Moto GP: Ultimate Racing Technology 2 (Xbox)

By JON MINIFIE

(Herald Rating: * * * *)

Over the years, many motorbike games have come and gone, the merging of the two concepts not being all that successful. Despite this fact, I was still eager to get a hold of a "work in progress" demo of Moto GP: Ultimate Racing Technology 2.

Moto GP: URT2 was developed exclusively for the Xbox and as a result, the game is exceedingly good looking. Textured tracks, picturesque lighting, weather effects, it all honks along (at 60 frames a second) without a hitch, not even with a full field of bikes roaring onscreen.

Not just a pretty face Moto GP: URT2 offers solid and accurate handling. Riding a bike is not simple, but it's not rocket science either. After a few laps, you do get a good sense of the best lines and after a few spills you soon learn what you can get away with.

The AI riders you're up against aren't your usual faultless opponents. They make mistakes, adjusting their tactics to how you ride — they even fall off occasionally.

The demo offered 17 tracks, all but two were locked. Le Mans with its medium-long straights and subtle inclines was great to race on and there are a number of other famous circuits from all around the world.

As for the riders, you'll see familiar faces as Moto GP: URT2 offers real Moto GP stars who come with their official team and bike. If that's not going to do it for you, there is a pair of customisable riders that are essentially bare-boned.

From the bike to the outfit you can design everything from the ground up, so if you feel more at home in hot pink leather with matching motorbike, that's do-able and the game doesn't judge.

Pitting your skills against a 20-strong field, you have a number of views to choose from, including a few that really don't seem to have much of a purpose.

The only minor frustration was the sound. When you're racing, you're expecting to feel/hear the raw power of a 500cc engine; however it sounds more like the Flight of the Bumble Bee.

Multiplayer options include everything from dual and quad split-screen, system link and some encouraging Xbox Live opportunities that will obviously become relevant here in due course.

Moto GP: Ultimate Racing Technology 2 is released at the end of the month.

Price: $129.95