Namco tunes up MotoGP PSP

An E3 trailer from Namco Bandai confirmed the MotoGP series would be tearing up tracks on the PSP, but it revealed next to nothing about the game's set of features. However, a product page on the company's Japanese Namco Channel Web site has revealed a few more details.

The MotoGP series' first foray into portable gaming will feature an international cast of 32 riders and their machines from the 2005 MotoGP season. The site stresses the game's attention to detail, stating it will contain "even substitute riders who were in just one race." Of course, racers need a place to ride, so eight real MotoGP circuits were selected based on their popularity among fans: Jerez, Estoril, Mugello, Catalunya, Donington, Sachsenring, Brno, and Valencia.

Several modes of play are also planned for the title. Gamers can cut their teeth on the game's standard arcade mode, or live out the life of their favorite racer in season mode. Rounding out the package are a multiplayer mode for up to eight players over wireless LAN, time trial races, and an unlockable 1-on-1 mode in which the player faces off against a single rider who is determined by the circuit and difficulty level. A variety of other features will be packed into the game, including an "extreme" difficulty level that can be unlocked by the truly dedicated, unlockable photos and movies, and the option for players to tweak details like their helmet type and riding form.

For more on the series, check out GameSpot's latest preview of MotoGP 4 on the PlayStation 2, set for release later this month.