MXGP Pro review

The official motocross video game

MXGP Pro endeavors to be the most realistic motocross experience in gaming. Nine time MXGP world champion Antonio Cairoli even assisted developer Milestone in creating new Pro Physics. Here’s what you can expect from the newest MXGP-licensed racing title.

Game Details

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer: Milestone
Publisher: Milestone
Genre: Racing
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

One for the fans

I had a distinct impression from the start that MXGP Pro is a game for the fans. It is chock full of assets directly from the Motocross World Championship—the premier championship of motocross racing. Sponsors, riders, and other official content all show up directly from the MXGP.

MXGP Pro is well-stocked with customization options as well. Both riders and bikes can be decked out with unique parts and apparel from real-life sponsors and manufacturers. The availability of these customizations is sparse at first. Additional options are unlocked through purchase with credits earned as you progress through the game.

Extreme realism with Pro Physics

It isn’t just the brand names and familiar faces that make MXGP Pro a true-to-life experience. Pro Physics attempts to replicate as genuine a motocross experience as possible. From customizable bike tunings right down to independent control of the front and rear wheel brakes, the game aims to be as realistic as possible.

There is a cost to all of this realism though, and it comes with a steep learning curve. There’s really no other way to put it—driving in MXGP Pro is difficult. Even on the most novice settings, the controls can feel very unforgiving. The smallest mistake can lead to a full wipeout.

Serious contenders only

I have no doubt that these controls can be mastered. I’ve seen some of the times put up by other players in the Time Trials section of the game. If anything, the true physics and difficult mastery only serve to mirror the sport in true life. Driving motocross at a high level is difficult, it takes practice.

For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend MXGP Pro for newer or casual gamers looking to jump in and have a fun time racing. It is definitely the polar opposite of a friendly cart racer that anybody can join and enjoy.  This is a game of practice and patience.

Conversely, I believe that motocross enthusiasts and those who embrace a more difficult racing challenge will find something good here. I certainly feel like I know quite a lot more about the physics and challenges of motocross than I did going in. Those close to the sport should be pleased with the effort put into capturing the science and skill of motocross.

Different ways to race

MXGP Pro features a few different game modes to get your motocross fix. Training takes the form of a set of challenges that do a fairly good job of explaining basic skills and finer points that will lead to success.

These training challenges are again very difficult, some frustratingly so dependant on skill coming in. Nevertheless, you should be glad they are. You’ll need to make sure you have most of these basics down pat if you wish to have a hope in the races to come.

Career mode lets you take your custom racer all the way through the ranks of the Motocross World Championship. Along the way you can complete sponsor challenges and improve your chances with the rewards provided.

Multiplayer competition is also available. You can even create your own unique Grand Prix with custom track selection and difficulty settings.

Finally, Time Trials mode rounds out the available options. I found this to be one of the best ways to hone my admittedly novice motocross skills. Select any track from the game and set your best time, then race against your ghost and improve along the way. You can also race the ghosts of others, which is a great way to see how you stack up to the rest of the field.

Other features

MXGP Pro boasts multiple camera views, including a pretty cool helmet cam. I thought the helmet cam view was quite interesting, if not a little bit more difficult to maneuver in. It does beg the question though—could VR potentially be an option for motocross simulation down the line?

There is also a rewind feature. This allows you to back up and replay the most recent events of the race, perhaps in the wake of a bad wipeout. Like other games with a similar feature, the in-game reward credits you earn are garnished for enabling rewind.

Unfortunately I found the rewind feature in MXGP Pro to be a bit clunky and not very user friendly. It certainly does not work as smoothly as in games that have perfected the mechanic, such as the Forza Horizon series. Frankly, I didn’t care to use it often, as it felt like more work to try and re-align my rewind properly than it did to just get up and continue racing.

Bugs on the track

I’m sad to say that I encountered more than a fair share of bugs in my time with MXGP Pro—the least of which involved the game crashing on more than one occasion. The most egregious bug I encountered came during multiple attempts to play a certain track in Time Trials mode. Every time I loaded the track I had the same issue, which involved entire backgrounds and textures failing, rendering the game unplayable.

Even when running otherwise smoothly, the load times in MXGP Pro are quite staggering. The time to load between races is bad enough, but switching between game sessions and modes through the menu screen is particularly painful. I often found myself walking away or checking my phone during these undesirable gaps in the action.

Final thoughts

I appreciate MXGP Pro for its efforts in creating a realistic motocross experience. Though the deep learning curve was occasionally frustrating, I felt like I took much away from it, and even gain a new appreciation for motocross as a sport. I wouldn’t recommend it for the average gamer, but I do believe it can be a great experience for enthusiasts.

Poor loading times and a few bugs aside, MXGP Pro creates a pretty genuine experience. If you can get past the difficulty level and master the nuances of its realistic physics, You will likely find many hours of enjoyment in exploring the world of motocross.

+ Realistic motocross physics
+ Genuine MXGP riders, sponsors, and content
+ Lots of customization

– Poor loading times
– A few significant bugs
– High degree of difficulty, even on novice settings

OVERALL

Gameplay: 3.5/5
Graphics: 3.5/5
Sound: 3.5/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 3.5/5

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 (70%)

Get MXGP Pro for PlayStation 4
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