With 2020 coming to an end, Milestone decided to give fans one more treat to close out the year with the release of MXGP 2020. The sixth installment of the MXGP series brings back a number of past modes with some improvements to hopefully keep players locked in long after release. It’s Sports Gamers Online’s review of MXGP 2020.
Gameplay
When you get on the track, the first thing you’ll notice is how finely tuned and responsive the controls are. But, don’t think they are easy to get a full grasp of. From the fight for position in the first turns to going through muddy S curves, it takes a few races before getting the hang of what you need to do in order to find success.
The more difficult the track and more inclement the weather, the more you’ll need to learn the bike you’re riding. Each bike will feel different depending on the circumstances, making practice key to your success.
One of the best parts of the gameplay is how the track changes throughout the duration of a race. As a race plays out, the lines being taken by all participants can change the shape of the track. What was once a great line early on could become a detriment near the end.
There is a slight gripe with the on-track performance, however. Track and rider interaction is a bit too inconsistent for a game in 2020. Sometimes you’ll find yourself going right through objects on the course or bounce right off an opposing rider. It’s not all the time that it happens, but when it does, it ruins the sense of immersion.
Game Modes
For playing options, MXGP 2020 offers a number of modes for you to enjoy. You can do quick races, race online, take part in the career, and more.
Career mode is what you find yourself starting in right away as you create your rider with the sole goal of becoming world champion. You can either join an official motocross team or create your own while you race through the 2020 MXGP season. It’s a straight forward mode that allows you do change your contract terms, adjust your bikes, and change the length of races. It’s not bad, but I just wish there was a bit more to do off the track throughout.
Playground mode returns with it’s open-world concept. It’s a nice place to drop in and just cruise around while you get the hang of the controls and the bikes. But, personally, it’s not much to really stick with.
The track editor also returns, and is once again the gem of the game. To offer more flexibility and options for creators, Milestone added new terrain types as well as a heightmaps ability that allows you to create a track through hills and mountains. It’s easy to get used to, and an area you can get lost in creating the track of your dreams.
things can look a bit blurry at times
Online races are there for your enjoyment, and feature dedicated servers which were quite reliable during any play session. There’s even a race director mode that allows players to create almost any type of event they want.
Presentation
Visually, the game looks good but not great. With the end of a generation, the series looks as good as it possibly can. If you’re playing on PC, you can adjust the settings a bit to get a better looking experience, but the real test will be how it looks on PlayStation 5 when it launches in early 2021.
The tracks remain the best looking part of the game with each location having impeccable detail down to the individual clumps of dirt and mud. The riders do look good, and it’s nice to see how the clothing moves while racing. Even the bikes sound nice during a race.
That said, things can look a bit blurry at times like there’s a motion blur that you just can’t turn off. It’s not the most enjoyable thing to witness. All in all, presentation is where this game and series needs the most work moving forward into the PS5 and Xbox Series X era of gaming.
MXGP 2020 Review Verdict
Overall, Milestone fails to disappoint with MXGP 2020. The game feels like a lot of their past installments, but it’s still fun in its own right. The game offers plenty of accessibility options to get new players introduced while still being difficult enough for the best of the best.
The track editor is a blast, career mode can be fun in bursts, and online races are great with dedicated servers. If you’re a die-hard fan of the MXGP series or motocross in general, this a game you’re going to enjoy. There’s just not enough there to keep casual players hooked.
*NOTE: The SGO MXGP 2020 review was possible with a PC key provided by the developer.*