Review: MotoGP 14 on PS4

Moto GP is a licence which, like Fifas, is entitled to a new version each year. The great difference with other sport games, is that it doesn’t have much competition, but that does prevent it from being very good.

This 2014 version takes over all the information on motorbike official tournaments (GP, moto2 and 3), i.e. all the drivers, tracks, teams, …. Precisely, speaking about content, MotoGP14 contains its predecessors’ modes, i.e. the Career mode, where you begin in the Moto 3 category, you must prove yourself as a Pilot through two small races only. Very fast, you are in a team of GP category. I find that’s a pity not to live a real career, but the game being quite monotone (I will explain later on), it’s not a bad point in the end.

Two new things appear in the career mode. The first one is the arrival of a manager who will help you get contracts: you will be able to select a particular team, and he will ensure to get the contract. Nice, but absolutely not necessary. The other novelty is much more interesting: during your championship, you will have to choose an axis of development for your motorbike (engine, chassis, brake, etc…) then you will have to win “data packs” with races or through tests with specific times. The more you will get those packs, the more you will improve the parts related and therefore increase the performance of your bike. Last point adding to the realism of the Career mode, the impossibility to flutter from team to team, like in the previous episodes.

The other modes are more conventionnal, Quick Race, Grand Prix, Championship speak for themselves. Note that the free DLC gives you the opportunity to play great drivers from 2013 with, for each of them, historical challenges (in that you will relive important races for them, with challenges, such as maintaining a position in the ranking with handicap). Nice, and free, so we can only salute the initiative! In the same style, the mode Real Events immerses you in the highlights of the last championship or specific challenges, also nice for fans of the sport. Finally, a last mode, completely useless, is to drive the Safety Car on a speedway…without a purpose !

Much to do, you’ll tell me, but then is MotoGP14 a simulation ?

Yes and no : several difficulty modes going from Amateur to Pro allow you to choose your way to play. Amateur makes the game a lot funnier and the handling is immediate. As Pro, the motorbike becomes more capricious and take a turn at full speed makes you win a single way ticket to the grass/sand/wall ! In spite of this, you feel that Moto GP is an hybrid between both, in order, I suppose, to reach the largest audience. The AI too feels this hybrid aspect. Slightly improved compared to the previous games, it still has the same default (the opponents drive too fast on the straight lines and are too soft on turns). As in the Forza Motorsport, a Rewind mode will help you take again turn which has been taken a little too fast.

Let’s move on now to the weakpoint of this title. If motorbikes and drivers are properly made, even if for a Next-Gen it’s pretty average, the speedways and sets are far too poor for a PS4. Certainly, the races are smooth and the speed feeling is there (nothing transcending either) but it really feels like your are playing MotoGP13 on PS3!

The weather conditions are nice too, but nothing more, the driving difference is there but far too limited for my taste. It is really a shame, as the content is quite important.
As a conclusion, I can only be be circumspect with that game which blows hot and cold, and I could only advice it to the motorbikes’ fans. For others, if the graphic appearance does not set you off, and if you are looking for an Hybrid game between arcade and simulation, Moto GP 14 may suit you (as long as it’s the only one on the market…).

Grade : 6