Superbike 2000
Score: 86% ESRB: Everyone Publisher: EA Sports Developer: Interactive Entertainment Media: CD/1 Players: 1 - 2 Genre: Sports (Racing)/ Simulation
Graphics & Sound: I haven’t played the PC version of this game, but I understand it takes a burly graphics card and processor to pull off the demands Superbike 2000 makes on a system. The PlayStation version does look good, but how can it take so damn long for everything to load on a console?!! Racing games typically load all the good stuff up front to be able to run smooth during a race, but SBK 2000 has so much loading between stages that it lowers the “fun” factor quite a bit. Background music is good, but low-profile; it definitely takes a backseat to the growling bike noise around the track. EA Sports did a good job of sampling, so gear and speed changes are reflected accurately in engine pitch. A nice intro showing FMV footage of superbike highlights plus some CG and wire-frame animation round out the graphics.
Gameplay: Superbike is somewhat of a mystery for most people in the U.S., but it’s a big thing in Europe. Only one of the 13 tracks is even in the States, and most of the riders and motorcycles are European. For fans of Superbike, this is a big thrill, like NASCAR for the rest of us. All the official tracks, locations and well-known riders are included in the game, along with the major SBK bikes. The exotic brands are Ducati and Aprilia, but all six are represented faithfully, right down to the decals. There are several modes in the game which mirror the full SBK event, but you also have the freedom to race a single track. Single-Player Mode has either a Quick Race option or Race Weekend. Quick Race gives you a single practice race while the Weekend Mode lets you take part in a full Superbike event. The Weekend is way more in-depth with four full races; you practice, qualify for position, and then race twice for best total score. The Championship Mode includes both Quick Race and Race Weekend, but goes through all 13 courses before the final standings. Two-Player mode is nice, with vertical split-screen as the default option. I like that EA included the feature to go through Single Race or Championship mode with two racers. One thing racing games always were weak on was having a nice one-player interface, but watered-down two-player. Superbike 2000 satisfies anyone wanting to compete alone, but it’s also fun to work through 13 Race Weekends against a friend. Plus, the graphics or speed in Two-Player don’t seem to suffer. Just find something nice to do with your friend while each stage loads...
Difficulty: The settings for difficulty make it possible to throw Superbike 2000 at anyone, but there’s a strong simulation element to SBK that really comes out on the Medium and Hard difficulty levels. When set on Easy, there’s no way to fall off the bike, and the CPU will even brake in turns to help get you through a tricky section. The computer A.I. is weird because everyone seems to always be way ahead or way behind. That being said, when the difficulty is notched up, all the bells and whistles for each bike’s setup become crucial. But, more on this...
Game Mechanics: At its heart, Superbike 2000 is a simulation, and the amount of options to customize your bike is staggering. The funny thing I found was that the difference in handling didn’t seem that great, even when I made extreme changes to the setup. It’s possible to pick your tires, and then decide if the tires will wear down during each race. Bike damage can be turned off or on, and there’s a pullout pit lane for repairs during the heat of the action. An on-screen gauge lets you keep track of the wear on each part of the bike, and here’s a little hint: tire wear is important! Other custom options include the ability to set the angle of the forks, hard or soft suspension, and gearing and braking assistance. All of these are explained and broken down between front and back tires. It all looks nice, but I didn’t see a huge difference moving from one setup to another, except for the tires. Analog support and vibration options add to the realism, and using the analog sticks for steering and throttle are perfect motorcycle controls. I found the analog stick somewhat touchy, but this can be adjusted in the options menu, as a modification to the bike. The place you’ll notice your setup the most is during curves, and SBK 2000 uses a system of warning flags to notify you of turns coming up. Color coding is used to indicate the severity of the curve, while numbers in the flag show how close it is. One nice touch is how the bike will slow down depending on how much you crank the bike and lean. Setup is crucial here, because with the wrong tires you’ll slide through a curve. No powerslides though, which some racers may miss; I know I did! Each bike setup can be saved and then loaded automatically, making it easy to start where you left off with custom settings and race progress. However, only one setup can be saved on a memory card. All told, Superbike 2000 from EA Sports is a solid motorcycle simulation and fun for Superbike fans. As a racer, it falls short by getting bogged down in the custom options and also from terrible load times and mushy controls. If you love motorcycle racing, SBK 2000 will turn you on, but the overall presentation is probably more fun on PC than console.
-Fridtjof, GameVortex Communications AKA Matt Paddock
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