31.3.2006

It's probably fair to say that there are those who may think that racing around a 38 mile course composed of ordinary roads, with only a thin layer of leather between you and the tarmac at speeds in excess of 200mph, sounds a little dangerous.These people might also feel that "two wheels" are entirely too few to be using for such an activity and that "four" seems eminently more sensible... they might well be right.None of this however stops the nutters who travel every year to the Isle of Man, to take part in its annual TT motorcycle racing event and now we can join them in spirit at least thanks to "Jester's" "TT Superbikes."As I've not long had TT Superbikes this is really more of a firstimpression than an informed review and as an Ex PC Gamer I wasn't sure what to expect from a motorcycle game on the PS2, or even which one to choose. I've found there are a number of pros and cons, so in case there are any more of you teetering on the brink of buying but not sure where to put your readies, I hope this helps you decide.GraphicsRight from the off TT Superbikes was a pleasant surprise in the looks department. The feeling of speed is tremendous as you tear along lush country lanes and roar through towns and hamlets.The bikes have a pleasing amount of detail on them (from the little I know about bikes) and the tyres smoke satisfyingly as you lay rubber onto the road.The view through the motorcycle windscreen is especially good, but far too tricky for the novice who is better settling for the traditional view set behind and above the rider.Some spectacular crashes are possible and all in all the sumptuous graphics make sitting through replays a joy, with the possible exception of the bystanders, some of whom are the worst I have seen trackside in a racing game.SoundThe sound is possibly not the TT Superbikes strongest selling point.In my career so far I've not progressed beyond a Honda RS125 and I wasn't expecting it to sound like caged thunder. But the wasp trapped in a baked bean tin which I heard instead was still something of a shock.I don't claim to be a real life expert, but my next door neighbour's son has a 125 which he insists on always revving up for five minutes before pulling away. It's a racy looking beast whose handsome visage is only slightly marred by the "L-plates" stuck on the back and the fact that he looks a little too big to be riding it..... but the point is that is has a fairly deep throaty growl to it with not a tined insect in sight.Various other in game effects sound similarly weedy I'm afraid so I think it's back to the drawing board for "Jesters" Foley crew.Also it must be mentioned that the race commentary used is set at far too low a volume. This is easily rectified with a little settings tweaking but it should really have been better implemented. (More on commentary later.)GameplayThe best graphics and sounds mean nothing of course if the game itself is unplayable and I'm pleased to report that TT Superbikes really delivers in the gameplay stakes.A racing game lives or dies on its framerate and TT Superbikes fairly rips along past the screen. Of course the narrow nature of many of the roads add to this effect, but overall the feeling of speed is nail biting.The game is split into two modes, arcade and challenge. The bike model seems more or less the same in both cases but Arcade will pitch you into actual races quicker than its challenge counterpart.In challenge mode you start with access to only a Honda RS125 and must earn bigger bikes, while arcade gives you immediate access to bikes through to 1000cc, but in both cases you begin with a limited access to tracks and challenges, earning more freedom as you go.The bike handling can be set to novice, intermediate or expert. Novice is virtually on rails while expert will see you rejoicing in the early stages for simply completing a lap without falling off! The "one more go" factor at this level is high, as you find yourself determined to finish on the podium (required for progression) or miss a challenge with the finish line in sight!Petrol heads are catered for in grand style with gear ratios, tyre pressures and compounds etc adjustable and the look of the bike and rider are customisable once the feature is unlocked.It's not all roses of course. Loading times can be a little long and some of "TT's" poorer moments include some possibly dubious physics which will see you survive a head on collision with another bike one moment, while pitching you cart wheeling from the saddle the next for the barest touch of a kerb.The aforementioned commentary has little variety during a race although it should be mentioned that at the speeds you hurtle along at, these comments become a familiar and valuable audible reminder as to what is on the road ahead. Disappointingly though the commentary is not reactive and will ignore a spill or pileup no matter how spectacular.Spectacular is indeed the word for some of the airborne antics of your bike once it and rider part company. What a shame then that the developers have placed the invisible barriers which mark the limits of the track, so close on either side that you often see the bike bounce off them, criminally spoiling the effect!In closing then, if it's track racing you want, look at "Moto GP4" (also cheaper), but if manic speed and seat of the pants road racing appeals then despite the above grumbles I heartily recommend TT Superbikes.Badger

