My Top Ten: Motorcycle Games
Two wheels are definitely better than one. Probably even better than four.Published 07/08/2009 at 12:00 by colossalblue
I like motorcycles but I don’t ride one myself due to being too fond of a comfortable chair and a roof when I’m getting from A to B. I do, however, like to live vicariously through video games. Here’s my favourite instances of motorcycles in video games, use the comments to let us know yours.
- Road Rash – Can anyone think of a better scenario than this: Californian highways, powerful motorcycles, multiple people to race and punch in the head. It’s just perfect. Even just typing this out I’ve got the theme music running in my head. EA, if you’re reading, please give me a downloadable HD remake with online play for the stores. You can charge whatever you want for it, I’ll save up.
- 3D Deathchase – My personal first experience riding a video-game motorcycle was with this game. It was on the ZX Spectrum 48K we used to have connected to a black and white TV in the kitchen (and eventually a colour TV that looked like it fell of the ark when Noah threw the rudder round a bit too sharply). Race a motorcycle through a forest and try to shoot two enemy bikes. Apparently PlayStation Home parodied it in their alternate reality game “Xi”. If they’d told me that I might have ventured into Home…
- Super Hang On – You can keep your SBK09 and your MotoGP series. This was real motorcycle video-game racing. Featured a track for each continent and each one had a different ending if you won the race. One of the endings featured an awkward quasi-lesbian moment that was confusing to the 8-year-old me who just wanted to race bikes!
- Road Rash II – The second best game ever to feature motorcycles. I don’t do my top tens in any particular order (to prevent arguments and personal confusion) but if I did, this would be right near the top. Just behind Road Rash. Seriously EA, please?
- GTA: Vice City – The first time motorcycles appeared in everyone’s favourite crime-em-up and I spent hours flying off the outdoor steps of the apartment block at the top of the left hand island. Not on the scooters though, those were crap.
- Mario Kart Wii – They put bikes in this, who knew? My missus says I have to include it and since she puts up with me writing top ten lists in bed at midnight she gets to have her say. Apparently they’re only good if Yoshi is riding them. I know she fully supports my Road Rash campaign really…
- Metal Gear Solid 4 – That level on the back of the bike. It was good that wasn’t it? The bike was a Triumph Bonneville and it was lovely. Shame the level was all wiggly and I couldn’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo.
- Tron – Possibly the most famous video-game motorcycle that isn’t. It’s actually a “light-cycle” which draws a solid wall behind it causing your competitor to crash horribly and probably die. They are making a new film (they already made one pretty terrible film years ago which achieved cult status) which is bound to bring out all manner of Flash games in tribute.
- Road Rash III – I’m not going to give up on this. The third best game featuring motorcycles ever created. If anyone wants all the money I’ve got they should seriously consider remaking this in HD and putting it on the PSN or XBLA (or, preferably, both). I’m buying it. Really.
- Trials 2 – Another older game which is getting an HD update on the XBLA soon (can anyone think of another motorcycle game deserving of that treatment?). This isn’t about speed, it’s about finesse, balance and timing. I played the old original shareware version on PC for hours and the sequel was like moving into a new age. It had textures on the obstacles.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
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cc_star | 07/08/2009 12:02
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I was hoping my fave Motorcycle games would be there, and all 4 of them are.
Super Hang-On and of course Road Rash 1 to 3
Come on EA remake them for the PSN with online, I’d even pay full RRP (or more) for them
Gastos84 | 07/08/2009 12:05
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Can you imagine the outcry that Road Rash would cause nowadays?
DeathByNumbers | 07/08/2009 13:54
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I don’t know it’d be awesome though – it was the only game that my father would sit alongside us as children and watch! Swinging chains etc to knock off other bikers, that would be awesome on the psn maybe even with online multiplayer thrown in!
minerwilly | 09/08/2009 11:17
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Wow could you imagine how much fun this would be online ! I really used to love all the different characters and how they had different personalities . It seemed like the AI used to remember if you had earlier twatted them of their bike and they would after you . So so much fun that game as well as the upgrading aspect which was cool too.
Ah great memories and what a fantastic machine the Megadrive really was eh. Right back to my Sunday morning marmite on toast .
nofi | 07/08/2009 12:06
Wants a custom tag.
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Wheelie on the Speccy was also ace, my first ‘bike game.
nofi | 07/08/2009 12:07
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Oh, and Kickstart II was great, too.
colossalblue | 07/08/2009 12:10
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Kickstart II was great, I’d forgotten that. Never played wheelie though…
Severn2j | 07/08/2009 12:13
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I loved Kickstart.. I played it on the Atari 800 XL tho. Oh! and Eddie Kidd’s Jump Challenge!
