By now we all know that Italian studio Milestone are a powerhouse of all things two wheeled. From their down and dirty MXGP series delivering off-road thrills to the prestige MotoGP series and, of course, the RIDE series, it’s safe to say they know their way around a bike. RIDE 5 is the latest instalment in the venerable series.
RIDE 5 takes the foundations of the past four titles, and adds a bit of a mixed bag of new ideas. Ideas that sometimes add to the game, but hold it back at others.
Glove Story
In a world where the F1 and MotoGP series of games is pushing for a more story driven career mode, RIDE 5 seems to be firmly stuck in first gear.
RIDE 5‘s career takes a very old-school approach. You race your way through a number of different races and championships all based around different classes. Every so often a seasoned narrator spouts lines about the art of racing and what makes a racer in a rather monotone vox.
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The career mode is adequate but it lacks the narrative hooks that other motorsport titles have. The story element of RIDE 5 is not going to help drive you on through its different challenges.
Pure Racing
Outside the career mode, your options are all a bit limited. You get your standard racing modes – nothing truly griping or especially innovative. Except for the 24hr endurance races, which are worth a punt to see if you’ll enjoy the format.
The gameplay of RIDE 5 is generally more accessible than other bike racing games. But make no mistake, there is a level of skill needed to get the most from your two-wheeled monster. And before you attain that mastery, you will taste the kitty litter more times than you will like.
New Biker
Thankfully, there is a slick rewind mechanic that can erase the mistakes of the past in a few seconds and lets you have another go at kissing that apex. And beyond this, there are also a number of aids you can experiment with. Auto braking and turning aids for example.
The RIDE series has always had an eclectic track selection and RIDE 5 continues this tradition, as one minute you’re blasting around Imola and Donington Park and then you’re hitting the road racing scene and gunning it around the Southern 100 and the Ulster GP.
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If you’re a British Superbike fan, you’re in for a treat. RIDE 5 features a lot of the series most iconic tracks. Tracks Snetterton and Oulton Park are rarely seen in the virtual world but they’re here and they’re wonderful.
Hundreds with a H
The RIDE series has always focused on bringing you a wide array of bikes from the world’s best known manufactures. RIDE 5 continues this tradition and you’ll find two-wheeled powerhouses like BMW, Yamaha, Ducati and MV Agusta here.
There are over 230 bikes to pick from right out of the box – a impressive selection in terms of quality and quantity. And there’s even more on the way through paid DLC.
Additionally, once you have a new ride you can spend hours tinkering with it in the garage. RIDE 5 features a very healthy customisation system that lets you slap on new parts to milk out just a few extra horsepower.
Custom RIDE
This level of customisation also bleeds into your rider. You can kit them out in the latest gear from big name firms; like Alpinestars, SIDI, Dainese, Arai and Shoei. And this biker customisation is a lovely touch.
There is even a fairly robust livery editor so you can make you own mark on your bike and rider too if you wish and then share it with the community online.
The online side of RIDE 5 is a bit lacklustre. It works fine, it’s fun and handles perfectly. However, having no rankings or overall leaderboards make it all a bit pointless.
Gorgeous Visor
RIDE 5 looks amazing at times. The highly detailed bikes and gear look very realistic and inviting. The dynamic weather is also very nice to behold.
However, other aspects of its visual presentation are a bit questionable. Characters and their animations are rough. That said, RIDE 5 is a game about throwing a 200mph machine around the twisty bits, and when its doing that, it’s very pleasing on the eye.
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The audio of RIDE 5 is your standard Milestone fare. Expect bikes to sound amazing while performing a capella – there’s no in-race music. Many will enjoy the sound of you wringing the neck of a Suzuki GSX-R 600 down the straights. Some might find it grating after extended play.
Middle of the Track
RIDE 5 feels like a game that can’t make its mind up as to what it truly wants to be. I can’t tell if it’s a title aimed at the hardcore gear heads, or if its supposed to be a welcoming starting point to newcomers. While it has some great accessibility options, the career mode is outdated. But then again, the moment to moment racing of RIDE 5 is thrilling.
Overall, RIDE 5 is a very solid racer that has shows obvious love, passion and reverence for its subject. The formula just needs a few more tweaks and R&D parts to get it truly race ready.