27.5.2005

I've been eagerly awaiting this game for some time and had it pre-ordered. I have to say though that I wasn't altogether optimistic about it blowing my mind as my experiences with motorcycle racing games on the PS2 and PSX haven't been altogether satisfactory - Crescent Suzuki Racing being a very good example. I also found the MotoGP series to be somewhat annoying. My experiences with PC motorcycle racing games is altogether different, however, with GP500, Superbikes 2000 and 2001 which were all superb titles.I was half expecting that with all the time the developers spent mapping the Manx TT circuit and the Southern 100 road racing course, that the rest of the gameplay would suffer,much in the way that The Getaway had a great and accurate map but the game sucked.Well, I'm here to tell you that it certainly isn't the case with TT Superbikes! Yes, the circuits are superbly rendered and amazingly accurate; but they've also done a superb job with the bike physics and the gameplay.________________________Here's a few highlights:' Lots of bikes to choose from: 125cc (two-strokes), 250cc (two-strokes), 400cc, 600cc, 750cc, 1000cc and sidecars. Aprillia, Ducati, Kawasaki, Honda, Bennelli, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha machines are all included! You start of with one from each category and unlock others. All very accurate and sound great. Don't know why the Truimph Trophy was included though.'Leathers, lids and parts to unlock (better bikes and wheels)'Feel every bump from the B road surfaces as you fly along, get squirrely under braking and get into tank-slappers.'4 points of view to choose from: behind, from front (level), from front (higher) and behind fairing (this last view will be repeated when I come to the lower points).'Beautifully mapped roads with curbs, bumps, buildings that are extremely accurate.'Lots to accomplish in challenge mode, lots of arcade races and two player option.'Great DualShock feel.'Marvellous replays'Superb sound, especially the Kawasaki zx400r which absolutely screams and has that exhaust howl of a small capacity bike being absolutely caned! Wonderful! And the zxr750rr that just growls.'Commentary on some courses (S100 and TT) telling you about particular corners and hazards which is very useful.'Extremely playable and has longevity._____________________________________A few lowlights or suggestions for next time:' More guidance would've been nice for those of us who don't know the tracks as well (as in rally games with an arrow type system). You can have a map in the lower left corner, but this doesn't appear in fairing view (my favourite for realism).'A helmet cam view so that as you brake your head moves back and up (as you straighten your arms against the lateral g-force), as you accelerate your head drops behind the screen for better aerodynamics and as you corner your head moves to the side as you move your body weight over. Fairing view doesn't change (as in MotoGP 3). MotoGP 4 has helmet view though (Things are looking good for bike racing games)!'No Weather effects.'Not Widescreen compatibility'Speeds don't appear to be accurate: When doing 130 mph, it's more like 160. After doing a lap of the Manx TT circuit, I watched one of my On Board TT Experience DVDs and it seemed rather slow as Steve Hislop went around for his 94 winning lap. I also did a practice lap and tried to take it like a Sunday ride (30-60 mph) and it seemed like I could've got off and walked. I'm not totally sure about this one, however and it doesn't really impact the game at all... More a point of interest than a criticism.'Button configuration: You get no choice as to how you want to set your controller buttons.*Northwest 200, Assen (Dutch TT) and Ulster GP courses would've been cool.I've kept this review as simple as possible so it can be scanned quickly and yet give the sort of info I would've liked to read before purchasing. But in this case it didn't matter as the game is extremely good.Jester Interactive have set the benchmark for motorcycle racing games with this one. I won't be playing Riding Spirits II anymore. I hope Jester keep going in this area, maybe do a Superbike racer game like TOCA Race Driver II that has SBK championships from AMA, BSBK and WSBK etc. They could certainly do it well.Graphics: 4/5Sound: 5/5Realism: 4/5Gameplay: 4/5Longevity: 4/5 (I realise it hasn't been out long, but you just know, right?)Value: 3/5Bikers, greeboes, TT fans, Superbike fans, speed freaks, buy this one!

