The world of motorsport simulations has never been richer for enthusiasts, offering an unprecedented array of virtual experiences that faithfully replicate their favorite racing series. From high-speed Formula 1 circuits to endurance prototype challenges and rally stages, virtually every major international racing category finds a compelling representation on either PC or console. This extensive coverage applies not only to four-wheeled racing but also, crucially, to the thrilling and often brutal world of two-wheeled competition, where developers strive to capture the unique blend of speed, skill, and daring that defines motorcycle racing.
Stepping into this vibrant landscape, Italian developer Milestone, renowned for its expertise in motorcycle racing simulations, brings its officially-licensed MXGP franchise to the forefront of next-generation gaming. The latest iteration, MXGP 2020, launched on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC (via Steam), alongside releases for PS4 and Xbox One. This launch marks a significant milestone for the series, promising enhanced realism and immersive gameplay for both seasoned motocross fans and newcomers eager to experience the sport’s exhilarating challenges.
Experience the Official FIM Motocross World Championship
At the heart of MXGP 2020 lies its foundation in the real-world FIM Motocross World Championship. The game meticulously recreates the excitement and intensity of the 2020 season, featuring all official teams and riders from both the premier MXGP class and the fiercely competitive MX2 junior category. Players can immerse themselves in the full pre-pandemic calendar of 19 rounds, traversing faithfully designed circuits that capture the essence and challenges of each real-world location. This official licensing ensures a high degree of authenticity, allowing fans to race as their favorite riders on iconic bikes, bringing an unparalleled level of immersion to the virtual dirt tracks.
For those unfamiliar with the electrifying sport of motocross racing, it stands out as one of the purest and most straightforward forms of motorsport to grasp. The premise is deceptively simple yet profoundly challenging: a field of approximately 20 riders explodes from a mass start, battling for supremacy in time-limited events. These races unfold across dynamic, winding dirt circuits, each uniquely sculpted with a variety of obstacles, including challenging jumps, deep ruts, unforgiving ditches, and high-speed banked corners. Unlike other complex racing disciplines, motocross demands raw speed, pinpoint bike control, and an intimate understanding of the track’s ever-changing surface. There’s no intricate pit strategy to contend with, no complex rulebooks to memorize, and no restrictive limitations to navigate – simply the exhilarating directive to crank the throttle and ride with every ounce of skill and aggression you possess.
Accessible Handling Meets Deep Motocross Mechanics
A significant draw for MXGP 2020 is its accessible and intuitive handling model, particularly welcoming for newcomers to the motocross genre. Players are offered a choice between “standard” and “advanced” physics settings, allowing them to tailor the game’s difficulty to their comfort level. Even on the more realistic advanced setting, the game provides a remarkable degree of precision control over the bike, meaning new players can quickly get up to speed and begin to enjoy the thrill of dirt bike racing without feeling overwhelmed. The immediate feedback from the controls ensures that every input feels responsive, empowering players to confidently tackle jumps and corners.
While the fundamental principles of racing lines still apply in motocross, the true mastery of MXGP 2020 lies in adapting these theories to the unique demands of off-road terrain. Success hinges on finding the optimal lines through steeply banked turns, judging the ideal trajectory and speed for executing jumps, and navigating the intricate rhythm sections with maximum efficiency. These segments of the track, often a series of rollers and small jumps, require precise timing and weight distribution to maintain momentum and shave crucial tenths of a second off lap times. It’s a dance between rider and machine, where anticipation and micro-adjustments are key to conquering the challenging dirt tracks.
MXGP circuits are distinct from the more compact, stadium-based tracks typically seen in the North American AMA Supercross series. They tend to be more open, flowing, and naturally undulating, often sprawling across expansive landscapes. This design philosophy allows for some truly stunning environments in MXGP 2020. Players will discover beautifully rendered courses that not only offer thrilling racing but also visual treats. Formula 1 aficionados, for instance, might particularly appreciate the Imola course, which is elegantly nestled between the iconic Rivazza corners, showcasing a clever integration of real-world motorsport landmarks within the motocross setting. The varied terrain and scenic backdrops add another layer of immersion, making each race feel like a genuine journey through diverse locales.
The Learning Curve: A Missed Opportunity for Novices
Despite its initial accessibility, MXGP 2020 regrettably assumes a significant level of pre-existing knowledge from the player regarding motocross techniques. As an official game of the FIM Motocross World Championship, it’s perhaps understandable that it caters to an audience already familiar with the sport’s nuances. However, this oversight proves to be a considerable disappointment for those new to the genre. There is a noticeable absence of any formal guidance or dedicated tutorial to explain crucial advanced techniques. Concepts like “scrubbing” jumps – a method of leaning the bike in mid-air to reduce airtime and maintain speed – are left unexplained. Similarly, players are left to independently discover the best approaches to rhythm sections or the optimal times and methods for shifting their rider’s weight using the right analogue stick, a vital skill for maximizing traction and control.
These techniques are not merely cosmetic; they are absolutely critical for shaving seconds off lap times and are indispensable for competitive success, especially when progressing to higher difficulty settings or engaging in online multiplayer. Without an official tutorial to demystify these mechanics, MXGP novices will face a steep and often frustrating learning curve, relying on trial-and-error or external resources to bridge the knowledge gap. This lack of in-game instruction represents a missed opportunity to truly welcome and educate a broader audience about the intricacies and rewards of mastering motocross racing.
