Milestone S.r.l. and Square Enix teamed up to bring us “The Official Motocross Videogame” and it is safe to say that they succeeded in that regards. However, no one should be surprised by the stunning success of such a game. Square Enix is a name known far and wide in the gaming industry and is synonymous with excellence. Now, you might not have heard of Milestone S.r.l. before, but this developer is from Italy, with a special focus on racing games. From motocross to truck racing, Milestone S.r.l. has been creating realistic racing since 1995 (when the company went by Graffiti and released the first of the Screamer series). Now, with MXGP3 – The Official Motocross Videogame, Milestone S.r.l. continues to display why it is the only true source for a motocross experience in the video gaming world.

What to Expect:
MXGP3 – The Official Motocross Videogame is all about giving you a legitimate motocross experience. Every single aspect of it is developed in such a way that entrenches you into the motocross world. From the get go, this video game has you picking your number and font for your jersey, your bike, and your sponsor. For people who love motocross (fans and riders alike) the video game offers a lot to sink your teeth into. You are gearing up with actual brand names that you have probably watched and drooled after for years. It is quite a welcomed experience. The actual gameplay is also realistically portrayed, and chances are you will spend countless hours moving up the ranks and improving your bike. The one thing to be aware of is that this video game is not for the uninitiated, or if you are a complete newcomer to the video game and motocross in general, then you will have a tough time adjusting to its parameters.

The story in MXGP3 – The Official Motocross Videogame is rather a simple one. You start off as an amateur racer and the goal is to become the number one racer. To do this, you steer your way through many races, beef out your bike and earn new sponsors. There are different competition modes and a multiplayer mode as well to test out your skills. Thankfully, in most of the regular modes that stack you against AI, you can test out the course and get a feel for all of its turns before you actually start the race. It is probable that experienced players still do such test runs to ensure they hit personal best times in a race, but this is essential for newcomers. If you are going online for competition, be sure to have gotten a feel for the game, as players online are by no means amateurs. Overall, there are many aspects to the video game that ensure you feel fully immersed in the world of motocross, but to succeed you need to understand the specifics of the world.

The first things to take note of are the accurate details taken from the actual industry. The video game not only showcases top bike builds from Yamaha to KTM, but also gives you the chance to be sponsored by names like Bihr and so many more massive companies. Then there are 18 official tracks for you to take on, each with their own unique twists and turns. You can even join all the riders and their bikes in the MXoN from the 2016 MXGP and MX2 seasons. For lovers of the sport, it can be a truly awesome experience to be going face-to-face with pros they have watched race. The cherry on top is the fact that there are more than 300 components for complete customization of your ride. It is nice being able to build your bike to your exact preferences.

However, how do you unlock all these nice little touches? Well, you are going to have to win, and to win you need to ride better than a good chunk of the competition. From the get go, you’ll realize that this game does not pander to those who do not have any history with the franchise or sport. It is extremely hard to take the lead and to keep it. If you are used to racing games, you will probably be able to maintain the sixth or tenth position out of 22. Earning such places is not too terrible, as you will earn enough experience to level up and actually do better bit by bit.

This difficulty is due to a lot of in-game mechanics and features, which happen to be the same reasons why MXGP3 goes above and beyond other motocross games, even its predecessors. You can hook into ruts that riders have made themselves, which shows great development in terms of ground physics. If it’s raining, you will need to have a handle on throttle control in order to ride with any grace. In general, you have to be careful with leaning, as not being careful will easily have your bike toppling over. All of this really shows intense attention to the track and the way a ride should feel.

These factors can be somewhat problematic when taking on a first-person view though. This camera angle definitely immerses you into each race, but it is much harder to control and can easily make you dizzy. You really feel each bump as the camera bounces around. Speaking of slight faults. One should be aware that the aerial physics are a little pre-ordained and can make a jump feel like you’re just floating along. That’s not to say that you can’t overshoot a jump or land short, but it’s safe to say that once you’re in the air, it’s a little bit like auto pilot.

Another struggle is the crash physics. MXGP3 demonstrates an improvement over its predecessors. You can bump into riders and keep riding, albeit you will be slowed down. This is huge step forward compared to earlier versions where you might just get shot off the course for a slight bump. However, there are still some moments when hitting another player (especially when landing) that will cause you to go over the bars. It’s not necessarily that a crash wasn’t possible at the moment, but the simple way your bike tilts over makes it feel even the slightest fault will send you over.

All of that aside, everything in the game feels extremely polished. The graphics do a wonderful job pulling you into the world and making every race feel like a new experience. The only other aspect that can be deemed below average is the soundtrack and overall sounds. The hum of the engines do not quite grasp the intensity of an actual race. Also, the music is basic dubstep that you can easily change out for your own playlist. Still, that is a small issue, considering how strong all the other factors are.

It is a beautiful looking game and can be quite addicting if you have ever felt any type of attraction towards racing games in general. The intensity of the race, the maneuverability of the bike, and the changing course terrain all add up to an in-depth experience. However, the learning curve for this video game is quite steep, especially if you plan on taking first in any type of race, whether it be campaign or multiplayer.

Though the gameplay in MXGP3 – The Official Motocross Videogame is a blast and can pull anyone into the motocross world, it is pretty clear that you need to at least have a deep love for racing games in general. Milestone S.r.l. targets a niche group of gamers with each of their games, and this one is no different. The main audience is supposed to be riders or aficionados of motocross. That’s why so much time has been put into creating a game that gets all the little details right. It also helps to know the general tactics behind choosing route lines and when to loosen up and press down on the gas. Knowing such little things will immediately make the game more accessible and more enjoyable.