Here we are, we finally get on track with MXGP 2020 on next gen console. The license plate title Milestone, already available on PS4 e PC from December 16th, it is finally available also on PlayStation 5 with new dedicated features. Over the years, the software house has been able to confirm itself as the absolute leader in the creation of titles on two wheels (also thanks to a competition that is not exactly ruthless), and with the latest titles in particular it is moving more on a more simulative level. In these days we had the opportunity to try the title, and we must say that we were particularly satisfied. The work of the development house is painstaking and you immediately notice the desire to put on the market a product that, in some ways, is something different from its contenders.
Let's get on the track!
MXGP 2020 it confirms a game strongly career-focused, which focuses in particular on the current motocross season. Inside the game you will find all 68 drivers of the categories MXGP e MX2, of course, you can also compete on all 19 official circuits. Within the experience provided by the career mode, you will start as a simple rookie, and you will have to slowly plow the path to success by joining official teams or, why not, founding one yourself. The game also wants to give space to customization: rider and motorbike can be modified, using pieces and components based on official licenses.
However, there is not only a career: if you want, you can also play quick games that will test you in different ways, such as time trials in Time AttackThe classic Grand Prix customizable, or even the creation of a Championship as you like, choosing the various stages, being able to use the official drivers or those of the career, the rules and so on.
And if between one race and another you want to enjoy a nice ride in contact with nature? Milestone for MXGP 2020 has also thought of this, and the mode is back Playground, that is a huge free roaming that will give you the opportunity to roam freely in a huge map inspired by the beautiful Norwegian landscapes. You can even invite up to three friends to enjoy the map and invent activities on the spot. Although this mode can be seen as a mere filler, we can say that it is actually perfectly cohesive with the overall experience, resulting in an addition that will surely please fans. Since we just mentioned online, although it's not accessible yet, it will come Race Director mode which will be added later and that will boast of dedicated servers: users will be able to create and manage online tournaments, very interesting mechanics that we hope will be deepened in the future.
As usual for the series, this 2020 MXGP also has its own personal Path editor, a function that (as you will understand from the name) allows you to create new tracks according to your tastes, taking advantage of four different types of terrain to choose from: orchard, forest, plain and quarry. Each track has new features, which is very useful for having a different approach during the races. The tracks created can be shared online to the delight of other players, so indulge yourself!
How's the bike going?
MXGP 2020 from a gameplay point of view certainly does not favor new players, presenting a formula that is certainly complex but at the same time more captivating: with the analog sticks you will not only have to manage the movement of the bike, but also the weight of the rider. These two elements during the races turn out to be decisive, and learning to master the mechanics right away will make the difference between victory and defeat. Therefore, balancing while in the air will be essential for landing, or even for the tightest and most difficult corners, to then restart at full power and be able to maintain a good rhythm, balance and high speed at the same time. All this, combined with the possibility of changing the set-up of your bike and many other specific features, make MXGP 2020 a much more suitable title for veterans. The game will give you the option to choose the level as well collision realism: Although that standard is not exactly a joy for the eyes, if you choose the realistic option it takes very little to raise hell.
However, newbies will be able to activate the Rewind (real trademark) that allows you to rewind time up to a certain moment, so you can repeat crucial parts of the race and correct yourself, evaluating and trying different methods of approach. Furthermore, you can choose the level of the opponent's AI, so that you can gradually progress within the experience provided by the Milestone title. Another little help (with the attached "penance" to restart from a standstill) is given by the auto repositioning of the bike in case of off the track or fall.
The thing that immediately surprises, speaking specifically of the PS5 version, is certainly the way in which the controller has been exploited. Dualense, with tactile feedback and the use of adaptive triggers pushed to the maximum to give players the feeling of riding a real bike in the mud. You can clearly perceive the heaviness of the vehicle (for example with the "hardness" of the triggers) or the slipping of the wheels, but also the different types of vibration depending on the moment, whether it is a sudden acceleration, a walk on grass, or an angel flight on the runway to the applause of the audience. In addition to assisting everything, there is dynamic resolution up to 4K and 60 FPS, to give the player the feeling of participating in a real race. Unfortunately, some defects of the animations collude badly with this extreme realism, such as some small interpenetration bugs, nothing that undermines the experience and that we are sure will be fixed later. The game naturally supports fast loading, with the related times now really reduced to a minimum. The PS5 version, moreover, compared to the counterpart on PS4, allows you to compete in online races up to a maximum of 20 players. Unfortunately we have not been able to dwell much on multiplayer, given the difficulty in finding players, but we will update our review as soon as possible.
