Superbike World Championship

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Review: Superbike World Championship

However, I've got to confess that Superbike World Championship is an excellent re-creation of real motorcycle racing, offering tracks, bikes, and racers that parallel the real circuit. You're not only behind the glass shield, you're also behind the bike telemetry, so you can analyze (and over-analyze) what might have cost you those fractions of a second--and the race.

I'd never describe myself, even loosely, as a gearhead. (I once accidentally emptied my car's transmission fluid during a self-service oil change.) But I was enthralled by the details of building my bike from the suspension up: learning how the rake and trail chassis affect cornering and how a larger transmission sprocket gives your bike higher speed.

Luckily, they don't let you race without tranny fluid.

But you may not want to be bothered with these simulation aspects. And, in that case, you can hop into a race in "Action" mode and start competing.

But don't let the Action title fool you. This is not Motocross Madness. If you gun the accelerator when you slide off the track, you will go down, and, unless it's early on, that means you'll finish at the back of the pack. You'll have to learn when to slow down and lean into a corner to stay on the track. You can bump other riders a bit--the fist-shaking animation of the annoyed racers is amusing--but if you slam into them full on, you'll both spill.

The "Action" racing is fun, and it's possible to win through repeated effort. But it's much more satisfying to enter "Simulation" mode and learn via the practice tracks. Here, you don't have to worry about the other racers, and EA has included wickets that show you where you need to be for different types of curves. They're very helpful.

At first glance, the graphics add to the realism. The faithfully rendered bikes, riders, and tracks--detailed right down to the type of trees--give you a sense of really being there. But once you start moving, the choppy draw-in at the horizon takes your eyes off the road.

As for the sounds, they don't distract, but they sure don't add. The aural effects of the bikes and the crowds seem weak compared to the action. And while Superbike's multiplayer options include Internet play, it's not recommended. Even with a cable modem, racing was choppy.

Now, it didn't convert me. I still think any racing game could be improved by strapping rocket launchers to the bikes and allowing players to deploy mines and smoke screens while zooming to the finish line.

But as far as straight-and-narrow (or wide-and-curved) racing sims go, Superbike runs with both wheels on the ground.-- Joel Strauch / GamePro