Tourist Trophy

by Mr. Marbles
December 12, 2005 00:00 AM PST

Polyphony swaps four wheels for two in its latest racing simulator.

Let's face it -- Gran Turismo 5 is far off in the distance. So while Yamauchi is out tweaking virtual car physics to perfection, Polyphony Digital has shifted gears and is dropping two wheels. Its newest title, Tourist Trophy, is essentially moto Gran Turismo, but where the core technology is essentially the same, Tourist Trophy is quite a unique experience. Though the overall look of the track environments are strikingly similar to GT, Tourist Trophy 's gameplay has a completely different feel. For starters, Polyphony shifts the user from car to bike, but the racing mechanics are completely distinctive. In GT, players control the car, but in Tourist Trophy, players control the bike through the rider. Just as with a real motorcycle, the rider's movements affect the way the bike rides. The proper balance between a rider and its bike are essential in hitting a turn just right, and by correctly controlling a rider's movement, the proper harmony can be achieved.

For example, as a rider leans into a sharp turn, positioning his/her inner leg and elbow in different manners can affect performance in and out of the turn. It is a subtle difference in gameplay (it may feel as if you are actually controlling the bike, not the rider), but once you start tweaking your rider's style, you'll really be able to see the difference in performance and the subtle movements your rider makes in and out of turns.

Tourist Trophy is the first console motorcycle simulator, and is advertised as a combination of perfected game physics, graphics, and the balance of the rider versus the bike. And from the brief hands-on time we had with the game, we know know that Polyphony is certainly off in the right direction. At first, we thought the jump from car to bike, gameplay wise, would prove a bit jarring -- but it was anything but. In fact, the sensation of controlling a bike felt even more natural than driving a car in GT4. Riding a simulated motorcycle is a more personal experience than driving a car, especially within the first-person view. The effect of the blowing wind and the intimacy of the rider taking turns inches from the ground is gratifyingly gripping.

Like GT4, you'll more than likely want to take it slow from the get go, easing into more difficult tracks and faster bikes as you become more experienced with the riding techniques. We had the chance to play through a couple different courses, and the most difficult part was finding the right speed and position at which to take curves and turns, especially sharp ones. At times we had to step back and realize that this is a racing sim, not Burnout, as we tumbled into the dirt on the side of the track -- the ultimate skinned knee.

Tourist Trophy features over 100 licensed motorcycles from several manufacturers including BMW, Honda, and Kawasaki, and more than 35 international closed-circuit courses and city tracks, including some GT4 returnees. Events range from 250cc to 1500cc classes in Arcade and Challenge modes, and the popular snapshot Photo Mode makes the jump from GT4. There is also a boatload of licensed motorcycle gear from helmets to shoes to unnecessarily tight leather pants.

Tourist Trophy is currently slated for a spring 2006 release, so stay tuned for more coverage in the near future.