Tourist Trophy

The folks behind Gran Turismo tackle the world of motorcylce racing with outstanding results.

With the look, feel and incredible depth of the Gran Turismo series, Tourist Trophy has plenty to offer hardcore motorcycle racing fans. Crisp graphics, dizzying speed, and a plethora of real licensed rides make for an excellent racing simulator, but the emphasis on realism might easily deter casual gamers and part-time speed junkies.

Road Rules
As expected, Tourist Trophy is solid in the audio-visual department. The sharp graphics accurately depict over a dozen real racetracks and a myriad of awesome bikes from the likes of Suzuki, Honda and Ducatti without making sacrifices for frame rate or clarity. And with the exception of the obnoxious music tracks, the audio presentation is dead on with the terrific racing sounds of screaming engines and blasting wind. The courses offer a pleasant range of racing environments, each with unique nuances and distinct racing advantages. Tourist Trophy is also packed with an impressive array of real high performance bikes and gear, from Kawasaki Ninjas to put-put scooters, with plenty of customization options for each bike to fit your personal riding style.

Really Fast = Really Hard
A handful of standard racing modes (like head-to-head, time trial, etc.) offer a decent variety of arcade-style game options. But make no mistake - Tourist Trophy is as serious racing sim as you're going to find, for better or worse. The realistic physics make handling these high speed crotch-rockets a hassle to handle and a nightmare to turn if you're unfamiliar with motorcycle racing - while anticipating turns in the two-player split screen mode can be a headache, too. Still, the control is tight and responsive, making any fatal face plants entirely your own fault, while the tutorial/licensing helps quickly acclimate you to competitive racing. All in all, the difficulty might turn as many casual gamers away as it will attract hardcore racing fans, which isn't always a bad thing if you're looking for racing authenticity.

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