Hell on wheels

GAME OF THE WEEK: MOTO GP 10/11, 3 cert, Capcom, Xbox 360 (also PS3) ****

Last year's Moto GPtitle promised a lot but failed to really deliver. Lessons have been learned, and Moto GP 10/11is a big improvement.

It’s not just the tweaks to the gameplay that have improved the newest title; there’s more of a sense of realism and less of an arcade feel to the game.

The handling of the bikes has been given a bit of an overhaul. More consideration has been given to the real life weight of the bike, rather than every machine handling like the same lightweight.

Tucking down and punching the throttle will see you hit terrifying speeds, resulting in more than a few spectacular crashes. Luckily, Moto GP lets you “rewind” to a specific point in the race, picking up from a safe point and hopefully avoiding a repeat of the crash.

Mastering the controls will take some dedication, although persistence definitely pays off. You can opt for automatic settings, but it detracts from the realism if the console is allowed to take over functions such as tucking on straights. It’s easier said than done to remember when to adjust the back brakes rather than the front in the heat of the moment, but make the mistake and your rider will suffer the consequences.

There is a guide in the form of the racing line, which will change colour from green to orange and red when you’re going too fast to cope with upcoming bends. Still, it’s not always possible to slow down in time, and attempts at hard breaking will send you spinning off into the gravel.

The noise of the bikes has also been improved, and, although it’s not perfect, the roar of the engine is definitely more believable. An Aprilla 125 sounds vastly different to a high-powered Ducati, for example.

It all adds up to a far more satisfying simulator, worthy of the Moto GPname.