REVIEW: Ride 4

Ride4 is the latest installment of the Milestone motorcycle racing franchise. It promised a vast array of improvements over its previously highly acclaimed previous efforts. Ride4 is an absolute game-changer when it comes down to providing motorbike racing action that provides an adaptable and not too difficult learning curve as well as genuine fun exploration that encourages long-term enjoyment.

The handling dynamics of the bikes is one of the most difficult aspects of racing simulators. MotoGP20 was heavily influenced by the simulation approach. This resulted in a raw experience that was as realistic as possible, but still offered a driving experience. It was a difficult and often frustrating learning curve. Because of the harsh physics, you had to spend hours learning how to race and how to control the bikes before you could get into the meat of the game. This may be great for some people, but Rider 4 makes it much easier.

It is obvious that this game will help you every step of the way. The first race is similar to the Forza Motorsport games. This gives you a chance to quickly assess which assistance are required to make this a fun and personalized experience. It is obvious that the bikes are very responsive. The controls are very weighty and the vehicles balance is superb. It doesn't require the micro-corrections of or GP20 to position the bikes on the track. Instead, it flows. It's a joy to link switchback S-bends together. This is just the beginning, and it is just a taste of what lies ahead.

There are more than 250 licensed bikes from 22 manufacturers, and 34 tracks with multiple variations. It is easy to see why there is so much on offer. Ride 4 offers much more. It is a wonderful organization that allows you to create a learning curve that is both challenging but also adaptable. Are you finding things too difficult? You can adjust the difficulty slider by going to the options. Higher difficulty levels will result in higher rewards and bonus. Ride 4 challenges and rewards the player in a way that simulators (and racing games) often fail to do. Games must provide a progression path that keeps players coming back in order to keep them loyal. This game is a success and provides a well-thought-out, clearly thought experience.

The career mode starts--those who are familiar with the OG Gran Turismo will be able to appreciate it--with a licence mode. To access the racing calendar, you will need to build a racing pedigree by completing small tasks. These challenges can be used as an introduction to the game and help players get to grips with the handling and racing styles before they really start to enjoy the full scope of the game. These challenges are not overly complicated or tedious. Instead, they encourage and excite players to strive for greater heights. Things really get exciting once the challenges are over.

As most modern racers start at the bottom of the racing ladder, progression is achieved through a linear reward system. This means that faster bikes are earned and more difficult opponents. It's simple, but it works great. The system has a Forza feeling to it, and each bike is tied in the same way as Turn 10's car racing game. You can tune the bikes and adjust their dynamics to get a numerical rating. The bike will then be suitable to be ridden within that category. There are many options to make Ride4 an individual and personal experience. You have the ability to create custom liveries and edit the difficulty settings in a precise manner. Even fine-tune the most minute aspects of the handling. You can do a lot of fine-tuning in order to get maximum enjoyment from the game. However, the game works well enough to allow you to just jump in and let the base settings take care of the rest.

The AI of your opponent racer is smart and can be very challenging. It offers just the right amount challenge at lower difficulty settings but changes dramatically as you adjust the slider. You will be forced to follow the lead of harder racers, which can reduce your racing line. This is a great AI opponent I've ever seen in racing games. There is however a significant gap in collision detection. Sometimes, simply brushing your opponent's bike can send you careening off of the road. This is accompanied by a hilarious (and sometimes dramatic) rag doll effect. On other occasions, hitting another bike head-on can result in them hardly moving, so you can continue your journey. It is difficult to create a common practice for engaging other riders. I think this will be more problematic in multiplayer. The multiplayer was not yet available for review so this issue is still open to discussion. It is unfortunate that the collision detection system is so inconsistent. This could hinder what could have been a lot of fun.

The graphics are also an improvement over Rider 4's predecessor. The bikes are beautifully rendered, and the sound effects on each bike are amazing. Although there are some issues with distance clipping and rear tires sometimes not moving as well, the graphics are sharp. This is especially true when it comes to dynamic weather. It's amazing to watch a race at Muglleo at dusk as rain falls, and it adds to the immersion.

Each bike sounds different and very lifelike. This is something that many racing games struggle to do. Be aware that the noise of stones hitting the bike's underside can be distracting if headphones are used. It is a minor issue, but it can be annoying.

Ride 4, a motorcycle racing game that has both mass appeal and is accessible to everyone, is ultimately a rare beast. While I enjoy racing games, I struggle with two-wheeled vehicles. These vehicles are so difficult to control and can be very isolating. They also require far too much effort for casual gamers. Ride 4 is different. This racer is fun and well-constructed, and has the potential to last a lifetime. This is one of the most enjoyable motorcycle racing games I've ever seen.