When video games merge with reality, sometimes we get a masterpiece like Forza Motorsport 6. However, mediocrity is statistically more likely. MXGP2 is a textbook example of a mediocre sports simulation game. The only way I can think of justifying the game is that it is made for true enthusiasts of the Motocross GP sport.
To discuss this game, I need to address the elephant in the room. MXGP2 looks appalling. Don’t be deceived by the promotional images. The stylish interface in the menus is an illusion. When you enter a race, you’ll find that the textures are unrefined and lighting effects remind you of games that were made at least a decade ago on Xbox 360. As a result, it barely looks realistic. If you think that the low-quality graphics are a way to ensure the game runs at sixty frames per second, that is in fact not the case. It is a mystery that needs solving. Why can’t it run at such frame rates given the fact that other games with much nicer graphics can handle sixty frames per second on Xbox One?
If I have to name one part of the game that merits praise, it’ll have to be the handling. It really captures the excitement every time you perform an air stunt. If you use clutch, and exit a turn with high engine revolutions, you get a mini-drift that feels amazing with the vibration of the controller. However, the steering is sometimes too nimble and because of that you always have to oversteer. The handling in other Milestone games is better but this is definitely more exciting.
The mechanics of the race itself are fairly decent in my opinion. The rewind feature is very handy. It is quite difficult if one is not used to the game. However, it does feel repetitious after awhile. Even though there are twenty tracks available, all of them are just dirty trails with only varying degrees of sand or gravel. What I really like about this game is that it gives you a whole new perspective about racing: that it is no longer two-dimensional. You have to constantly account for air angle and landing position. Imagine a realistic version of the Trials franchise. The drive to perfect your every landing after jumping is addictive.
Like I said in the beginning, this game is for true fans. You will be able to select a team with managers. Although I don’t know many of them, I’m sure fans will be fairly familiar with those names. I haven’t figured out what benefit each manager possibly has in the game because they all seem to be basically identical with different faces. This is why I believe the game is geared towards people with a great deal of knowledge about Motocross. MXGP2 lacks introductions required to bring laymen up to speed. The majority of racing games out there give you some background about the sport and events but this title seems to require a high degree of previous familiarity. This limits its accessibility but there’s always Wikipedia, right?
All your hard work in the game gets you credits as a reward. You can spend them on new bikes, which are expensive compared to the amount of credits you earn. The grind is definitely real. Why their allocation isn’t more lenient I will never know.
The strangest part is that MXGP2 could’ve been a shining example in the rather sparse motorcycling genre had it been a proper next-generation title. While I’m sure it offers a much better experience on Steam due to the sixty frames per second presentation and sharper graphics, on Xbox One it feels sluggish and blurry. The console port just isn’t up to par in my opinion and it’s a shame because it offers a unique experience for console gamers that only Milestone seems to be catering to at the moment. The technical limitations are too hard to ignore.
Summary
In conclusion, I have to say that I don’t find this title universally appealing. The content might be great but it is severely lacking when it comes to the technical department. The mediocre graphics will turn many away because vastly superior racing simulators are already available on Xbox One. For example, if you look at Milestone’s own Valentino Rossi: The Game, it offers better handling and riding mechanics even though it takes a hit when it comes to excitement. It also looks much better. If you are a true Motocross GP fan, you can probably look beyond the issues and still enjoy it.
Xian was a regular ICXM contributor between 2015–2017, publishing 162 articles across game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news. Their work focused on hands-on reviews, platform commentary, and breaking-news reporting during the Xbox One X launch year and Microsoft’s wider Play Anywhere / UWP gaming initiative.