Rating: - OK Game
It looks cool,but I'm a World Superbike fan.It dosen't have my favorite track which is Monza and I'm not that big of an AMA fan.
Rating: - better than it looks
graphics?very disappointing.wrecks? a joke.so-so alternate camera angles(useless during racing but i imagine useful for replays, haven't tried yet) unflippable wheelies are too arcade for a sim. HOWEVER,in cockpit racing quite realistic in its execution. range of view is adjustable and field of view is very much like the real thing(i.e. looking into corners.)Pull up out of a tuck and watch your speed drop off from wind drag without braking.(very cool) body positioning abilities for changing lean angle and pitch going into and coming out of corners also pretty realistic in execution.(i use a ms sidewinder freestyle pro controller and allows much smoother action and variable forward/backward lean than standard controllers.a must for this game)but the thing that gets me most excited about this game...the tracks. i've raced willow and sears in real life (when i was young and stupid) and right down to every little detail this sim PROVIDES! Elevation changes,positive/negative cambers,distance,cones and other marker points for timing corner entries,differences in pavement color(also good for timing your corners)and the flaggers don't just stand there they actually do their job.changes in suspension,rubber etc. all change how your bike handles. looking forward to a sequel with better graphics.actually still looking forward to this game as it is quite challenging and as long as you keep it on the track realistic enough to be quite exciting without risking life and broken limb.If you can get past the cheezy graphics and don't get frustrated easily (you're gonna wreck- A LOT),and aren't prone to motion sickness you should appreciate this game.If you prefer arcade type action that defies all the known laws of physics forget about it.
Rating: - A mix of highs and lows
AMA Superbike Racing has some excellent attributes and some that are, well, lame. The highs include very accurately rendered tracks and the ability to really 'dial-in' the gearing and suspension characteristics of each bike. Weak spots include a very laborious menu and poorly rendered rider animation.
The accuracy with which tracks are shown is quite striking. I'm familiar with Laguna Seca and Sears Point and I was really impressed with how well the developers captured the look and feel of those tracks. Even the surrounding landscape is accurately displayed, right down to the trees on the outside of the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca
On the down side, the mechanics of displaying the rider and player's perspective are crude. Under braking, the player remains tucked below the fairing under all but the most intense braking. The windscreen will sometimes become an opaque white, blocking your view of the track. When you crash (which you will, a lot) the animation suddenly becomes extremely crude, turning the displayed rider into some sort of jointed mannikin and leaving them stiffly posed in the most unbelievable positions. It's not up to the rest of the game.
On the whole, it's a pretty good simulation. The mechanics of riding the bike are difficult enough to keep your interest for quite a while. If it were not for the clumsy menu and the lack of fluidity in the rider, it would be a more interesting game.
