Attention to detail is what differentiates authentic driving experiences from other speed games, and Milestone is fully aware of this: in MotoGP 21 you not only have to look at the screen, you also have to feel what occurs within the circuit. A privilege that seemed reserved for steering wheels with Force Feedback and that today is made more palpable than ever through the technology of the PS5 DualSense.
Because, perhaps, the new edition of the official video game of the Motorcycle World Championship is the delivery that penalizes the most and encourages us to lose our balance or fail when drawing that evil curve, but, in return, it rewards console players New generation with the feeling of having the engine and the track in the palm of your hands. And that is already a titanic step in consoler motorcycling.
To be honest, MotoGP 21 has not been able to make a strong enough visual impact since a previous installment that was able to successfully take advantage of the possibilities of the Unreal engine and the millionaire licenses. Even on Nintendo Switch. But, definitely, this is the next evolutionary step in the series.
Because beyond its dynamic 4K resolution to sustain a silky smooth 60fps, the goal of the Italians – whose headquarters is located at the foot of the track – is to fully immerse the motorcycle enthusiast in the comprehensive MotoGP experience . From the excitement of living the competition through a Career mode that we must conquer race by race, to the way of experiencing acceleration, gear changes or the texture of the track through the control itself and its triggers.
And not only that: through MotoGP 21 Milestone takes courageous steps within the series that today rests in his hands so that we have extra respect for each fall and its consequences, for even more damned rivals thanks to the renewed artificial intelligence and, above all, the inclusion of a long lap, recently introduced in the official competition. New elements that will take us away from the easy podium , but that will give new nuances to our victories.
MotoGP 21: the passion for motorcycling is lived and felt in the New Generation
It’s raining heavily at the Chang International Circuit , and that means that, even though I have very internalized its curves, I won’t be able to show off. The danger of running at absurd speeds on two wheels is joined by one of the novelties that Milestone has introduced this year in the MotoGP series: the automatic respawns are over and if I get off the bike I have to get up and try to regain each lost position. Although, of course, the higher the risk, the better the reward.
The effect of rain is not palpable on the DualSense beyond how it affects the physics of the bike I’m riding on. On the contrary, I notice every gear change and I have to be very cautious when pulling the right trigger. The resistance of this one adapts to the state of my Honda RC213V, and depending on its roar it will loosen or will have to be pressed more insistently. And, at least in this race, speeding up more than necessary can be expensive.
Once again, the game’s camera system works to my advantage. In all cases, raindrops are an element to consider (without being a real nuisance), but – unlike four-wheel driving games – in addition to the classic third-person views from the handlebars, I have a option that comes to me like pearls: the view from the pilot’s helmet.
In essence, it is a dynamic camera that adapts to my movements on the back of the motorcycle. And although it is as valid as the rest of points of view, it is the one that immerses me the most in the gaming experience. Ultimately, that’s Milestone’s big goal for MotoGP 21.
From the first game it is clear that exceeding the visual level that MotoGP 20 achieved in the previous installment is a matter of being truly exquisite in terms of details. It is not to detract from the work of this edition, but a direct consequence of what has been achieved throughout the evolution of the saga.
A circumstance that, by the way, the Italians have taken advantage of to be able to give more weight and presence to other aspects of this new season on consoles and PCs. Introducing new layers of depth to the set that end up rounding out an experience as complete as it is demanding for the game. player.
Because, from the beginning, MotoGP 21 offers you three alternatives of difficulty, and in all of them you will be required to know how to ride a motorcycle at a competitive level. What differentiates the Easy level from the Medium and the Hard is the duration of the races, the difficulty of the AI and the level of driving assistance (aspects that we can adjust with more details and nuances from options), but do not expect the experience be a walk. Quite the opposite.
MotoGP 21 demands that the player constantly maximize himself, even when he tweaks the settings to have the maximum of options to get on the podium. And that is not bad, quite the opposite. At the end of the day, it’s about experiencing the world’s top speed motorcycle competition. But, of course, that implies that motorcycle fans who simply wish to have the video game licensed will have to learn to ride like the pros.
In Milestone they are fully aware that this can be a wall for the competition fan and the general public and they have introduced a kind of driving school from the Tutorials section. A successful guide with which, through basic and advanced lessons, the greatness of the game itself is displayed, taking us from the basics to the movements that make a difference. A mandatory procedure for anyone who does not come from the previous delivery.
