I used to be a big fan of superbike racing or MOTO GP as they call it these days. I recall the days of BARRY SHEENE, mangling himself up on a regular basis, then hopping back onto his SUZUKI and winning another world title. If you fancy the idea of riding a massive superbike at 200 mph, but aren’t the best rider in the world, then have a go at SBK GENERATIONS created by MILESTONE and BLACK BEAN games. SBK GENERATIONS is not for the faint hearted, so be warned… if you’re a casual gamer you will bore of this title pretty quickly because it is not just a racing game, it is a real challenge!
There are four modes available; free play, Career, SBK Experience and Multiplayer, so plenty to choose from.
With the career mode, which is the main option really, you get to choose from three simulation modes; low, medium and high. Each one gives you more control of your bike, and less AI helping you to stay on it. If you’re new to this kind of game, then I would advise starting off in low mode (saves embarrassment ).
The next step is to choose a rider, which is a simple task without to many options. You know the stuff; outfits, helmets, riding style etc. Then its pick a team, don’t just pick any old team though. It’s best to have a look at what goals and conditions each one is offering. Another word of warning, make sure you are confident you have the right options set for your rider because once you start, that’s it, no going back baby!
Right so we are ready, and onto the gameplay, which isn’t too bad really, perhaps a little too perfect in places. You’re given a line to try and follow, and I mean it when I say try because this is not easy, if you make a simple error then off you come!
The AI riders are fine, just they never make mistakes, which does take away the reality feeling. The only time you see them crash is if you hit them. But either way you’re re-spawned quickly, and not far behind. There is of course an injury/damage option which will result in your rider and bike accumulating damage until either of them can’t compete anymore.
The controls are very intuitive, and as a bike simulator there is none better than this game. The control does take a while to master, so don’t expect to win at the first attempt. Another nice touch is the tuning aspect, where you can tweak and tinker with your bike with an engineer on hand to offer advice to the non-mechanical minded. The graphics are really nice with some nice touches, especially the weather aspect, and some great in game camera angles
SBK GENERATIONS also offers other little treats like the SBK Experience, which to the uninitiated, is just a challenge mode. It’s mainly a variety of different challenges from all four seasons with an option to unlock more riders. There’s the usual stuff like time trials, performing wheelies for a certain time and there is plenty to keep you occupied.
Finally free play is exactly that, you have the choice to create your own championship or just have a race weekend.
The multiplayer option is OK, with up to 16 players on-line. But no local split screen, which is a shame. Again be wary, there are some real devotees on-line, so practice first!
Summary
SBK GENERATIONS is a great racing game if you want a change from FORZA etc. But be warned, it isn’t easy to master and it does get a touch repetitive. To be honest, if you’re a MOTO GP fan, then you will love this game. But if your just a casual gamer who fancies a bike sim, stay clear, or at least be aware this is a complicated game.
I personally like SBK GENERATIONS, it’s a nice change from all the car simulation and dirt bike games around at the moment. And it is the only one out there of its kind. Fine, it isn’t easy to learn, in fact it can be borderline controller throwing. But if you persist, then it can be fun, just a pity about the local multiplayer and the lack of realism with the AI riders.
I give SBK GENERATIONS 8 out of 10 because it performs well as a sim game, just a bit of a niche market really.
- SBK Generations
- Developers: Milestone
- Publishers: Black Bean Games
- Xbox 360®
- Playstation 3®
- PC
- June 1, 2012
- Genre: Racing