(That was on a BBC Micro)
Windswept fairy | 07/08/2009 12:07
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Super Hang On…. awesome game, love to see that as a download. I used to love the older MotoGP games on the 360 with the extreme modes but not to fond of the newer titles since the license was given to another company, more than likely pick up a copy of SBK 09 when the price drops down a little.
Gastos84 | 07/08/2009 12:11
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Pulling up alongside a fellow biker whilst wielding a chain is extremely fun, but Vice City has to be the best bike experience for me.
I hated that MGS4 level. But that was probably due to it being shakier than an 80 year old diabetes sufferer!!
rht992 | 07/08/2009 18:06
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what! that level was amazing. it was like something from a Hollywood movie
H3O | 07/08/2009 12:24
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I liked Tourist Trophy. We need a sequel. The first felt a bit like an experiment.
hannes_truce | 07/08/2009 13:01
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that was a quality game GT on bikes. especially in first person, scared the crap out of myself playing that more than a few times
tom_lord | 07/08/2009 13:11
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Yup, have to agree there. It was well produced and has masses of potential. Even though it left me cold and I didn’t think it was as good as a full-blown GT game, they really should make another
mark w. | 07/08/2009 12:25
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I liked the motorcycle part of Burnout Paradise a lot…
Jumping Monks | 07/08/2009 12:29
Legend
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Was thinking that too…
though tbf it is merely an add-on, the game is primarily about cars.
CrazyKrissZ | 07/08/2009 17:21
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Yes, but it’s the greatest free DLC I ever had!
toutski | 07/08/2009 12:35
Legend
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Great stuff.
Kickstart was legendary, as was Road Rash.
Manorhowze | 07/08/2009 12:39
Driving God
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3D Deathchase was one of my first ever games and I agree with nofi that kickstart deserves a mention.
I dont know why they havent remade Road Rash as it would be like printing money. I dont know many people that wouldnt pay for that.
cc_star | 07/08/2009 12:46
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There isn’t anybody alive who wouldn’t buy Road Rash/SSX III/Tricky and pay whatever EA wanted to charge
Vandix | 07/08/2009 12:50
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I wouldn’t buy Road Rash… I’m still alive, though….
Watchful | 07/08/2009 12:51
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While you wait for a new Road Rash, don’t forget you can ride up alongside other motorcyclists/ATVers in MotorStorm:PR and punch them off of their bikes/ATVs.
tom_lord | 07/08/2009 13:11
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Love doing that, especially online.
DeathByNumbers | 07/08/2009 13:55
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I forgot about that! That’s awesome!
*goes off to load up Motorstorm:PR*
Lorcan | 07/08/2009 13:05
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I really like the idea of a Tron game nowadays.
Not as a full title, but a downloadable multiplayer thing. The leaving walls thing could make for an excellent game mechanic!
Gastos84 | 07/08/2009 13:32
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There is bound to be one soon. Especially what with Tron 2 coming to cinemas very soon
Colinbarr66 | 07/08/2009 13:44
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Road Rash was epic. Bring it to the store Sony please. Its one of my favourite all time games
What did make me laugh is the advert on this page advertising motorcycle insurance
Colinbarr66 | 07/08/2009 13:45
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In fact I’m going to give the PS1 version a quick bash, I liked that version too
BoyDay | 07/08/2009 14:07
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When I read the title I thought “if Road Rash isn’t first on the list then the list is bollocks”. The list wasn’t bollocks.
colossalblue | 07/08/2009 14:29
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You should know by now that whenever possible I will work Road Rash, Sensible World of Soccer and Jet Set Willy into my top ten lists. 3D Deathchase has featured more than once too I think…
This whole list was, in fact, just an attempt to get all three Road Rash games into one list. And now I’m going to try to get EA to read it…
minerwilly | 07/08/2009 18:09
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Im with you on the Jet Set Willy mate , I am gonna take a wild guess and say you are 33 or 34 ?
Cjdamon042 | 07/08/2009 14:14
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The only motorcycle racing game I actually own is Moto Racer for the PS1. I thought it was pretty good myself. Other games that I’ve played that include motorcyckes are Mario Kart Wii (better than karts), Burnout Paradise, GTA, Tomb Raider, a few racing game demos (like MotorStorm, MotoGP etc) and I guess FFVII lol
parsleyboots | 07/08/2009 19:48
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Moto Racer was one of my favourites, too. I really liked the risk vs. reward, wheelie-to-go-faster mechanic. Plus, both the street and dirt bike modes were fun in their own way; it was almost like two games in one. I’m hoping it’ll get released on the PSN sometime.
Video of the first circuit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD-lTl9Zr48
Ah, nostalgia.
double-o-dave | 07/08/2009 14:36
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Street Hawk on the speccy was pretty special! You can’t beat a lazer on the front of your bike.
I can’t even remember a motorbike level on MGS4????
fid | 07/08/2009 14:41
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where’s kick start???