Valentino Rossi: The Game (PlayStation 4) Review

Considering that Ride 2 was released just four months later, it would probably be fair to acknowledge that Valentino Rossi: The Game never quite got the breathing space it needed to do justice to its namesake. Like many of Milestone's other racing projects, the main issues here have little to do with content levels (which are very impressive once more) and are much more to do with the core gameplay experience.

The host of modes to get stuck into - a stereotypical career experience, the usual multiplayer options, as well as the standout feature, which is a mode celebrating Rossi's career with twenty of his most memorable races that comes complete with insightful commentary and course advice from the man himself - are all let down by something very crucial. Ultimately, it's the gameplay experience itself that doesn't really fulfil its side of the bargain.

This is unfortunate to say the least, because the title could be totally different if so many core aspects didn't let it down. The first and most glaring issue with Valentino Rossi: The Game is its rather mind-boggling physics engine, which does its best to assert a simulative element of detail, only for that to come crashing down at the moments it should really prove itself to be class. There's no explanation for the way you can mow through fellow drivers with no repercussions, and contact seems to be a little dodgy and certainly not very convincing.

The second problem also relates back to these fundamentals. The sense of speed really isn't quite right, which doesn't help the sense of immersion and concentration, nor develop the ability to anticipate and navigate drivers. The way the bike slows down approaching a tight turn just doesn't feel quite right, leading to a few frustrating wobbles deep into a race when drivers should be in the zone. There's a possibility this is something to with focal point of view or frames per second, both of which are sticking points for driving sims, but that's up to Milestone to decide upon. The balance just doesn't seem to be quite right, with a weird sense of perspective and a less than smooth FPS, with some frames dropped at taxing times. These frustrations all amount to even more because it's so difficult to read other signs, such as engine and tyre noise. In this sense, then, the core gameplay, surprisingly, feels a little devoid of tender loving care.

Most other immersive aspects of the game are also quite dull and leave something to be desired, which also detracts from the driving experience. The sound seems lifeless, with too many unrealistic droning engine tones on track. There's no discernible difference in terms of the engine noise between bikes either, and overall that side of things falls short of driving game standards today. There's also something very washed-out about the visuals, particularly the saturation and colour tones of some of the smaller details players will spot occasionally, like tree foliage off to the side of the track.

There is a sense, then, that perhaps this title was rushed because there was a gap in the market. With very little competition, if any at all, pushing out something solid enough, but overall perhaps fairly average, will at least feed the hungry Moto GP fans. However, there's no denying that this game could have been ten times better with all the same modes, tracks and content intact if only Milestone had dedicated a much bigger chunk of their time to the core experience. Since they've produced so many games under licence that have these defects, there's a sense of broken record syndrome kicking in. However, in their defence, it must be said once more, Milestone under no restrictions doesn't just make good racing games - they're capable of making excellent ones. Valentino Rossi: The Game can, however, be filed under the 'missed opportunity' category, like so many of its former projects. This is a shame.

That said, it's clear that Valentino's influence, just like Sebastien Loeb's on his project, has transmitted itself extremely well. The Rossi Experience mode is no doubt a memorable one for anyone who wishes to trace the span of his illustrious career. The content and videos that players are treated to whilst playing through these races really do provide a very personal window into his racing career. In this one sense, then, Valentino Rossi: The Game is a success. Milestone certainly seems to have an appreciation and skill at interacting with iconic drivers and extrapolating their racing memories into very accessible virtual terms. This seems like something they should draw upon more in the future, especially as it's a way to produce more distinctive racing titles.