Ride Reviews
All of which feeds into Ride's bigger problem. There's not quite enough here to satisfy bike lovers, and certainly nothing to make bike lovers of the merely curious. Ride isn't a failure, but nor is a particularly great game, and like Milestone's previous efforts it's a noble attempt that just falls shy of its targets - even if it does often succeed in scratching an itch you might not have known was there.
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.
The Gran Turismo of motorbikes.
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.
It's clear to see that Milestone has set out with the best intentions in a genre that they clearly love. However, RIDE is adequate in most areas but doesn't have the same amount of polish and set of features that are found in other leading racing games. With a lack of online leaderboards to provide any challenge among friends, once you hit the number one spot in the World Tour, only the hardcore racing fans will find any reason to return to the game. The game features a large choice of stunningly recreated motorcycles to purchase and upgrade and there's enough here to keep hardcore racing fans and motorcycle enthusiasts attention for a while; ultimately, though, if you aren't a fan of the genre then RIDE will do very little to persuade you otherwise.
With over 100 bikes included in the game ranging from classic to pro-circuit bikes RIDE does an excellent job delivering an authentic motorbike experience.
RIDE's adequate in almost all areas, but it's never going to offer the ride of your life. There's a clear passion for motorcycles on display here, and petrol heads will appreciate the depth of the tinkering that's on offer – but the on-track experience is far too clinical to confidently capture the pastime that the developer is so enthusiastic about. If you want to build up a stable of obsessively rendered motorcycles, each tuned to your exacting tastes, then this may get your internal engine roaring for a while – but everyone else will find a competently made racing game that, beneath all of the gusto of its creepy announcer, never really hits top gear.
RIDE gets you the closest to the feeling of riding a motorbike possible with a controller in your hands, but is neither an exciting racer nor a particularly impressive looking PS4 title.
Ride seems to be a spiritual successor to MotoGP. While I didn't play those game back in the day, I can say I enjoyed my time with Ride. It is a niche genre, but this game is well done when it comes to creating a simulation motorcycle racing game that celebrates the culture. It looks nice, plays well, and has just enough in it to make it feel like both simulation and arcade at the same time. Motorcycle racing fans should give this one a shot. There's a lot of content in here for the bike enthusiasts to enjoy.
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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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.
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.
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 is a middle ground between arcade fun, and simulation-style detail.
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'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.
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 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.
A grand idea that gets stuck in first gear
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