I’m not a biker, never have been, so if you are looking for a professional bike rider’s review of Ride 3, then this is probably not the review for you. This game was sold to me as the Forza Horizon equivalent for motorbikes, this is the part that interested me as after many years of also not being a car enthusiast, the Forza series has become a favourite time everyone a new one is released and I have come to appreciate and enjoy. So it was with much trepidation that I donned the bike leathers ready to leap into Ride 3. Fortunately the attention to detail combined with the large amount of bikes, tracks and modes give this game the complete virtual experience for bikers everywhere. The graphics are mesmerising and fluid gameplay (with cheeky rewind feature!) allow for (I’m told) a realistic approach to riding and mastering the art of the controls and each different vehicle makes for a satisfying and enjoyable foray through Ride 3.
There are quite a few tutorials in the game, being able to stay on your bike and not go flying into the side of the wall is no easy feat. In fact it took a good few hours for me to progress to being able to complete a single track successfully and then even further to master it. Just when you have gotten used to one bike, more come along with different dimensions that through off your whole game. You then have to re-jig your skills and it kept the game feeling fresh. The game really centers around sports bikes so Kawasaki, Honda, BMW and Suzuki. There are a whopping 230 bikes to add to your collection and a ton of customisation features for your avatar.
Single player mode offers a wealth of content with 30 tracks to race on, apart from career mode, there are different challenges like drifting, racing your ghost and time trials to switch things up. There is a handy rewind feature that lets you progress quicker than if you didn’t (seriously the hilarious footage of the hundreds of times I didn’t brake in time and was sent flying from my bike is is ridiculous!) This didn’t deter me from progressing, it provided a challenge and thanks to the gorgeous graphics I was able to propel through. In addition there is multiplayer that is fully packed with single races, weekly challenges and most importantly the able to play online publically or privately. This for me was such a great addition to the game, having the option to still access this great content without being subject to the online masses really helped. Then having the option to turn it on when I was feeling more confident then opened up more content to sink my teeth into.
The tracks and bikes themselves are detailed beautifully. The graphic complexity of this game is completely flawless. Each track and different country from Germany to Japan is maticulously detailed. The bikes themselves are photo realistic, it is a pity that the avatar’s themselves are quite less than. That being said it really is a minor thing to mention but compared to how great everything else looks in comparison.
Ride 3 is the complete motorcycle experience, it offers a wide range of customisation that delivery more than the average Graphically it propels the series forwards and taking a few years to do this has definitely paid off. While there is a wealth of things to unlock and do, it can get a little grindy if played over long periods of time. I found playing this game in bursts has helped me appreciate the art of motorbike racing, and Ride 3 is the perfect vessell for it. Enthusiasts will love its attention to detail, if like me you are a newcomber to the series, you will enjoy discovering the incredible racing simulator that is Ride 3.
Ride 3 is available on Playstation 4, Xbox One and PC right now.
Review by Alaisdair “Leithal” Leith.
