Motorcycle game follows familiar track
The movie Torque was an amazing crash and burn motorcycle debacle. However Polyphony Digital's (SCEI) Tourist Trophy, the real riding simulator video game for the PlayStation 2, is the polar opposite. You know from the start that this is going to be a good game because the front of the box says 'from the makers of Gran Turismo'.
The graphics are superb and extremely realistic. Watching the race playbacks you could almost believe that you were watching a live GT motorcycle event. All the bikes are accurately detailed, from the bike chassis to the exhaust systems.
Like Gran Turismo, all the major manufacturers of motorcycles are represented and there is a strong leaning to Japanese makers such as Suzuki and Honda. But Ducati fans need not worry - they are in the game as well.
There are a total of 120 bikes for you to ride on, from 125cc all the way up to 1,000cc plus. And don't think that each bike handles exactly the same. The smaller bikes are light and easy to handle but lack speed, whereas the 1,000cc bikes are fast but much harder to get around those hairpin bends.
Each bike is unique and different, from engine sound, speed, handling, to the shake and vibration of the machine. Unlike in Gran Turismo, where you had to earn money to buy new cars and parts, new bikes become available after winning races and challenges.
There are 35 courses to choose from, the major downside of which is that all of them except one is recycled from the Gran Turismo games, so fans of this series of racing games might experience severe deja vu.
Racing motorcycles requires learning a totally new set of driving skills since it is different from racing cars and could prove to be a steep learning curve for some gamers. Be prepared to slam, crash, tumble and fall off your bike in any number of spectacular ways.
There are two game play modes: 'Arcade' and 'Tourist Trophy.' Arcade is for those who just want to jump in and have some fun racing against the computer or a friend. The Tourist Trophy mode is basically a career mode where you start off learning the ropes with the smaller bikes and obtain licences that let you move on to the faster, more powerful, motorcycles.
All in all, this is a great racing game and is a welcome alternative to the profusion of car racing games on the market.
Tourist Trophy
Specifications
Price $318
Pros 120 motorcycles to ride
Cons Race courses recycled from previous Gran Turismo games
