Name:  - Superbike 2000
Electronic Arts Description:
EA SPORTSTM proudly presents Superbike 2000, the sequel to the acclaimed Superbike World Championship. Fire up your PC or PlayStation for the most realistic and exhilarating racing sim of any kind. Prove you can handle 150 hp with faithfully modeled bikes, bike physics, riders, and tracks. Superbike 2000 for PC takes motorcycle racing online with new Internet racing, and the all-new PlayStation version delivers true Superbike racing with easier gameplay and split-screen competition.
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New two-player split-screen racing
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New TV-style presentation with race commentary
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New motion-capture delivers incredible moves and thrilling crashes
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20 SBK Superbike World Championship riders including world champ Carl Fogarty
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13 SBK Superbike World Championship circuits
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Superbikes from Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Aprilia
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Improved Championship mode
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Weather and special effects
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Unrivaled graphics, physics, and audio--the most detailed motorcycle racing sim ever
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9/27/2000 - This game is a blast! I have been playing motorcycle sims for years, and at this time - this game is far and away my favorite motorcycle game. I own and ride a sport bike, and this game is very close to the real thing. This game definitely takes some time to get your skills (on more advanced levels), but once you do you realize it was worth spending the practice. I played this game with a MS-SideWinder Freestyle Pro, using the sensor option (when I lean right/left, the rider leans right/left). Along with the classic 'gas to go, brake to stop, lean left, lean right', you control the rider sitting up and tucking low under the windshield. The extra element of controlling the rider up and down is real cool when you get it down.
The crashes are great (you even control whether to have your guy have to chase after his bike when he crashes), the wheelies are great, the riding views on and around the bike are great (I like the ON bike view for more realism - although harder to learn to ride at first).
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LAZ Review Breakdown
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86
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| First Impression and Game Installation |
The packaging looked good, so I thought I better give it a try. The instructions were easy to follow. I selected the maximum install option (306 meg). Considering how large the installations are on so many new games, maximum is not bad considering the detail you get in the game. A great introduction with real video really gets you going (you have to wait for the end to get the whole effect). When I first started the game, I went directly into Quick Start. Did a couple of keyboard laps, and was totally pumped. |
9.5
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| Configurable Options and Ease of Use |
There are several options for each category, and they are all easy to figure out and use. Configurations include advanced joystick options for sensitivity on acceleration and braking, and left and right steering. The option menus are very easy to navigate and they are nicely grouped. |
9.0
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| Graphics |
I have to start off saying that the graphics are stunning! When you are on the bike looking through the windshield and a bike (or group of bikes) comes up in front of you as you go into a corner... it simply looks awesome! The crashes are spectacular (although I would like to be able to see some realistic looking leather damage when I or another guy bites it). The replays are great, with several camera angles. Having said all of that there are a couple things that I would like to see improved next time. I would like to see smoother/rounder edges on the tires and I would like to see some kind of internal paint program that would allow you to paint your bikes, suits, and helmets. Naturally I won't be totally content until the graphics look CAMCORDER good, but this is sure going in the right direction. |
9.5
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| Video at Minimum and Maximum |
Very good at low resolution and eye watering in high resolution. There are tons of options for video, but use caution trying to adjust your video selections. If you go into areas beyond your card's capabilities, it locks the game up (just go back in the game and change the game settings). Fortunately when you crank up the video options they don't affect the menu, so you can easily restart the game if you have troubles. I don't want to make a big deal about video adjustments messing you up, because they also included an Automatic option that tests your video card and sets the appropriate video settings. The resolution goes up to 1920 x 1440... well beyond what most of your monitors will be able to handle anyway. |
9.5
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| Sound |
The sound is good - seems like it could get better, but I don't want to you to think the sound is not good. Motocross Madness 2 has great sound, this game has good sound. The game has options for surround sound, but it wasn't working for me, and the sound quality seemed to experience some degradation as the game went on (could have been a driver problem). |
7.0
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| Beginner thru Advanced Use |
Excellent beginner options that allow you to have all kinds of help to start, then plenty of options to work your way up to advanced use. Once you get the beginner help options off, you have to contend with the rookie through pro levels. I haven't been able to get consistent wins at the top level yet, and I have some hours on this game. I can win consistently on the bottom two levels, but the Pro guys are real fast. I will be able to play this game for a long time, knowing I will likely not get bored by being able to whoop everyone on the Pro level. I found it easier to ride from the second person view from the back of the bike... but once you learn how to ride from the first person view ON the bike - it's the only way to ride! |
9.5
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| Multi-player |
This game has an excellent two player split screen, allowing Player 1 to be on the top and Player 2 to be on the bottom of the same screen at the same time. Now I know you have seen it before, but this works really good. It was a blast and the funniest split screen I have ever played in a game. Network and IP connectivity... well you found the Achilles heel of the game. About all I can really say about this option is that it is possible to connect with another player. I tried several times over the course of a couple weeks to get good connections, and experienced a lot of warping. The game play just wasn't very good when connecting. As a test, I would try other games to see if it was the connection, and other games worked fine. I am not sure what needs to be done in the game programming or network interface, but it needs something. They don't offer a modem-to-modem, or a null modem direct connect - so, you are stuck with either a network or playing on the internet through an ISP. The multi-player interface seemed fine, a very simple low-tech interface. When they get this figured out, it will make the experience awesome - because this game is still great, even without a good multi-player option. I was also unable to locate an online community to race with (like a GameSpy or Microsoft). The split screen is the only thing that leans the score over an average score - if the improve the connectivity issues, this score could definitely improve. |
6.0
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| Help Instructions |
The game uses Windows standard help files, which are easy and familiar to use. The instructions are very thorough and some of the best you will find (in fact I think every game should have instructions with this kind of layout). Now having said that, the instructions are from the Windows menu and they are not integrated in the game... in fact, I could not find any visible help files in the game (not that it needs it with the interface being so good). Even though it may not need it, I don't think users should have to exit the game to read their excellent help instructions. So, rather than getting a top grade for excellent instructions, I had to deduct a couple points for lack of internal integration. |
7.5
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| Value (price for what you get) |
EA really raised my expectations for what to expect from them and other game makers. When you like a game this much, it makes it easier to spend the money and makes you feel like you got a great deal. |
9.0
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| Recommend to Others |
Boy would I. I already have. I have told all of my riding/computer buddies this is a "must have" game (if you can get buy the multi-player option). |
9.5
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RECOMMENDATIONS to the Vendor
LAZ
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Improve the multi-player connectivity issues and get a good modem-to-modem option.
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Add a paint interface for the motorcycle and rider.
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Talk the joystick makers into making a joystick specifically for motorcycle games.
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