Gaming
Games
Milestone’s Matteo Pezzotti reveals what you need to do to win races.
Ride 2, the new bike racing game from the makers of Valentino Rossi: The Game and MXGP 2, is here. With over 200 bikes, 30 tracks and 1,200 customisable parts, it is huge, but there’s no danger of being overwhelmed; not with these top tips from lead designer Matteo Pezzotti anyway. He tells you how to handle the different bikes, find a riding style to suit you, and set up your bike to put yourself in the best position to win.
1. Each bike is different – learn how to handle them
Ride 2 includes more than 200 different bikes, from the two strokes 125cc to some of the most powerful sport bikes on the planet. Every bike in the game has its own handling style that you have to learn before mastering your two-wheeled friend on the track.
For example, naked bikes have a smaller leaning angle compared to sport bikes, and require you to approach the turns with different trajectories. Some bikes have less torque and are easier to control when you are riding out of a turn, while the bikes with more than 200 Hp will throw you off if you don’t use the accelerator properly.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Ride 2 allows you to personalise your gaming experience by setting the difficulty level and physics you prefer. The game includes three different simulation levels, and each one corresponds to a different physics model, so you could get help in certain situations (Standard Physics) or you could risk everything with Pro Physics turned on.
This year, the game also includes a new riding aid called the ‘out of track help’; going off the track won’t be so dangerous if you are playing with this aid on.
If you find yourself going off the track at the beginning, don’t be afraid to turn this aid on, at least until you’ve mastered the track. However, if you are a simulation addict, you can turn it off and go for the perfect lap!
3. How to ride the new Supermoto bikes
One of the biggest new features for Ride 2 is the Supermoto competition. These are like motocross bikes that have been modified to be better suited to tarmac surfaces. Supermoto bikes are all about acceleration, but they don’t have a high top speed, so Supermoto tracks are usually narrow and curvy, and in some circuits there will be tarmac jumps! Supermoto bikes are fun to ride and allow you to use a drift style, but be smart; in recent years, professional riders have developed a cleaner style that brings better race results. So while you can drift, you need to maintain control and master acceleration out of bends.
4. Pay attention to Performance Points
This year, bikes are classified with a Performance Points (PP) system, a numeric value that represents the potential of the bikes on the track. For every event in the game, there is a Performance Points limit that rules which bikes can enter the race. Before joining a competition, check if the PP of your bike is enough, or you will face opponents with bikes which are much more efficient than yours. If you have any doubt, you can bring your bike to the garage and customise it. With an upgrade to the engine and a pair of new tyres your bike could reach the performance required to win the race!
5. How to set up your bike
If you want to perform good laps on any of tracks of the game, you have to find the perfect setup for your bike. My first piece of advice is to get out on the track and perform some laps to get used to the bike. Then you can work on the bike settings.
Suspensions are never easy to set up; you have to act on preload, stiffness, compression damping and rebound damping of the front and rear suspensions in order to have a stable, agile and fast bike.
Obviously it is not enough to adjust suspensions as even the handlebar plays a key role in the stability of the bike, and you should always adjust the rake and trail. Then, depending on the length of the track, it is always better to work on gears by acting on individual gears and final gear ratio.
Remember that not all of these settings are available when you buy a bike; some of them are only available after you have bought top performance components!
