The fast growing sport of championship motorcycle racing has been one that has been represented in several different gaming franchise, not the least of which has been the dominant MotoGP franchise. While the series has changed publishing hands several times since its inception, the level of quality and dedication to realism has stayed a fixture throughout. Now, the franchise finds itself in the capable publishing hands of Capcom for the latest entry, MotoGP 08.

MotoGP 08 doesn’t break the mold, staying pretty true to the series’ roots and central tenets, offering realistic racing mechanics and many customization options for tweaking your bikes. However, this time around, the franchise is looking to expand its fanbase by offering a few different control options to make the game more accessible to inexperienced racers. While the game isn’t very big on presentation, and there are some issues with the controls, MotoGP 08 is a solid addition to the series and a nice starting point for players who are looking to jump in.

MotoGP 08 adds some new features to the series, including some cool new tracks, like the Indianapolis track and a new circuit, set in Qatar. The Qatar circuit adds a new night racing element, which is a nice new feature for the game and looks pretty impressive due to some nice lighting effects.

Staple features like powersliding make an appearance in this entry, and pros will find that the racing moves pretty realistically. However, if you’re a newcomer to the series, the physics model can be a bit overwhelming at first. Luckily, the developers have been pretty lenient in providing several different racing mechanics for players of all ability levels.

There are three separate difficulty modes: Arcade, Advanced, and Simulation, that ramp up the realism level with each successive tier. While most players who aren’t moto-fanatics will want to stick to the Arcade handling, those who know the subtleties of the sport will be the most comfortable with the two higher difficulty levels. However, if you aren’t skilled in knowing when to brake and when to throttle when going through a curve, then be prepared to bail a lot.

While the mechanics are generally pretty solid, I couldn’t help but find them to feel a little floaty and artificial in each difficulty mode. The brakes always handled a bit too softly and wouldn’t grip to the road as well as they should have, and even with substantial tweaking they never feel quite right.

The career mode is the central part of MotoGP 08. You can race through three different classes: 125cc, 250cc, and MotoGP, which each getting higher in AI difficulty, as the MotoGP class will have you racing against some of the best motorcycle racers in the world. As you progress through the races, you’ll be able to earn sponsorships and sign with different teams, earning upgrade points and unlocking new customization features to get your bikes running the best way possible.

Aside from the career mode, you’ll be able to do the Championship mode, which has you racing your way through 18 races for a full season without the customization or upgrade features of the career mode, and Quick Race and Time Attack modes. Online, you’ll be able to race other players in quick and ranked matches.

Graphically, the game looks pretty no-frills, with decent looking racer models and nice tracks. The lighting effects can look impressive at times, but the general look is pretty plain.

The sound isn’t much in MotoGP 08. Aside from a theme that plays in the menus and some engine whine, there really isn’t much to talk about.

MotoGP 08 is a solid racer, offering a robust career mode and adaptable racing mechanics that will help newcomers feel welcome. However, the sparse presentation and somewhat hollow feel to the racing won’t do much to bring in those who don’t have more than a passing interest in the franchise.

Gameplay: 8.0
While there are some general issues with handling and floaty mechanics, the game plays quite well. The different difficulty levels will facilitate the gameplay for newcomers, and the career mode is pretty deep and involving.

Graphics: 7.5
There are some impressive lighting effects here and there, especially in the night races, but the game has a barebones look to it without a lot of graphical frills.

Sound: 7.0
Not much to talk about here, aside from a menu theme and standard engine sounds.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.5
MotoGP 08 makes a noble effort to simplify the controls so as not to overwhelm newcomers, but the presentation feels pretty hollow and likely won’t appeal to those without a lot of interest in the sport.

Multiplayer: 8.0
Pretty standard fare here, with quick and custom matches playable over Xbox LIVE.

Overall: 8.0
The game’s mechanics have been streamlined to help bring in new players, but the overall feel of the game and low-key presentation is still one that caters to the hardcore fans of the series and no one else. Still, the deep career mode will keep fans busy for a while and should be worth a look for them.