On the other hand, and with a view to veterans, new nuances have been introduced that will meet your expectations. The wear of the tires or the temperature of the brakes will depend on how we drive, and retaining maximum efficiency will end up being noticed in the performance of our motorcycle and in the DualSense. Of course, if we prefer to focus on the rivals and the curves we can deactivate these developments.
Career mode: the zenith of the MotoGP 21 experience
With the gameplay ahead, if the experience at the foot of the track is – and must be – the maximum claim of MotoGP 21 , the excuses to chain an intense race with the next must be in line. And despite the fact that in the official video game we will not see a huge variety of game modes and alternatives, the ones that exist will keep us entertained throughout the season.
Starting off, the fast modes are the perfect warm-up and the game’s must-have touchdown. It is not that these are the training wheels of the MotoGp experience (going through the tutorial is not optional if we have skipped the most recent installments) but there are good excuses to squeeze the official license of the competition at our whim.
At our disposal, all the official riders , with their iconic motorcycles, and the teams that are part of the competition. To which we must add all the official lists and circuits of the 2021 Season and various historical contents. Perfect excuses to polish our technique in the Time Trial or create our own Grand Prix.
However, the star section of MotoGP 21 is, with a notable margin, the Career mode . Milestone redoubles its commitment to fully immerse ourselves in the racing experience even when we don’t have our helmets on, so we will have to sign a representative to fight for our contract and venture out by progressing in a team or undertaking our own.
While all victories are highly celebrated in MotoGP 21 , the intensity with which they are experienced in Career mode is special: every overtaking and well-taken corner has a direct impact on our race and, by extension, on our progression. Our prestige will allow us to expand our conditions as a rider, but also to set up a youth team. Our way of fighting to be among the best and avoid falls and long turns is intensified.
As in last season, we can create a pilot to taste and dress up with tons of options. Boast of sponsors and, once we have refined our technique, move up in category and measure ourselves against the greats. And that’s when ANNA , the renewed artificial intelligence system, shines with its own light.
In MotoGP 21 Career mode, rival riders no longer go their own way: they fight each stage like champions . And, although we can adjust their degree of involvement and their desire to fight, we must be at the level of the competition in which we move or stay in Moto2 and Moto3. Or we move like a big fish in a tank or be a shark in the sea.
Multiplayer, on the other hand, remains the Achilles heel of the whole. Although, Milestone claims to have dedicated servers -which is a plus- and gives us the option of creating public or private rooms, the truth is that something as essential as a local split-screen mode is missing . However, there is a third alternative in order to take advantage of the online experience: serving as a career director.
Despite the fact that the Trajectory mode is a true source of endless hours, a greater variety of modes are missing in MotoGP 21. Above all, when comparing the set with other riding proposals, such as those of Codemasters. However, what is offered is very well assembled and the feelings of this new season of the other Motorcycle World Championship are more than positive.
The new generation of consoles has made MotoGP 21 a scandal: it is not only about the visual achievement, which you can appreciate in each and every one of the captures that accompany this analysis , but the way in which we are submerged in each competition. Those that we improvise from the fast modes or the one that we shape and have us tied to the screen for hours from the trajectory.
The new edition of the official video game of the Motorcycle World Championship may not be able to impress technically as in other seasons, despite the resolution boost it receives in the most powerful systems, but it absolutely refuses to be considered a mere template update : details carry more weight than ever and falls are much more painful. The feeling of immersion in the competition is more successful than ever.
A perfect experience? The truth is that there are pending subjects with a view to future editions. A greater number of modes, a photo mode at the level of what the rest of the driving proposals offer or the absence of local multiplayer are aspects to take into account. And that those who are passionate about motorcycling, especially casual players, must take out their license to enjoy the experience is a wall that must still be weighed.
But, beyond all of the above, MotoGP 21 achieves the essential: Milestone’s motorcycling experience dodges being considered a new Season to focus on giving its fans a true evolution of the series. Introducing successful changes that you notice with each turn and that, thanks to the haptic technology of the DualSense, are now also palpable in the hands.
MotoGP 21
| Platforms | PS5 (analyzed version), PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Nintendo Switch and PC |
|---|---|
| Multiplayer | Yes |
| Developer | Milestone |
| Company | Milestone |
| Launch | April 22, 2021 |
The best
- All MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 licenses, along with historical content
- The trajectory mode will be the undoing of motorcycling enthusiasts
- The use of the DualSense of PS5 is amazing
Worst
- A local multiplayer option is missing
- Despite the tutorials, its playability can be strict for new riders
