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Milestone’s MotoGP series has been a staple of the motorsport videogame genre for years now, and its latest game, MotoGP 22, builds on that longstanding expertise with refined gameplay and new features.
MotoGP 22 will officially release on April 21 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, but we’ve been able to spend a little time with a preview build of the game to check things out prior to its launch. While the preview build doesn’t let you dive into the game’s core game mode, Career, it does offer up access to other game modes like Quick Play. Which includes Grand Prix and Championship.
You also get access to the all-new Season 2009 game mode, which takes you through the pivotal moments in the 2009 MotoGP Championship. Other familiar features make a return too, such as the (admittedly light) character creator and a pretty decent photo mode. The deeply complex bike tuning is back too. Though you wouldn’t expect this to ever go away given how foundational it is to the type of game, not to mention this particular series.
MotoGP 22 focuses heavily following the flow of the track
Longtime fans of the MotoGP series won’t see this as any surprise, but as a relative newcomer to the franchise, MotoGP 22 has a big focus on following the flow of the track. Specifically on making sure you’re hitting the right trajectory going around corners. Using timely breaks to enter the curves and then hitting the throttle at just the right moment to boost up to the next turn.
For seasoned players of the franchise and similar games, it’ll probably feel like second nature. For anyone else, it might be a little tough to get right at first. But stick with it and you’ll be rewarded. Perhaps with a first-place spot on the roster by the race’s end. Even if it’s just a free practice run.
It’s also worth noting that while Milestone is trying to make the game more accessible to newcomers, it’ll still take some practice to improve. That is, so as not to come in dead last due to frequent invalid laps. Because you accidentally veer off the track by a small margin. MotoGP 22 seemingly stays as true to the real sport as any racing bike game can. Which can be both frustrating and exhilarating at times.
But it’s this chosen direction that will eventually make you a better player. Practice makes perfect as they say, and players will find that the game is easy enough to get into without handing you everything.
Realistic bike models and track layouts add to the experience
There’s no doubt that the heart of MotoGP 22 is the high-speed chase to the finish line. But like MotoGP 21 and other past games in the series, there’s also an emphasis on the bikes. Realistic models and customizations of your ride add a level of heightened gameplay. You can customize your bike with different colors, sponsors etc., and then take things a step further as you progress by tuning your bike and swapping out parts.
The track layouts also play into this sense of realism to make the overall experience with each race feel like you’re on the bike yourself. And little touches like blurred bits of the track as you scream down straightaways only increase this feeling.
Overall, MotoGP 22 is charting a course for a successful launch. Fans of the series will no doubt be happy.