Superbike World Championship

The Good
Let me begin by admitting that I am not a big fan of racing games in general, and I know next to nothing about motorcycles. The only reason I own a game like "Superbike World Championship" (SBK) is because it came bundled with some other games. Still, I take pride in keeping an open mind, so I spent an evening racing motorcycles on my computer.

These days, most computer games make their first impression with their graphics. They have to look good if they're going to capture our interest. In this department, SBK is not lacking. It looks great. Supporting screen resolutions of up to 800x600, the graphics are crisp and eye-catching. At close range, some of the textures do become a little fuzzy with pixilated edges, but this is not normally an issue when they're zipping by you at upwards of 200 km/hr. Animation is smooth. Bikes lean into the curves realistically. Wheels spin and even the transmission gears move. Riders sit up when approaching curves and hunch down on the straightaways, legs come out to steady themselves upon taking a curve just a little too sharply, they make angry gestures at other riders that bump them or cut them off and they go tumbling ass over tea kettle when wiping out. Dust trails stream out when tires touch sand and clouds of dust envelope bike and rider when that sand causes the rider to completely lose control. Water sprays out from behind tires on rainy days and mist reduces visibility. Trees and bikes cast realistic shadows. This game was released in 1999. I played it in 2003. Four years is a ripe old age for a computer game, yet it still looks great.

Electronic Arts shelled out for the licensing rights to all the bikes, riders and tracks involved in the Superbike World Championship (back in 1997, mind you) so fans of this sport get to see all their favorites. There are 12 riders, 5 bikes and 12 tracks featured.

I find that there are two types of racing game fans; the hardcore simulation enthusiast and the action-oriented player who prefers a faster, more intense but, perhaps, less realistic experience. SBK can satisfy either. In "simulation" mode, with the realism cranked up, these bikes are hard to control and the learning curve is steep! Over-accelerating can result in blown engines or wild wheelies that will throw the player from the bike. Wandering off the track onto grass or sand is a sure way for riders to find their wheels sliding out from underneath them. Bike setups can be tweaked including rake (fork angle), trail (fork length), transmission, suspension and tires.

If, on the other hand, you prefer a less complex racing experience, you can race in "action" mode, where bike control is simplified and bike setup is done for you. Even in the more realistic "simulation" mode, there are aids to assist you as you learn the nuances of racing, such as automatic transmission, accelerator, brake and speed control assists. The game can also automatically cause your rider to sit up when approaching curves in order to increase drag and reduce speed, or you can control this action yourself.

The actual racing experience is enjoyable, regardless of the mode and realism settings. The sensation of speed is well conveyed as textured asphalt, grass, signs and spectators go whizzing by in a blur. Bikes jockey for position and horrendous wipe-outs are enough to make the most stalwart player wince in empathy. Force feedback joysticks are supported. You can feel the "kick" as the rider shifts gears and the resistance while leaning into tight curves.

There's some interesting background info, both in the manual and within the game itself for the Superbike enthusiast including a brief history of the sport, rider and race stats from 1989 through 1997, technical specs for all of the bikes, brief bios on all and the riders and information about all of the tracks.

The Bad
Even in "simulation" mode, with all the realism cranked up, there is no apparent damage modelling. Both bike and rider will survive the most horrendous crashes unscathed. The only penalty is lost time while the rider retrieves and re-mounts his bike.

Although you can change the names of any of the Superbike riders to your own, you can't create a custom rider for yourself. I would have liked to set myself up as a rider, including my correct age, birthplace, etc. without having to change any of the existing riders.

The Bottom Line
"Superbike World Championship" is a nice looking, fast-paced, fun motorcycle racing game. Fans of motorcycles and/or racing games in general, and fans of the Superbike circuit in particular, should enjoy this one.