MC Tested: Moto GP 09/10 Video Game

The odds of any of us ever riding a MotoGP racebike at one of the tracks on the world championship schedule are slim to none, but anyone with a video game console can pretend to ride all the bikes at all the tracks in MotoGP 09/10.

The latest release in Capcom's MotoGP series includes all the bikes, riders and circuits from 2009, with downloadable updates available as the 2010 season progresses. The game is endlessly pleasing to the eye. Every feature is sharp, from the details on the bike's dash to the sparks flying off your toe slider as you carve through a corner. Beyond the bike and rider, the beautiful settings vividly portray the splendor of the MotoGP scene. Navigating the menus proves easy as well, which is handy considering the game is bristling with auxiliary features to help expand on the simulation of being a factory rider.

After the green flag drops, however, the game begins to lose its allure. There is no fluidity to the riding and precious little rhythm to be had. Acceleration happens slowly, with only the wild scream of the engine suggesting that you are going faster. Conversely, the bike decelerates so savagely that you have little time to prepare for the corner or set your line.

As a rider, I found this game dissimilar enough from the real thing that I couldn't get absorbed in playing it. And there isn't enough consistency in the game play to make you strive to be better. The riding technique has been toned down to make it accessible to a wider audience, and therein lies the failure for racing purists.

**Moto GP 09/10 Video Game
Price: $49.99
** Contact: Capcom Entertainment
www.playmotogp.com

Verdict 2.5 stars out of 5
Beautifully composed but the riding experience is disappointing.