MXGP 2020 Review
Available Now On PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X and PC
Version tested: PS5
MXGP 2020 has recently released for both next-gen consoles and with a real lack of games at launch for both new consoles especially when it comes to the racing genre MXGP 2020 should be perfect for any bike fans out there!
Being a motocross fan may actually be a requirement when it comes to playing MXGP 2020 as well as there is no real tutorial and from the off players are just thrown straight into the first race. Knowing what things to change on the bike and the difference they will make is also pretty important so knowledge is sometimes key to racing here but it’s mainly practice that makes perfect when it comes to actually racing and keeping up with the pack in front. I found myself at the back for most of the first four or five races and it wasn’t until I got my head around the physics and the mechanics of the game that I was actually competitive.
The first thing many will notice is the control system and how difficult it is at first to master. However, once you get your head around the controls and memorise some of the track layouts it feels fantastic.
Some fans will be pleased to know there is a rewind button if you do make a mistake but using it can really upset your flow when racing. The rewind button did come in handy whenever I was punished for coming off the track and this was a fair bit! Literally coming off the track over some of the tapes on the sides or even going over advertisement boards is usually more than enough to completely kill the race for you as you are guaranteed to lose places if you do manage to make it to the front.
When it comes to the difficulty in MXGP 2020 it is pretty unforgiving, this also applies to the AI of other riders who have no problem wiping your rider out, and more often than not the leader will pull away and be difficult to ever actually catch up.
Visually the game looks fantastic with lots of detail throughout, tracks can look a little boring but the detail is still there with mud and the ground looking very realistic as it sprays up all over the bikes and riders. The PS5 version looked very crisp and ran flawlessly with no noticeable frame-rate drops even with all the bike on screen scraping it out on the first corner.
One thing that MXGP 2020 has with the PS5 that’s specific to this version is the Dualsense features and it’s a welcome addition to actually get an idea of what these triggers are capable of. The minute you start racing you will feel the extra weight behind the triggers, this is also the case as you enter turns on the track the triggers give a good indicator in the way they feel but sadly each surface does feel the same, and not distinctive like in Dirt 5.
When it comes to sound there isn’t much to write home about, the sounds of the bikes are very close to what a motocross bike would sound like but I personally found them very boring to listen too but this could just be me.
The last thing to talk about is the games different modes, career mode is where I found myself most aside from just mucking around in the games Playground mode which we will come back to. Career mode is very basic and for some just won’t have enough there to keep players playing as it can get boring pretty fast. The main reason to play career mode will be to earn money and spend it on upgrading your bike but this is really the only real reason to keep playing.
Playground mode is possibly the best mode to just play around in as it offers players a chance to build their own track and play through it without the constant restrictions you will find on the pre-built tracks. The great thing is you can either race on these made-up tracks yourself or upload them online and have friends check out your best creations.
Verdict:
MXGP 2020 will certainly appeal to motocross fans more but there is a solid racing game here once you get your head around the physics and mechanics of the game. The difficulty is pretty unforgiving and AI will have no problem ruining your race at any corner but if you like a challenge there is certainly something here for you! The modes for me are where things are really lacking and keeping playing entertained will be difficult. The PS5 version also has some Dualsense features which was good to try out and a sign of things to come. Visually everything looked great although some tracks were a little boring to look at. Playground mode is good fun and gives some freedom to players just wanting to race around and have some fun without the restrictions. MXGP 2020 won’t be for everyone but there is certainly enough here if you are heavily into motocross if not you might struggle to get into it.
Score:
6.5 / 10
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Code was provided free of charge for my honest unbiased review.
MXGP 2020
Pros
- Great looking visuals
- Playground mode is good fun
- Dualsense features
- Once you get your head around the handling it feels great mastering corners
Cons
- No real tutorial
- Career lacks any real depth
- Tracks can look very much the same
- Track restrictions can infuriate!