Moto Racer 3: isn't quite
as enjoyable or as polished as it could have been.
Released six years ago by Electronic Arts, the original Moto
Racer capably blended the two distinct disciplines of superbike and motocross
into one explosive package and proved to be one of the first truly satisfying
PC motorcycle racing games ever produced. 1999's Moto Racer 2 offered numerous
new perks and even more options, yet it failed to deliver an appreciably better
ride at a time when motorcycle racing was really beginning to take off with the
likes of Microsoft's Motocross Madness. Now, with Moto Racer 3, returning developer
Delphine Software and new publisher Infogrames have upped the ante considerably
by somehow squeezing almost every conceivable form of two-wheeled competition
on a single disc.
From speed-drenched blacktop racing to dirt-encrusted supercross
and motocross, trick-crazy freestyle, painstaking trials, and even a
certifiably suicidal "traffic" mode, the game seemingly covers all
the bases. Unfortunately, it also feels awkward and incomplete. In attempting
to be all things to all PC motorcycle enthusiasts, Moto Racer 3 isn't quite as
enjoyable or as polished as it could have been.
The game's presentation is just as inconsistent. Its racing
environments are clean and colorful with generous decaling, signage, track
textures, and offtrack periphery. Its bikes are believable and nicely rounded
where they should be, and the mounted riders move about in their seats to mimic
their real-life counterparts. Smoke and mud pour from tortured tires, airplanes
and blimps roam through the skies, and oddly out-of-place cheerleaders flaunt
their pom-poms. Yet especially when compared with recent graphical showpieces
like EA Sports' Superbike 2001, Moto Racer 3 seems all too average. Superbike's
wonderfully realistic source-sensitive lighting is sorely missed, as is its
intricate level of motorcycle detail. Riders in Moto Racer 3 do not gun the
throttle or offer gloved fists to offending competitors, and machinery does not
break apart or exhibit damage after a crash. Granted, precious few motorcycle
games have ever represented their machines in less-than-showroom condition, yet
the potential for carnage would definitely have been appreciated. In-game audio
is only fair, with the highlight being the loud and whiny whirr of your own
motor. Competitor engines do not scream with the anger they would on a real
track, and mechanical and environmental effects are virtually nonexistent.
The first-person perspective comes complete with a
reflective windscreen.
The most damaging graphical problem is the game's frame
rate, which often chugged and sputtered on our Athlon XP 1600+/GeForce 2 test
computer. Reducing the resolution from the preferred 1024x768 to 800x600 and
removing antialiasing markedly improved the situation, although by doing so, we
lost much of the clarity and graphic detail we would have otherwise enjoyed.
And even then, the game slowed noticeably at the slightest hint of tire smoke
and exhibited clipping in the speed mode.
Riding a Moto Racer 3 bike is, in a word, interesting. The
only motorcycle game to offer such a diversity of disciplines, it demands that
you learn how to control your mount through dirt and on pavement when entering
and exiting jumps and while perched perilously on tiny obstacles. And clearly,
some modes are superior to others. Speed mode, for example, is a high-velocity
blast speckled with seemingly talented AI competitors who race smartly and go
out of their way to avoid bumping incidents. Learning your way around the
game's surprisingly intricate and effective garage facility is almost mandatory
when you increase the difficulty level and opponent speed, yet there's no
denying that this mode is generally geared toward arcade simplicity rather than
simulation complexity. There's also no denying that a trio of tracks is far too
few.
Wandering through the roadblocks and traffic of Paris is
equally stimulating, although the streets are frightfully thin and the hurried
motorists frightfully dim-witted. As a result, you may end up crashing so
frequently that you may want to forever curb your city racing. Freestyle's big
bag of tricks is intriguing not only for its serious aerial potential but also
because it demonstrates just how realistically your bike's suspension system
compresses and extends. Sadly, Delphine has positioned the default
trick-producing keyboard hotkeys in such a manner that the really high-scoring
stunts are inordinately difficult to perform without first growing 10-inch
fingers. Thankfully, tricks can also be initiated through the joystick,
although you wouldn't know it by checking the printed manual.
Moto Racer's supercross/motocross mode is a stomach-churning
good time.
The trials segment, where you'll vainly attempt to balance
and meticulously inch your bike over various obstacles, will more than likely
seem like a curious sideshow to anyone who can't control their patience.
Conversely, high-flying supercoss/motocross is a howl. Its assortment of venues
is once again limited to three, but there's a lot of variety here nonetheless
and enough challenge to force several additional trips to the game's
exceedingly valuable garage. And certainly, you'd better learn the particulars
of front-to-rear weight shifting if you ever plan to succeed over these wildly
undulating circuits.
Moto Racer 3 successfully combines five extremely unique
motorcycle disciplines into one convenient package and delivers a substantial
helping of thrills and spills. However, it is not nearly as deep as it
initially appears or as sophisticated as a third installment should be. Nor
does it offer an online matchmaking service or dedicated server for multiplayer
competition, relying instead on eight-player LAN and old-school Internet TCP/IP
connections, whereby you must know your partner's locations beforehand. For
these reasons, Moto Racer 3 may hold more appeal for motorcycle newcomers and
younger audiences than seasoned veterans.
(System Requirement)
Processor= 733MHz
RAM= 128MB
Graphics= 16MB
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