9.9.2005

I can only describe this game as AWESOME!! Because after playing on it for the first time, all I kept saying to my girlfriend was "that game is awesome!"Spending my student loan wisely, I recently purchased a Sony Playstation 2 one of the new silver slim line versions. These look way cooler than the first Playstation I got when I was younger. Any way after seeing the TT Superbike game on the shelf, I thought I had to get it. I had also heard people say it was worth buying. After walking through town trying to find the cheapest I eventually ended up at Playtime Games. The first thing the man behind the desk said was "Good game that kid" the type of bloke you know is a total game playing anorak,at that point I knew I was on to a winner!I haven't actually raced around the real life TT but know quite a few who have, and have watched it numerous times on bike TT videos. I'm confident in saying that this game is incredibly realistic. The way the bikes look, sound and handle is very good, too much front brake and you will find yourself loosing the front end. As you get used to where you are going lots of high-speed crashes are inevitable, adding to the thrill of the game. Bike selection ranges from the small lightweight class of the Honda 125's up to the mega fast Suzuki GSXR 1000's and also a bit of side by side action can be had with the very fast but hard to handle sidecars.Game playing mode can be set to Novice, Intermediate and Expert. I prefer to set it to intermediate. This way it's easier to control but the game still allows you the freedom to go round the corners at high speed. With Novice mode the CPU assists your braking and turning. With expert level you're on your own, so is a little harder to get used to. The aim of the game is obviously to win the races. By doing so your efforts are rewarded with new bikes, sets of leathers, helmets, and different tracks. For bonuses you get pictures of real life action, videos and bonus level races.The game consists of Arcade, TT Challenge mode and has the usual Two-Player option.The TT challenge mode consists of:Master Classes- They are designed to improve your bike handling capabilities. By setting short tasks like going through a section of the course without crashing, riding without exceeding a minimum speed and making it to the finish line within a set time. These can be a little frustrating at times but this is partly why for two hours, I couldn't do anything else but master the task of going round a certain TT corner at over 78mph!Dunlop Novice Cup- This takes place over 2-3 mile stretches of the TT mountain section, racing against four other competitors controlled by the gameIntermediate Trophy- Similar to the Dunlop Novice cup but takes place over 4-5 mile stretches of the TT mountain sectionOther race challenges include the Castletown race and the Southern 100 (This race is the same but runs in the reverse direction).What did I get out of playing this game?I got the satisfaction of knowing the TT course off by heart, so I reckon this game is an actual must buy for all real life competitors of the TT races. Hours and hours of fun racing against my girlfriend who loves the game as much as I do, which is slightly worrying, but good all at the same time. It is also a game that lasts after having this game for over a month now I am still playing it with the same enthusiasm that I did when I first switched it on.For more bike reviews and news visit [...]

