System: Xbox 360, PS3
Dev: Monumental Games
Pub: Capcom
Release: March 15, 2011
Players: 1-20
Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p

The difficulty ranges from easy to what even the game's developers admit is "insane," tasking players with managing both a manual transmission and two sets of brakes. Gamers who are used to the relative simplicity of car racing games might feel more comfortable with a few assists turned on, while more experienced players will be able to enjoy the challenge of trying to stay on the track of their own will. The handling model, while not entirely "sim," should be satisfying for anyone, and those willing to take off the training wheels are in for a wild ride. Tire wear, an 'assist' that can be toggled on and off, is especially important, as is driving smoothly. Throttle happy driving at the beginning of a race will result in uneven tire wear and severely reduced stability near the end the race. On the down side, collisions that might end in a horrific accident in a real-life race often fail to produce any incident at all. The sense of danger isn't as visceral as the motorcycle racing in Project Gotham Racing 4. This works to shatter the illusion a bit, but shouldn't be game-breaking by any stretch.

Visually, MotoGP 10/11 is appealing but not mind-blowing, with a few nice particle effects and clean driver animations. Some of the tracks are lacking a few details, such as tracks that have alternate configurations (Twin Ring Motegi, Mugello, etc.). The bits of tarmac that connect those sections are absent from the tracks in-game, though it should also be noted that there aren't any alternate configurations for any of the tracks that are available either, so this is only a small issue. The amount of options in career mode means that the player has to spend a considerable amount of time navigating menus and, while they're serviceable, they lack the polish and flow you might expect from other developers in the genre. The sound effects are well-captured, though the engine sounds seem a bit tinny. The music isn't too intrusive, but it is also forgettable, which is perfectly fine.

Should you decide to take your skills online, you'll find a myriad of options here too, with races that support up to twenty players simultaneously. You can also watch should you choose not to participate.

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All things considered, MotoGP 10/11 turned out to be fairly decent if not altogether impressive. The career mode alone should keep even the most seasoned of players occupied for a considerable amount of time, not to mention the online portion of the game. We hope that in the next installment Monumental will be able to capture some more of what made previous (and other) games in the genre so enjoyable, while improving upon the already sound foundation they've laid.

By Patriel Manning
CCC Freelance Writer