MotoGP 21 Review: An Action-Packed Simulator for Your Inner Valentino Rossi (PC)

Milan-based videogame developer Milestone is a genuine blessing for gamers who also happen to be into two-wheeled racetrack action. In 2020, the Italians unleashed what some claimed to be the best motorcycle racing game of the year, namely Ride 4. On the other hand, their MotoGP simulation franchise is not to be sniffed at either.

On April 22nd, Milestone delighted our hearts with the official release of MotoGP 21 – a highly anticipated title that promises to offer “the most authentic MotoGP experience” you’ve ever come across. Since we’ve wasted no time getting our hands on a copy, we’re about to find out whether the latest installment lives up to that brave statement.

At this time, there are as many opinions on it as there are review platforms, so we’re inclined to think that sharing our personal thoughts on this thing is a welcome feat. First things first, Milestone’s latest motorsport simulator is available for purchase on several platforms, including Xbox One, Series X and Series S, as well as Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PS5.

Thus, it is the developer’s first MotoGP entry for the newest generation of gaming consoles, while the system requirements for running it on your PC remain modest. Sure enough, updated consoles provide the perfect breeding ground for enhanced graphics, and this particular game takes full advantage of that opportunity! Although it looks considerably better than its predecessors, improvements on gameplay features can’t be referred to as revolutionary, but they’re certainly much appreciated.

Given that the single-player career mode is what makes this franchise so intriguing, let’s take a quick look at what it has to offer. Despite the fact that you’ll be given the option to jump straight into the MotoGP class and be part of an existing team, we’d argue that creating your own crew and making your way up the lower classes (Moto2 and Moto3) is a far more rewarding experience. In-game tutorials are available to help newcomers ease into the basics, which seems rather appropriate for a videogame that takes this much skill to master.

As you might’ve come to expect, effective team management and motorcycle development are also key elements for campaign progression. You will be tasked with assigning crew members across various areas of mechanical development, including engine, framework, electrics and aerodynamics. Furthermore, you must also allocate a personal manager, a data analyst and even a chief engineer.

Thanks to its challenging, yet fun gameplay and intricate customization options, you’ll find yourself sinking countless hours into completing events to acquire development points, which you’ll then spend across the aforementioned sectors. Players are able to pick between the actual 2021 calendar, or the one that would’ve taken place if it weren't for the global lockdown, with locations like Termas and Austin making an appearance.

Milestone also introduced a fresh venue in the form of the Algarve International Circuit. To be fair, this makes perfect sense since the track is present in Ride 4 – a title that’s been developed using the same engine. However, the game’s improved suspension system reveals slight differences between real-life racetracks and their in-game replications, but you won’t hear us make a fuss about these minor faults. On the other hand, what we don’t appreciate is the lack of a dynamic weather cycle.

Sure, you do get to race during different weather conditions, but these will never change during the event. Although this may not sound like a big deal, it’s hard to understand why a dynamic system was made possible in the developer’s other recent entry, while MotoGP is yet to see this feature implemented. Anyhow, let's not get too critical here; there are plenty of things Milestone got right in this year’s Grand Prix simulator, thus enhancing the franchise’s authenticity even further.

For instance, one will have to serve a long lap penalty if they release the clutch too early at the start of a race or make a habit of venturing outside track limits. Oh, and as if dealing with tire compounds, fuel consumption and brake disc sizes (among others) wasn’t enough to keep you on your toes, you must also keep an eye on brake temperature management, which wasn’t present in previous MotoGP entries.

The Italians aimed to increase the level of realism by enabling you to recover your bike manually following the abundance of crashes you’re bound to experience. While this may be a cool little touch, it does have its shortcomings, as your AI opponents will immediately respawn without having to run to their ride and pick it up before getting back into action.

Overall, the single-player mode is rather fantastic, but the same can’t be said for the online experience, which is mediocre at best. There’s no ranking system and scheduled events don’t exist, meaning that you’ll just be joining random lobbies over and over again. Needless to say, the multiplayer experience isn’t this game’s strong point, so I quickly lost all interest after the first couple of races.

Conclusion

Now that we’ve discussed the game’s strengths and weaknesses, we’ll finish on a positive note. MotoGP 21 is by no means flawless, nor is it groundbreaking compared to its forerunner. Nonetheless, it’s perfectly reasonable to conclude that it is indeed the most captivating experience of this entire franchise. In terms of value for money, Milestone’s newcomer certainly hits that sweet spot, with a price tag of $49.99 for the console versions and $39.99 for Nintendo Switch.

Additionally, European PC gamers can purchase it on Steam for €49.99, while U.S.-based players can get their copy on the Epic Games platform for the same price as the Xbox and PlayStation variants. To spice things up, you may want to consider adding the Limited Edition Liveries and VIP Multiplier DLCs to your shopping cart before hitting that check-out button, both of which are priced at $4.99 (or €4.99 on Steam).