Original Release: Namco, 2006, PSP
Namco’s short-lived handheld branch of their MotoGP licensed games is basically just an inferior port of MotoGP 4
MotoGP (PSP, Namco, 2006)
Where to Buy: Amazon
How to Emulate: PSP Emulation Guide
Review by: C. M0use
Though it bears the title of the original game of the series, Namco’s PSP MotoGP release is apparently based on the 4th and final game (MotoGP 4) for the PS2. It was also the only handheld release for the early part of the series, and also the final release before Namco lost the license to THQ.
So I’m starting at the wrong end of this Namco branch of the series, but the PSP port still seemed like a fairly reasonable entry point as it’s self-contained and kept very simple. It incorporates some of the top racers of the time from the actual sport, though you’ll see nothing more than their names printed as every bike just has a generic rider model sat atop it.
From what I’ve read it’s pretty much a straight port of MotoGP 4, though with hobbled audio (what little music there is is utterly forgettable and sounds like it was licensed from a cheapo catalog). It’s not a game of panache and presentation, the main focus is meant to be realistic-feeling handling while also maintaining an arcadey aspect.
That former part is lost on me, I’m not a motorcycle rider. And coming to it from a car and kart racing background, the whole style of racing is quite different. Your bike gets to ludicrous speeds almost instantly, but far too fast to handle even the basic corners, which is apparently all about braking technique. Search me on that one because this edition of the game has absolutely no training or instruction on that aspect.
If that’s your situation, there’s no point in even venturing into Sim mode. This lets you play out a career as a rocketin’ racer, but you’re never winning a race without basically knowing how to keep a near-perfect racing line and absolutely never going off track or hitting anything. Arcade mode makes it easier to at least get into the middle of the pack with clumsy driving but you’re still not winning anything.
The game is thus just too Serious Business for me, who doesn’t really want to deal with anything more complex or with more of a learning curve than Hang-On. While it might suit serious riders and MotoGP fans better, this entry has fewer tracks than its console counterpart and offers no customizing of your bike or purchasing new ones. When the PSP was one of the dominant handheld options it might have been decent enough if you wanted a portable racer, but these days you’re more likely to just emulate a superior console version on the go. Aside from the four prior PS2 entries, a combination of THQ, Capcom and Milestone went on to make this a yearly-release series that stretches on to this day.
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