Hands-On: Ride 2
I’ve never much enjoyed racing games, especially the more complex and involved among them. That said, I can appreciate how those games challenge your skill and timing, and I’m definitely not alone in that. Racing games of all sorts have seen a popularity boost in recent years, with newer titles like The Crew and Driveclub taking their place alongside mainstay franchises like Forza and Gran Turismo. It’s not just cars that are feeling the love from developers and gamers, though; there are lots of games out there for motorcyclists as well, and one of them is launching is year in the form of Ride 2.
Think of Ride 2 as the Project CARS of motorcycle games. The controls and mechanics are tuned specifically to replicate the two-wheeled racing experience as closely as possible. That means things like watching your gear shifting and taking corners lightly all factor into a good performance – you can’t just open the throttle non-stop and expect to come in anything other than last. You can tuck your rider in on sharp turns and long straightaways for maximum efficiency, and – although you can technically wheelie – if you want to win, you probably shouldn’t. Laps on the test track I demoed were lengthy, with the layout curving unpredictably; this definitely isn’t a game you can sleepwalk through.
Steering is very touchy, much as it would be on a real bike, so very precise adjustments are all that’s necessary at even moderate speeds. The motorcycles handle with a solid sense of weight and momentum, so jerking the bike around or accelerating too hard out of a turn will result in a spill. Crash animations are a bit stiff and lacking in flair, perhaps to discourage players from messing up. It all comes together to create a more “pure” racing experience, which is the ideal way to play as far as some gamers are concerned.
Ride 2 is a game for a fairly niche audience, but it’s working to cater to those players as best it can. With over 200 bikes to choose from and 30 different tracks to tear up, there’s a fair amount of content for players to immerse themselves in. The game’s promotional materials bill it as “the most complete bike game ever,” a claim that’s fairly hard to argue against. If enthusiast racing games are up your alley, it may be worth keeping an eye on this one.
Published by Square Enix and developed by Italian studio Milestone S.r.l., Ride 2 arrives on Xbox One, PS4, and PC tomorrow!
