The effect is most apparent on the first lap, as the field is far feistier, with some trying to dive down on the inside, some on the outside and the odd one out-braking themselves and running a little wide.
The results will depend on the difficulty that you choose, as I think you’ll only really notice a difference when playing on the harder settings and you’re jockeying for position in the mid-pack.
Developer Milestone’s system for AI may be buzzword-bingo – the ‘Neural AI’ system features ‘machine learning’ for ‘smarter’ opponents – but it does at least match up to some of that hype. Moving away from your own riding skills, your rivals also provide a much sterner test. In previous MotoGP titles, each bike has largely felt like much of a muchness, but not this year. A Moto3 feels light on its toes, a full-fat Ducati is a thuggish brute, whereas a Suzuki is more nimble through the corners. Crucially, for a game that encompasses several racing categories, each type of bike rides with their own character too. The bike sound is a big improvement as well, with richer tones and more accurate results. This game is a step change for the series and not just a small evolution with a fresh lick of paint. You’ll notice this as soon as you hit the track the bikes move around more, they crackle and pop, spit flames on downshifts and feel distinctly different from each other.