Beyond the fundamental racing experience, MXGP 2020 offers a range of engaging modes to keep players invested. Alongside standard single races, time trials, and championship modes, the extensive career mode stands out as a core offering. Here, players can create and customize their own rider, embarking on a journey through the ranks. Starting in the fiercely contested MX2 junior category, the goal is to ascend to the pinnacle of the sport in the premier MXGP class. This progression can be achieved either by joining one of the official in-game teams, complete with their real-world liveries and bikes, or by forging a unique path by creating and managing one’s own custom team. The career mode provides a structured framework for long-term engagement, allowing players to build a legacy within the virtual motocross world.
Deep Customization and a Creative Playground
While MXGP 2020’s career mode may not boast the same intricate management depth as some of its contemporaries in other racing genres, it nonetheless provides a solid and rewarding progression system. Performing well in races and achieving objectives earns players in-game currency, which is crucial for unlocking a vast array of cosmetic customization items. This extensive catalog allows for deep personalization of both your rider and your bike. While the game does not offer complete freedom to design custom liveries from scratch, the sheer volume of real-world licensed items from actual manufacturers is genuinely impressive. Players can choose from a staggering selection of helmets, goggles, jerseys, pants, boots, and bike components from brands that are synonymous with motocross culture. This attention to authenticity means that if you’re a real-life rider, you’ll likely find the exact same gear and parts for your virtual racer that you might use on your own bike, fostering a strong connection between the game and the sport’s community.
To further aid players in getting accustomed to the unique physics and riding dynamics of motocross, MXGP 2020 features a sprawling, open “playground” environment. Set amidst the picturesque fjords of Norway, this vast area allows players to ride at their leisure, completely free from the constraints of competitive racing. It’s an ideal space to experiment with different techniques, practice cornering, perfect jumps, and simply enjoy the sensation of riding a powerful dirt bike in a beautiful, natural setting. This playground serves as an excellent, albeit unstructured, training ground for both refining existing skills and discovering new approaches to tackling the challenging terrain, offering a relaxing counterpoint to the intensity of championship racing.
Beyond the 19 officially licensed circuits, MXGP 2020 empowers players with a creative track editor feature. This robust tool allows you to design and build your very own motocross courses from the ground up. By utilizing a diverse series of pre-defined track elements – from jumps and turns to rhythm sections and straights – you can piece together intricate and challenging layouts much like a Scalextric set. The true strength of this feature lies in its community integration: your custom creations can be shared online, and, conversely, you can download and race on circuits designed by other players from around the world. While the options for locales to set your circuit in might feel slightly limited, the sheer joy of bringing a unique motocross course concept to life, testing it, and sharing it with the community makes the track editor a highly engaging and replayable component of the game.
Next-Gen Performance and Immersion
Graphically, MXGP 2020 takes full advantage of the power of next-generation hardware. On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the game runs at a dynamic 4K resolution and a buttery-smooth 60 frames per second, ensuring a visually crisp and fluid racing experience. While it may not claim the title of the most visually stunning racing game ever created, MXGP 2020 makes excellent use of the Unreal Engine. This is particularly evident in the highly impressive course deformation and degradation system. As races progress, bikes carve ruts into the dirt, corners become more rutted and challenging, and the track surface visibly changes, adding a layer of dynamic realism that directly impacts gameplay and strategy. This evolving track surface demands constant adaptation from the rider, enhancing the feeling of authenticity.
The PlayStation 5 version of MXGP 2020 further elevates the immersion through its intelligent integration with the DualSense controller’s advanced haptic feedback. This technology delivers incredibly detailed and nuanced sensations, allowing players to distinctly feel different surface types beneath their virtual tires. The subtle vibrations communicate the difference between hard-packed dirt, loose gravel, muddy sections, and even the impact of landing a jump. Complementing this, the DualSense’s adaptive triggers add another profound element to the sensation of riding. The throttle trigger can simulate the resistance and feel of the bike’s engine, while the brake trigger can convey the pressure and bite of the brakes. This tactile feedback makes it significantly easier for players to identify the limit of traction, especially in challenging conditions like wet weather or deep mud, providing a deeper connection to the bike and the track than ever before.
Considering the unique nature of motocross racing, it’s fair to ponder whether MXGP 2020 offers racing game veterans seeking something novel a deeper experience than just a fresh kind of action. The sheer satisfaction of nailing a perfect lap, meticulously chaining together jumps and navigating rhythm sections with precision, is undoubtedly one of the game’s highlights. However, with limited strategic depth or team management components within the career mode, the long-term investment for players who aren’t already passionate motocross fans might be harder to sustain. The game excels at replicating the raw, physical challenge of motocross, but its appeal beyond that pure racing loop is less pronounced.
Nevertheless, as the very first entry of the MXGP series on a new generation of hardware, MXGP 2020 stands as a remarkably solid and commendable effort. Milestone has consistently demonstrated its ability to craft high-quality two-wheeled racing games, and this latest addition to their impressive roster further reinforces that reputation. Despite its minor shortcomings in tutorialization and career depth, the game offers an abundance of exhilarating racing fun, making it a compelling title for motocross enthusiasts and a worthy starting point for anyone looking to dive into the thrilling world of official FIM Motocross World Championship racing on next-gen consoles.