E3 '07: MotoGP 07 Hands-On

All of a sudden, the once somewhat obscure MotoGP license is a hot property in the gaming world. Capcom recently acquired the PlayStation platform rights for the top-tier motorcycle racing series from previous developer Namco and have already begun work on the debut of its series on the PlayStation 2, MotoGP 07. Though the game is debuting on a last-gen system, it's clear that the folks at Capcom are treating the vaunted two-wheel racing series with respect and have big plans for the future. We had chance to see and play MotoGP 07 for the first time here at E3 2007.

Since acquiring the license, the team behind the game have been working hard to create a game that looks and plays as realistically as possible; as a result, the game will be based on the 2007 MotoGP season and will feature all the riders, bikes, liveries, and tracks from the current season.

The first track we tried out was Laguna Seca, which was added to the MotoGP schedule in 2006. As always, the hilly, medium-speed track proved to be a challenge, and it also gave us a chance to get a feel for the game's approach to bike physics and controls. In addition to having four difficulty levels to control things like opponent aggressiveness and artificial intelligence, MotoGP 07 will also split its control difficulty into three separate levels of skill: arcade, normal, and simulation. At arcade level, the biker automatically shifts his weight forward or back in order to aid acceleration and braking; on normal level, you're in control of your biker's body and will need to push forward during the long straights to aid aerodynamics, and pull back when braking in order to maximize drag; and on simulation skill level, all bets are off--the incredibly powerful bikes will be bears to handle, just as you would expect them to be.

During our second run in the game on Australia's Phillip Island course, run on normal difficulty against some stiffer AI competition, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the game wasn't easy by any stretch--even with a few laps under our belt, we were finding we had to pay close attention to our turn-in marks and get our braking points just right to maximize our lap times. Interestingly, when compared with THQ's MotoGP effort, it was difficult to take the full-speed curves of Phillip Island at full bore--we found ourselves lightly tapping the brakes in order to make corrections several times in turns we'd take at full speed in THQ's game. As with any racing game worth its salt, the controls in MotoGP 07 will be completely mappable, so you'll be able to configure your controller to suit your driving style.

Starting with a no-frills approach for the series debut, MotoGP 07 will include a standard list of game modes you'd expect to find in a racing game--quick race, time attack, championship (modeling an entire season in MotoGP), offline multiplayer racing, and a challenge mode that will feature approximately 100 separate challenges. As you might expect, challenges start off fairly easy and will gradually increase in difficulty as you go. Some examples of challenges include follow-me tests, where you need to follow as closely as possible to a lead rider around a track; overtaking challenges; and wheelie challenges, where you'll need to pop a wheelie and hold it for a certain amount of time.

Now that we're firmly entrenched in the HD era of gaming, MotoGP 07 on PS2 is simply not going to blow anyone away visually. That said, the bikes and riders looked fine, and there was a good deal of trackside action happening on the sides of the road--such as fans shooting up colored smoke flairs on the sidelines at Laguna Seca--which added a bit more vibrancy to the sometimes staid racing environments. Perhaps more importantly, the game seemed to run at a steady frame rate too. Producers said they've spent time recording the actual engine noises from the real MotoGP series bikes, so audiophiles will likely find things to appreciate in the game as well.

In all, MotoGP 07 seems like an understated yet solid start for Capcom's debut on the license; we can safely say we already appreciate the feel of the bikes on the road, which is a fine place to start. Though the game is only being released on PS2 this year, plans are already in the works for a next-gen debut for the series in 2008. Capcom will be building off the groundwork started in MotoGP 07, so we'll be keeping a close eye on its progress as we get closer to its October release.