2.6.2007

I bought this game because I wanted to learn about the TT circuit. I didn't realise just how addictive it is. There are several serious flaws with this game - but it is just possible to forgive them because the overall involvement is so good.The gameplay is too difficult to begin with and I found it impossible to progress. The game demands that you play only through the expert level, which increases the problems: the bikes wheelie and understeer and oversteer. You will fall off so many times that it seems impossible to get to the next level. I must admit that I went for the cheat codes available on many web sites to allow me to progress to driving around the circuit. Once on the full circuit,I found that my enjoyment increased considerably. A 600cc bike is much more rewarding than the 125cc bike that you started with in the challenge mode. I reckon that the intermediate mode is just as much fun because you will not fall off all of the time. The concentration required to pilot a 1000cc machine is considerable.With any game such as this, the gameplay is bound to be difficult because there can only be very little feedback from the controls. The keypad buttons to control the throttle and brake are too coarse and I would recommend using the righthand joystick instead, which allows some degree of subtlety.Once up and running, I found it fairly easy to progress to wins in the Manx GP (despite not having completed the challenges). However, it is still all too easy to fall off. I guess that I have only completed the course a couple of times without falling off at least once.The way that other competitors try to push you off the course is most unbelievable and unrealistic and takes some of the enjoyment away from it. I suppose that you can get around it by qualifying No 1 for the race and getting away in front.Crashed competitors magically re-appear in front of you, which is not much fun when you are doing 150 mph! They can destroy an othewise faultless lap.The soundtrack is none too convincing. Bike sounds are not particularly realistic, but perhaps the most annoying feature is that the bikes around you make as much noise as your own machine. If you are driving with manual gear change (more satisfying), it can be very difficult to know when to change gear, especially when you need to look away from the road to see the tacho. Warning lights would be better or the tacho mounted in a better place. Likewise the speedometer, which you need to look at for the slower bends.Spectators at the circuit are the programmers' idea of an in joke - surely themselves striking silly, two dimensional poses. Get rid of them!Despite these niggles, I now know a lot about the circuit - the names, the bends, straights and the challenges. And it is difficult to go a day without doing at least one lap of the mountain circuit. The problems would be so easy to sort out and I hope that someone spends the time to put it all right.

12.6.2005

I will start my review with the good points about this game, as I can only think of one bad point worth mentioning!!In terms of gameplay and realism this game is streets ahead of any other Motorcycle sim I've previously experienced - such as Manx TT superbikes (Saturn), and Riding Spirits PS2.Let's start with the 125cc machine's. The sound reproduced of the bike's 'two stroke' engine, from idle speed to hitting the powerband is astonishingly realistic.Getting the bike up to speed from a standing start requires a fair bit of skill in itself. You have to hold the throttle (Right Analogue Stick) at part opening as you get the sensation that the rider is slipping the clutch for the first few hundred yards down the road.'Nailing'

21.10.2006

There are not many bike games on any format to rival TT Superbikes for sheer playability and enjoyment.The graphics are simply the best of their kind with those living on the Isle of Man testifying that every detail of the famous course right down to the fields,buildings and brick walls have been included.The realism of speed and difficulty of gameplay make this a game that you will enjoy for quite a long time as you are not allowed onto the TT course until you have won certain races and earned the right to ride the big bikes.I heard how good the game was having read the reviews but thought twice at buying it because when it was released it was a very costly game and if it was a disappointment

1.10.2007

This is a brilliant game. Seriously, the handeling seems realistic (I havn't ridden a motorbike, just quads, so I can't be certain), and the graphics, considering the size of the IoM circuit, are astonishing. The bikes look the same, the leathers look the same, and so on. In sidecar mode, the direction of the turn makes a differnce, the same as the real thing, and it's predictable. Some bike games (MotoGP3 springs to mind), cornering without leaving trails of black rubber on the track. Not this, the tyres bite, you can "feel" the road, but if you overstep the mark, you can kiss a perfect lap goodbye, you'll be taking a digger. From riding push bikes (think Lance Armstrong etc. not BMX or MTB)

29.5.2005

I'm a biker and I've always been a fan of road racing. I bought "On-Bike Road Race Experience" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005OW3D) to get a rider's-eye perspective of how tough and satisfying it really is.I was blown away with the on-board cameras in the DVD: riders fly along almost impossibly twisty narrow roads at speeds of up to 190mph; they go from upright to fully cranked in fractions of seconds and miss solid stone walls by a matter of inches; they're fully committed blasting though corners at well over the ton; there are wheelies galore - even when almost fully cranked over and while travelling at lunatic speeds.This game demands YOU do all of the above if you want to be competitive.

