MXGP3 release is closer than over.
Continue the summer fun with outdoorsy adventures like MXGP3 - The Official Motocross Videogame and Rapala Fishing: Pro Series.
Annually-released games tend to offer incremental updates, but WRC 7 was a significant step up for the series. In many ways, WRC 7 outshines DiRT 4 thanks to its authentic physics, improved graphics, and new epic stages. The WRC 2017 saw significant regulations changes permitting more powerful cars harkening back to the Group B era, which made the cars in WRC 7 much more exhilarating to drive, requiring a more aggressive approach. These changes meant Kylotonn had to tweak the physics engine, and the resulting handling is noticeably more realistic than previous games in the series. There’s a satisfying sense of weight to the cars, which makes flinging them around corners immensely enjoyable.
Then there are the exceptional stage designs. WRC 5 was criticised for featuring special stages that were too wide, flat unrepresentative of the real-life locations, but WRC 7’s are brutally unforgiving and capture the intensity of rallying, featuring treacherous narrow sections, bumpy terrain that can send your car off course and sheer cliff drops. WRC 7 also introduced gruelling Epic Stages that can take up to 15 minutes to complete, and each environment was brought to life thanks to the game’s revamped graphics engine. WRC 7 is without question one of the most intense rally games ever made, and we look forward to seeing how the series evolves in future iterations.
Considering it represented the series’ debut on current-generation consoles, MXGP 2 was a disappointing sequel. The track deformation was downgraded, the over-sensitive auto rest was infuriating, and scrubs weren’t satisfying to pull off due to canned animations. With MXGP 3, however, Milestone has finally started to reach its potential.
MXGP 3 was the first Milestone game to ditch the developer’s in-house engine in favour of Unreal Engine 4, and it totally transformed the experience. The graphics look far grittier, dense crowds brought the environments to life, and the lighting is on another level. Just about every criticism aimed at MXGP 2 has been addressed, from the less intrusive auto reset to manually-controlled scrubs that are extremely satisfying to pull off, complementing the responsive handling.
The most significant addition, however, is the advanced terrain deformation. Tyres dig into the surface in real time leaving ruts and grooves, which affected the physics and added an additional layer of challenge. Every bump is felt as you fight against the ruts in the dirt, which changes how you approach the racing line in search of optimum grip. Weather effects were also introduced to the series, with rainstorms forming puddles that affect your bike's traction. MXGP 3 is a massive step forward for the series and one of the best video game representations of motocross in a long time.
