The Final Word game review

Moto GP -- Namco

R.I.P.
Oh wow! I about fell over when I turned on this game and watched the intro cinema. It was almost like watching camera footage of a real-life motorcycle race. Even the shaky helicopter camera shots! Then the game... You have two modes, "Arcade" and "Simulation". Arcade is probably the mode most players are going to want to stick to since it allows easier control of the bike. Arcade mode goes so far as to allow you to over-power the back tire and push it out into a slide while going down a straight away, just like you've seen real bikes do.

Graphics on this game are stunning, and probably the best racing game graphics I have ever seen on any system. It is truly arcade quality... today's arcade quality. Control is tight, although I'm very very very sad to say that Namco has canned support for the NegCon controller in this game. It doesn't even recognize the thing. Grrr... Hopefully Namco will re-issue the controller for the PS2, although I know better. Control with the digital stick was pretty good since Namco actually used the whole range of the stick and not just the tiniest part of the sticks' arc.

To be honest though, while I really enjoyed the game, racing sims don't rank at the top of my long-term play favorites, I usually find the details of the play-control to over-whelming, and I prefer something a little more loose and action driven. That doesn't make this a bad game, just not a keeper for me except as a graphical show-piece.

Sound is excellent, and really pulls you in. This game also has a great first person mode. It actually has the camera up off the ground, instead of below the floorboard like most games (a huge pet peeve of mine).

This is the best motorcycle game for F1/GP style simulation fans right now. There's nothing that even comes close.

(01/2001)