15-Aug-2001 Motorbike simulator of the highest order iThe most accurate motorcycle simulation ever madei is the claim on the box, and we see know reason to deny it. After spending a day at Donnington Park riding one of the beasts at 90 mph, I have to say this is so close to riding a bike it is amazing. Superbike successfully gives the impression that you're tearing around hairpin bends and through chicanes at unsafe speeds. There's no shortage of tournament and bike-tuning options, and you can activate effects like weather, bike damage and driving help such as braking and steering assistance (though these are more of a hindrance). Multiple options are included to allow complete control of the simulation environment, from the level of the computer opponents to tyre wear and whether or not an accident will put you out of the race. If you have a 3D accelerator install the hi-res bike graphics and the exotic scenery looks ace, but if not you're going to be riding around Chunkyville at about 10 frames per second.
The game is Officially licensed and developed with the 1997 World Champions, and every aspect of the 1997 World Championship winning bike: the awesome 190 MPH 160 BHP Honda RVF-RC45 is simulated. To win the championship you will have to master the bike and its set-up for every track. There are some cool short cuts: running through cones, into someoneis garden then back on the track in the Isle of man, and nipping through stone walls in the desert. Once you have beaten the competition at championship level, the night ride through a huge city is breathtaking. To be fair you have a decision to make, Red line Racer is an arcade game, fast, fun and hectic, but Superbike is a bikers equivalent of a flight sim, only much more fun. The game has so many controls it is scary, but combined with the graphics, a ninja machine, and the accurate feel of the machine, this is a winner.
If you're a major bike fan and you've got the hardware required, you won't be disappointed. Red line racer has the arcade biking down, but for more serious fun this is it. Makes you want to buy a bike for the summer.
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