MotoGP 06
MotoGP 06 wheelies onto the Xbox 360 with more brum brum noises than a conversation-canceling commotion of joy riding chavs. Climax are once again behind the wheel of the officially licensed superbike racer and once more you’ll be gritting your teeth as you hurtle around hairpin bends at breakneck speeds. It’s a battle at times to keep the bike on the road but, once mastered, you’ll be tearing down the straights Valentino Rossi-style and navigating those sharp corners like a seasoned professional. Either that or you’ll throw the control pad at the T.V set with pure frustration as you crash-land into the sand traps for the umpteenth time.
MotoGP 06 features new bike models, finely tuned handling, and incorporates the very latest 2006 race season information. I donned my leathers – the pants are really quite sweaty and very uncomfortable – and took THQ’s first MotoGP game for next-gen consoles for a thorough test drive.
Click for larger imageMotoGP 06 has two separate race circuits, the technically advanced Grand Prix circuit, and the finger blistering Extreme circuit where you can choose to race on 600cc, 1000cc, or 1200cc bikes. In total there are 34 tracks from across the Globe to choose from, each of which can be reversed. All 17 of the real MotoGP courses are here, from the flowing layout of Donington Park to the tight track of Le Mans –these are the Grand Prix circuit tracks. Satellite photos were apparently taken to re-create the tracks so they should be as close to the real circuits as humanly possible – I can’t lie and say they are because I haven’t got the faintest.
Click for larger imageMotoGP 06 has been upgraded to represent the 2006 season with 19 riders and bikes in total, so you’ll be able to race against all your favourite riders, including, of course, Leo Sayer lookalike and World Champion Valentino Rossi. The career mode allows you to re-enact the 2005 and 2006 racing seasons exactly as they play in real-life.
