There are a few things in this world that will remain constant; death, taxes, and yearly installments of sports genre games. While I agree that MotoGP 21 is a racing sim, the sport itself has been thoroughly explored in the latest edition of the long-running franchise. From the three-tiered campaign ranging from new racer to the heavy hitters in the real-life circuit to quick play and online multiplayer, there is something for everyone. Both produced and developed by Milestone, this is their first chance to showcase what they can do with the next generation and the Unreal Engine.

MotoGP has been blessing video game consoles since 1987, with each release, they have been a showcase in both graphics and gameplay. There is a point though, especially in the later iterations, that the series may face diminishing returns, at least on the surface. Playing on the Xbox Series X, I got to experience what can’t be translated from a 1080p YouTube trailer, and that was the fluidity of 60fps and 4K resolution.

Belting down the straight at over 250km an hour, watching the surrounding scenery blur as you leave it all behind, plays out smoothly every time. Dynamic lighting systems were on full display, watching the shadows dance around the bike as you lean into each corner highlighted how finely tuned the game engine was with their bike to road detection. For me, surprisingly, it was the multiple camera angles and replay menu that blew me away; there were multiple times I could have sworn it was an actual real-life replay.

As good as a game can be at presenting a life-like imitation, some areas break the uncanny valley. I certainly do applaud Milestone for their attention to detail in recreating world-famous racecourses, the issue that can break the immersion, is the unnaturally clean and pristine condition of what should be a worn-in track.

The player models while on the bike, accurately depict the balancing act that it takes while braking and turning, but it is almost laughably awkward when you are thrown from your bike and literally, have to run back to your bike. One last thing I will mention is how thankful I am for the helmets because the facial animations were clearly not high on the priority list.

Ok, so now I got that off my chest, back to the more impressive aspects to the game. If you have dreamt of hiring a personal manager, chief engineer, data analyst and sign multiple contracts then you’ll be positively salivating with the multiple Career modes. Jokes aside, the behind-the-scenes aspect to the racing career will influence your earnings, performance, and longevity of your potential championship runs.

If that doesn’t entice you and it is all about the stats, then you are in luck! A small HUD on the bottom of the screen monitors your fuel, brake disc temperature, and tire integrity. It may seem trivial but these can be crucial to even finishing any given race. If you poorly manage your fuel consumption you may be eliminated from contention. If you can wrap your head around everything from behind the scenes and how the bike is holding up then you just have one thing left to learn, and that’s how to race.

If you are worried about handling a motorbike capable of breakneck speeds then fear not! For Milestone has you covered. Are you worried about your speed leading into the next turn? Follow the recommended path on the ground that changes from green to red to judge your speed. Still too daunting? Then enable the automatic braking system. Is the AI still giving you grief? Lower the difficulty at will and try again. Were you a little too eager with that last turn? Hit the rewind button and have at it again!

There is a learning curve to be sure but a welcome one, MotoGP 2021 has the potential for hundreds of hours of entertainment for casual and enthusiasts alike.

Written by: Shane Fletcher