MotoGP 2006: Ultimate Racing Technology Impressions - First Look

Climax Group has made a name for itself with its MotoGP racing series--a series of games that have combined highly authentic motorcycle racing and a thrilling sense of speed. While Climax's most recent game, MotoGP 3, hit store shelves mere weeks ago, the studio has announced that it will once again be working with publisher THQ on a new racing game, this time for the upcoming Xbox 360 console.

In fact, Climax and THQ have released a new video trailer that shows what appears to be in-game footage. The series has already made a name for itself with highly detailed rider and motorcycle graphics and excellent rider animations, and the new trailer paints an even better-looking picture than the one that MotoGP 3 offered. The riders and bikes in the game look even more detailed than in previous games and still offer realistic leaning and turning animations when riders pull into tight turns. The game will also apparently feature enhanced lighting to show off sun reflections on the pavement that realistically form, deform, and disappear as the camera passes over them, as well as bloom effects for sunlight through the clouds. And like the previous games in the series, this game looks like it should also offer a great sense of speed and the same thrilling sense of danger each time you lean your bike nearly flush with the asphalt to pull through a bend. To ensure authenticity, Climax is also continuing to work with Dorna, the international sports group that has covered MotoGP racing worldwide for more than a decade.

In addition to looking great, the new game will offer a bunch of new features, including a new season mode, new riders, new bikes, new tracks, an "enhanced extreme mode," and online play for even more simultaneous players. Extreme mode was first featured in MotoGP 3. It let you take part in races on fictional courses using bikes from one of three weight classes, and you could take the prize money you earned from winning races to upgrade your current two-wheeler and eventually buy a better one. While that was a great addition to the series (and an "enhanced" version of this mode does sound interesting), perhaps the most intriguing new feature is the expanded multiplayer. While the previous game already allowed for races with up to 16 players online at once, the Xbox 360 version of the game will support even larger races for up to 20 players at once.

Unfortunately, although the next-generation Xbox 360 console was recently confirmed for a November 22 launch, no official release date for MotoGP 2006 has been revealed. Stay tuned to GameSpot for more updates.