Where was I when THQ's handheld division was bought out by Yu Suzuki? Indeed, their new GBA project, Moto GP, bears more than a little resemblance to Hang On, the Shenmue creator's classic arcade sensation. And while Hang On was certainly a hit for good reason, Moto GP is kept back in the amateur rankings thanks to a shoddy save system that wasn't thought out at all.
Looking at the game, one may think that there's quite an impressive handheld experience to be had here. 16 "challenging courses" that are legitimately challenging. Real riders. The Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda licenses. And of course, the great job that the developers did with the GBA hardware doesn't hurt anything. The game plays great, a lot like Hang On, except you're in a race against other bikers instead of the clock. There's a lot of track variety, noticeable differences in bike performance, and the presentation is very well done on both the audio and visual fronts. It's a very easy game to pick up and play, and a very easy game to get into.
The problem is that it's not so easy to get out of. You see, in their infinite wisdom (or maybe because they couldn't afford it after all those returns of WWF RAW and New Legends), THQ decided to forgo any form of battery save. Sure, there's a password system…but there's also a time trial mode. If you're not laughing your ass off as you read that, you need a sense of humor.
Moto GP is a game with great gameplay that naturally lends itself to the GBA's "go anywhere, anytime" mantra. But when I'm forced to give a game at least 20 minutes at a time in the grand prix mode before I'm offered so much as a password to write down, that just seems like I'm being told that my enjoyment comes second to cutting costs in cartridge production. Moto GP escapes with minimal scars, but a relatively common addition could have raised its stock to the top of the GBA circuit.
-George
Company Line
Moto GP has been in existence for over 50 years. Along with Superbikes, it dominates the world of two-wheeled motorsports, only instead of four-stroke engines, the competitors use ultra high tech prototype two-stroke engines. It is a combination of speed, style, bravery and technology. Use the Game Boy Advance to harness the power of prototype racing motorcycles as you fly through tracks in different countries, against the best riders in the world.
Tracks from around the world
The most updated team rosters and their corresponding sponsors
Five Modes of play (Arcade, Time trial, Championship, Time attack & Quick Race)
3 Race Classes (125cc, 250cc and 500cc)
Different weather conditions (clear day, fog, rain and clear night)
12 Real bikes to choose from (including Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, etc)
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