Milestone is back on track.
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Italian developer Milestone has dedicated its 22-year history to producing some of the most recognisable motorsports titles around. The studio has produced iterations in the Ride, MXGP and WRC series, and continues to make a name as one of the genre’s leading developers. Milestone’s latest project, Monster Energy Supercross, strives to capture the rapid intensity of the sport and offers everything that a fan could ask for. Iconic tracks such as the Anaheim 1, Daytona International Speedway and Angel Stadium Speedway are all present, as well as more than 60 riders from the 2017 season and components from 80 recognisable brands.
Jumping right in: the first thing you’re probably going to be drawn to is the career mode. You start by customising your rider and then chosing between either the 250 West or East series (with 450 events to be unlocked later). By completing races, you’ll earn SX Credits for drifting, executing perfect jumps, and for finishing in a respectable position. These credits can then be spent on upgrading your bike by purchasing parts from an extensive catalogue of brands. There are even sponsorship opportunities that you’ll receive for completing objectives such as finishing in at least 10th. Besides offering these unlocks, however, the career mode feels a little underwhelming and we wish more was added to distance it from the other modes available.
Getting into the rhythm of races certainly takes some getting used to and is something we struggled to get to grips with as we ended our first race in a lowly 20th place. After the starting gate drops, you’ll speed across a gauntlet of muddied ramps trying to maintain your bike’s balance as you lead a pack of 21 to the finish. The key to success is to ensure that you manage your speed and keep control of your front and rear brakes. If you hit a ramp too hard or with your wheels poised at the wrong angle, you’ll be thrown off like a ragdoll and will lose precious time as you wait to respawn.
For those who are struggling, Milestone has fortunately taken measures to ensure that new players won’t have too much of a bumpy ride. Similar to the Forza series, there’s a handy rewind feature that allows you to revisit any mistakes you’ve made; perfect for those tricky corners where the AI can stumble into your path. You can also tinker with the physics and the AI to make things more easy or complex, so there are further options here for veterans who want them. Purchasing better equipment, like a shiny new exhaust or suspension system, can help improve levels of speed and handling, which in turn can give you a much-needed edge.
Outside of the career, there are also time trials, championships, single event races and online multiplayer. Single event races are great for you to quickly jump into and try a new course and the championship mode allows you to create your own line-up of iconic tracks. Much like similar titles, time trial mode enables you to compete against the community as you fight to get your name to the top of online leaderboards. Online multiplayer is smooth to navigate and allows you to vote for upcoming tracks and weather conditions. You can even create your own match and customise aspects like bike class, race length, and physics; there’s a great degree of flexibility.
The title really helps to capture a snapshot of what it would be like to compete in a supercross event. Mid-race you’ll snatch glimpses of the cheering crowd around you, the beaten track that has been worn by the tread of tires, and the arena lights that beam down from above. Following the race there’s even a social media feed (like Project Cars) that features the reactions of your adoring fans. All of this contributes to one of the most engaging supercross experiences we’ve ever played, but that’s not to say it isn’t without its flaws. The framerate often takes a dive when the 22 riders smash into each other on the first corner, and racers hurtling off their bikes like ragdolls look hilariously bad.
Quite easily the most fun we had with Monster Energy Supercross was with its track editor, which allows you to create bespoke courses before sharing them with the community. Here you can create both indoor and outdoor tracks laying down your own jumps, whoops, and spiralling corners. The tracks you’ve created can be played across all single-player modes (apart from the career, of course) and you can play on them mid-construction to preview your changes. You can also download other players’ creations, so it helps to build upon the already solid track roster and presents many extra hours of gameplay.
With Monster Energy Supercross, Milestone has made great use of the license and delivered what feels like a true celebration of the sport. Its high-energy races really capture the essence of its real-life counterpart and there’s plenty of recognisable content including iconic tracks, professional racers, and notable brands. The robust track editor also works to cement it as a solid all-round package, giving players the freedom to share their tracks with the community and access new content. The learning curve can be steep, and the career mode is a little lacklustre in some respects, but with supercross titles falling into a niche category and not coming along too frequently, we’d urge you to check this one out if you’re a fan.
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Keyword: Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Videogame