Ride Reviews
Playing and becoming acquainted with Ride, it's easy to figure out what the developers appreciate about riding. They love the freedom. They cherish the focus. But mostly, they honor the craftsmanship of motorcycle conceptualisation, and the unique skill it takes to maneuver a bike under pressure. It's just too bad that the same admiration wasn't applied to characteristics beyond how the motorcycles look and feel.
Ride represents an attempt at continuing where Tourist Trophy left off two console generations ago. The focus on more sim-based motorcycle racing and the attention paid to the bikes is great for fans of two-wheeled vehicles. However, its technical issues really hinder the enjoyment, and what's left is further marred by other problems that would turn away any motorcycle game novices. For now, only die-hard motorcycle fans should give this a rental; everyone else should wait until a sequel can hopefully polish up these shortcomings.
There's the essence of a good game in here - make no mistake about it - but it really is very, very hard to see it with all the problems in the way. We'd like to think that the development team at Milestone is working on patches for the game, but whether that's the case or not with their next attempt – MotoGP 15 – being released in only two months, remains to be seen.
Ride is one of the best bike racing games in years and is much more appealing than the dry offerings of Moto GP or SBK. The bikes are fantastically detailed and there are enough handling options to appeal to any race fan. Moving most events to new road circuits was a great idea too for those of you bored with the Moto GP calendar.
Visually the game is clean, with nice textures and excellent presentation. The motorcycles truly are the stars of the show though; beautifully modelled, they are filled with intricate details and are a pleasure to look at
RIDE was a brave step-forward for Milestone and while the game greatly delivers on content, it has a variety of issues from bugs to crazy-long loading times.
All in all, this is a game to buy and then spend some serious time with. Sure, there's a lot about it that's a bit corny but happily the corn is confined to the parts of the game that don't really matter. It's the racing in RIDE that's king.
There's so very little to salvage from this wreck, and even less enjoyment to be had. This game is the polar opposite of fun. Avoid at all costs.
Ride has far more good points than bad. As a motorcycle racer, it's exciting and manages to stand out in a fairly crowded market. As a sim racing game, it's accessible and plays like a dream right away. It is hurt quite a bit by horrendous load times on the PS4 and many players on Steam have experienced issues with it — so it might be best to wait a while before buying that version. The PS4 version is solid, though, and worth a purchase for racing fans.
A grand idea that gets stuck in first gear
RIDE is currently the only motorcycle game that truly embodies the fullness of the world of supersport racing with the perfect blend of motorcycle variety, environments and realistic game play. If only RIDE had a bigger budget along the lines of a Need for Speed or Forza Motorsport, but that doesn't detract from the overall game play whatsoever. RIDE is something that both casual racers can appreciate as well as passionate riders.
In conclusion Ride is good motorbike experience on the PlayStation 4 with some better than average gameplay, decent controls and some enjoyable racing. Graphically, it is a good looking game on the PS4 but some tracks do lack finesse but overall, the bikes handle well and Ride will definitely find a place amongst the hearts of virtual motorbike riders from around the world.
Ride is a game that provides truly excellent gameplay that's both solid and rewarding. A few minor annoyances hold the game back, none of which break the factors of enjoyment and immersion.
Ride is a middle ground between arcade fun, and simulation-style detail.
Ride's exhilarating character eventually fades into a tedious milieu of assertive persistence. The loop of wanting to complete races to get better bikes and parts eventually breaks into a dead end, and the speed and power of exciting motorcycles slows into a chore. Motorcycle enthusiasts are an exemption, but for others it's hard to look at Ride as anything more than Another Racing Game.
Ride is a great racing title from veteran studio Milestone S.r.l.. It manages to have depth for veteran players, while also being accessible to new racers. If you're sick of driving cars, and want a new challenge then Ride will offer up a fun one to master.
Ride has some genuinely good moments going into the corner, but it fails to remember that it needs to hit the throttle in order to power on through ahead of the pack. Competent, but hardly excellent.
RIDE does a good job with providing a solid racing effort for motorcycles and filling an underserved niche but it admittedly lacks the extra oomph and polish seen in triple-A car racers. Fans of the genre will love the myriad options for bikes and customization. Load times, dated graphics and some bugs, however, knock down the experience a peg or two. It won't be for everyone but folks looking for a solid bike racing experience on the track and the street might want to give this game a proverbial ride.
As previously stated, there's nothing wrong with the game. It offers a decent racing experience and nothing more. But considering all the high-profiled racing games on the market, it's a shame motorcycle enthusiasts have to settle for average.
It is a very robust video game and, without a doubt, one of the best two-wheeled simulators in the history of entertainment, but it is a reality that it is not a product aimed at the general public, since its level of realism and simulation can be an obstacle for casual gamers who prefer to opt for a more arcade alternative like Forza Horizon, to receive immediate fun in return without having to fully immerse themselves in multiple customization options that require a lot of patience, dedication and above all, predilection.
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