The official MotoGP video game series finally comes to the latest console systems in the form of MotoGP 08, but have new developers Milestone bring it back up to scratch after previously faltering titles?

Gone are the days of THQ publishing the official MotoGP titles, and for motor racing fans that is certainly a good starting point as time and time again the series appeared to be taking steps backwards rather than speeding forward each time as you would expect from a title tagged with such an illustrious official license.

Capcom took over the reigns in 2007 with the release of MotoGP 07 on the PS2 which did not by any means set motor racing fans revving with excitement, but it was a slight improvement on the series’ titles before it. Capcom now bring MotoGP 08 to the XB0x 360, PS3 and the Wii and for the want of a better comparison, MotoGP 08 is starting to gain the feel of a Pro Evolution Soccer title about it in terms of standing within it’s particular sporting genre.

Nothing in MotoGP 08 is exceptional, but it is a very strong and challenging title in many areas which all add up to a thoroughly enjoyable game all round. Previous games in the series were constantly snagged by over-challenging difficulty levels, and that has been put right this time around and has successfully avoided becoming too easy at the same time - no lean achievement these days as the line between a game being too easy and too hard is a very fine line indeed.

The game modes available to you in MotoGP 08 does not throw up any surprises, with the main modes being Single Race, Time Trial, Championship and Challenge Mode, all of which are largely associated with games of this type and if any had not been present, the game would not have had the appeal that it thankfully retains. The career mode is without doubt the most enjoyable mode as you begin by creating a rider of your own with basic customisation abilities for your rider and your bike, be it a 125cc, 250cc or of course a MotoGP bike. You will earn points in the races you enter which you can then spend on improving your riders’ attributes. The attributes you can improve are your top speed, acceleration, braking and traction.

Another interesting feature of the career mode is the fact that when you feel your bike is ready for it, you can take it online to compete against up to eleven other riders from across the globe. The online play, more often than not, runs as smoothly as you could reasonably expect it to - with the very odd touch of lag - which in a game featuring action as fast as it is in MotoGP, can be quite annoying. But the online play performs well enough to remain fun throughout, unless you keep on losing!

The one downer with the career mode is that your career will only last for five seasons. After that you will have to go back and start a new career from scratch which is a pain - why the career can not go on without a limit on seasons is something of a mystery to me. Never the less the mode is fun, and despite the misery of losing a rider you’ve grown to be part of over five seasons, you will find starting out with another new guy fun time and time again.

The control of the bikes feels smooth, and it is hard to imagine the control system working any better. You can of course fiddle with the controls to suit your gaming preference, but I do not think many will bother as it works very well with the standard settings. The bikes feel like bikes which is always a challenge, and you will feel a sense of speed as you tear down the numorous tracks in MotoGP 08. Every now and then your bike will hard a mad moment of madness, but they are very rare and the look, feel and control of your bike feels flawless.

The graphics are solid without being anything too special, but that is by today’s standards and to expect anything more than what MotoGP 08 delivers in terms of visuals would in my opinion be expecting too much, as over the top graphics just are not necessary to make this a great title.

Motor racing fans of all kinds will enjoy MotoGP 08, as will anyone who enjoys games they can play for hours against friends. Very few people will tire of racing on this anytime soon, it’s a very good all round release and a big step forwards in the MotoGP series - the next instalment is now something to look forward to.

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