29.8.2005

I waited a long time for TT Superbikes to be released and I wasn't disappointed when it finally arrived. Whilst I can't name all the riders and all the bikes, I enjoy watching the TT on TV and this game is a great attempt at recreating that competition.The number of bikes, riders, leathers and helmets to choose from will mean that every fan will find their favourite's machine. There's everything from a little 125 to a sidecar to the crazy TAS Suzuki GSX-R1000. It's a shame there are no classic bikes but you can't have everything.The endless challenges add an extra dimension to the game, although racing against other riders can be hard when they try and run you off the road! However,

22.3.2013

This is the second copy of this game that ive bought, due to the first getting damaged when my dog knocked my playstation off of my television stand. It is a really good game which ive been playing nearly every day since I got it. I went on line and found out how to access the whole game as soon as i got it, at the main menu screen press R1,R2,L1,L2,R1,R2,L1,L2 and then type WORLD CHAMP. This gives you access to all games and all bikes, and if you save your game after, the whole game is available every time you load up your saved game at the beginning. If you then do the R1 R2 thing again and type boost, the big bikes will go over two hundred miles per hour and makes it really great fun.

25.5.2013

haha always fancied getting this since it came out years ago,finally got round to it and glad i did! i love it,but you gotta be a fan of the tt to wanna learn the circuit,to reveal how good it is. the bike handling and the level of detail in the physics engine is quite impressive,on the ps2 controller i use a joystick for steering/rider movement and the touch sensitive buttons for the gas and brakes and not both sticks,gears are on front buttons. with a light touch you can simulate slipping the clutch and feathering the brakes,besides full on,but you gotta have a light touch,which adds to it cos when you get a ripple on you just wanna mash the s*** out of'em, and it saves the controller getting trashed too!

26.2.2006

So i brouht this game because i was really pleased with moto gp 4 and thought this has got to be as good, if not better. Well i was right this game is the best motorcycle racing game on the PS2 to date. The Bikes are superb, all realisticly modelled on the real things and they handle pretty close to it as well. The 125 and 250 cc two stroke machines are wild and unpredictable and the 600's 750's and 1000's are rocket machines just as in real life. The Isle of Man course is also accuratley modelled and if you've never seen them racing round this track your in for a surprise as this course is no safe race track sectioned off from things that hurt, it's the glorious roads of the Isle of Man your racing on,

1.5.2005

This game has been delayed & delayed for over a year now, and i am happy to say it has been released and it is the most realistic motorcycle game out! The TT and the Southern 100 course are pretty much exact replicas of the real thing, and if you change the view so it seems like your on the bike, it really does look & feel like the real thing. Almost everyone on the Isle of Man with a PS2 will buy this game, if they have not already, i know that i got it the day it came out as I had seen videos of it on the official website. The game is very long to complete and it will take you days upon days to complete it 100%. So the graphics, sound and gameplay are all spot on.

2.5.2005

Been playing this a lot and so far I really, really like it. At first I wasn't that impressed as the handling seems a little off but as you unlock the faster bikes and side cars the game comes into its own.Played a few races to unlock the full TT and boy that's when I knew my money was well spent. A full 37 mile lap is truly breath taking! I'm truly impressed how they have managed to cram so much detail into the course. Yes the graphics aren't the best out there but they do a fantastic job of recreating the course. Being from Northern England myself, the scenery is very similar to where I live hehe.Overall I'm glad I bought this, it's a worthy addition to my racing collection and is unique in its own right.

3.7.2005

TT Superbikes on the PS2 has great sound and graphics. The music is a bit dull which can be turned down but the rider physics and handling is outstanding. If you are looking for a pick up and play racing game that is easy to get into, l'm afraid you need to look elsewhere. This game is rock hard and took me several hours just to complete the 125cc challenge, as this can only be passed on the most difficult setting. Actual racing seems to work better on a medium difficulty setting which aids in braking allowing you to concentrate on the road ahead without taking too much away from the game. The game is very difficult, but the sense of speed from different camera angles is superb and will have you coming back for more even if you lose.

TT Superbikes - Real Road Racing (PS2) - Reviews

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