Game - Driveclub Bikes

Publisher/Developer - Evolution Studios / Ubisoft

Platform - PlayStation 4

Release Date - October 27th, 2015

Price - $14.99 expansion / $19.99 standalone

 

Driveclub Bikes is the first foray for Ubisoft and Evolution Studios into the world of motorcycle racing. Available as both an add on and stand alone game for Driveclub exclusively on the PS4, Driveclub Bikes. If there has been a game with a troubled launch that has turned it around as much as Driveclub has in such a short period of time I'm hard pressed to find it. Bikes takes what's great about its 4-wheeled counterpart and adds a tremendously fun 2-wheeled version which is both aggressive yet not too challenging to cause frustration. Those who own the Driveclub game itself also receive a 25% discount on the expansion as well.

All 78 tracks in the original game are available in Bikes along with 42 events in all modes such as Races, Time Trials, Skill Challenges and various Championship events. One of the best parts about Bikes is the helmet cam. The motorcycle version of cockpit view, it's an intense feeling more than a vehicle because in your head you know it's a bike, even if it is only a game. With the dynamic weather feature also included in bike, it makes rain drops fly off your windshield, hit your visor and beed off to the side just as it would in real life. Similar to Forza Motorsport 6's dynamic weather effects, Driveclub Bikes adds a variety of visual enhancements but makes it easier for most players and avoids frustration by stopping the weather from impacting your driving controls. 

Whether or not you are on dry land or in a lightning storm, Driveclub Bikes' controls remove the main issue everyone has with motorcycles: Most of us don't know how to friggin' operate them properly. Understand one thing - Bikes is not RIDE or MotoGP 15' for that matter nor should it be. It allows all players to race a motorcycle without the fear of crashing at the slightest miscalculation of a turn or any environmental miscue. I mean, after all, how many of us know how much lean is needed so we don't highside or lowside a bike while taking a turn? Exactly. Most of you reading this probably can't operate four wheels properly let alone two. In Bikes, you can still crash of course but it takes more than just not turning the perfect way. If you drive into a wall or tree for that matter you'll wreck, but you'll start back right on the track as the game plops you just slightly behind where you were at a coasting speed. All you have to do is never let go of the throttle and you'll be back up to full speed in a second. It's a good addition that let's you focus on the race itself. As physics of motorcycles in the past have been the major gripe with players, Bikes let's you enjoy the game, the race, the environment and the overall product rather than tunnel vison on the bike looking out for that perfect turn while all the developer's hard work goes flying by unseen as you're zoomed in on your motorcycle. 

It's not a complete arcade racer style either in Driveclub Bikes as it does have a working physics engine to a point. It's not too difficult as noted but also not to easy as you'll still need to be a competent driver in order to take  home the gold. There is an entire list of mini events that you can take part in as well as online multiplayer. Either player v player online or you can go ghost style and take on a rival Club or friend's avatar in order to beat a certain time. No matter which one of the 12 motorcyles you pick from Ducatis to Suzuki to Yamaha, but they are unfortunately all super bikes. You are not going to find any choppers, cruisers or custom bikes in this expansion. Although you can customize the bikes that are in the game, the underwhelming variety of only 12 is disparaging. Of course, at a lower price of $15 you can't really complain I guess, but still wish there could have been more.

With all of Driveclubs requested features now live with private lobbies FINALLY here, Bikes and its photo mode is now the best part of the game. Even though dynamic weather adds incredible visual effects, the lack of impact it has on gamepaly makes it more of an added bonus then an integral part of the game. After all, you never know what you have till' it's gone and if it's not impacting my game it won't really bother me if it isn't there either way for good or bad. 

With private lobbies, it's not just invite who you want in it either. You have the ability to customize the race down to it's littlest detail from requiring a certain camera view be used, team race or solo or any other restriction you want. This allows you to truly see which of your friends is the best rider in the pack despite what gets put out on your social media pages. And in case they forget, you can always save the replay to remind them later. Skill events are Bikes' answer to Driveclub's drift challenges. Each one is short and takes around 30 seconds or so to complete. With so many people taking part the leaderboards are crowded with miniscule time differences between each other. As a result, you'll find yourself repeating challenges over and over in order to climb up that board on your quest to the top. 

Driveclub Bikes is a good blend of both physics and frustration removing fun as far as motorcycles are concerned in games. Could it be more realistic? Of course. Could it still be easier? Sure, no doubt. It does however reach a decent blend of being right in the middle between a simulation and an arcade racer which most race game fans will enjoy to at least try out.

 

Bikes is available now on PS4 at the cost of $19.99 as a standalone or $14.99 if you already own Driveclub