. The way the game makes use of the PS4 shows that perhaps what the series was needing was to be released on a new console and it certainly benefits on the PS4. Hopefully the online functions will run smoothly and can implement matchmaking with friends easily. While the gameplay doesn’t change too much and progression is difficult, it is still a wonderful experience and one you won’t regret should you feel the urge to wheelie your way past the finish line.

MotoGP 14 is available now on PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, PC and will be released soon on PS Vita.

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