Riding Spirits

by BAM! Entertainment

Product Features

• Ride some of the fastest 2-wheel machines in the world in this highly accurate motorcycle racing game
• Ride on more than 200 real world motorcycles from Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and other top manufacturers
• Win races to earn points for new aftermarket parts, engine upgrades and improved motorcycle parts
• Race with a friend in split screen mode or race the AI characters in head-to-head competition

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005YVTT
• Item Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: September 4, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,422 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Riding Spirits is a motorcycle racing game that offers more than 150 licensed motorcycles from Honda, Honda Racing, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and other top manufacturers. Including both single- and two-player modes, Riding Spirits features an advanced graphics and physics engine that meticulously models the look and performance of each motorcycle, whether it's a Kawasaki 2900 Super 4 or a Honda CBR 900RR Fireblade.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Wish I'd held out for a rental copy, September 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Riding Spirits (Video Game)

Avoiding a futile simulation/arcade debate, what makes a game fun is not whether it's "realistic", but whether the physics of driving are plausible and whether the game gives you enough feedback so you can pick the right line or at least know when you're getting close to crashing. Any driving game that does not model suspension isn't worth much, and this game doesn't recreate the steering effects created by loading and unloading the front and rear ends when braking and accelerating. Think Gran Turismo: late-braking into turns is accompanied by tire drift, reduced steering and asphalt texture that shows direction and speed; there's none of that here.

Perhaps the most inexcusable feature is the throttle. The throttle has about 2-3 sensitivity levels (even using the analog stick) and these levels do not correspond to throttle position but to acceleration rate. In other words, level 1 doesn't put you at 50% RPMs, it just makes the bike accelerate a little more slowly than level 2. Fine-tuning entrance and exit speeds is made a lot harder as a result.

Comparisons to GT3s graphics are an insult. Another reason GT3s low opponent AI is overlooked is its graphics, and this game's graphics don't approach MotoGP 2s, let alone GT3s. Low polygon counts, lackluster tracks and lighting effects don't constitute progress in the PS2s graphics. It looks like Spike/BAM wasn't even trying.

I never turn on a game's soundtrack, so the only thing I hear is the in-race sound effects, which are like the graphics: tedious in their monotony. A little touch that was appreciated: wind noise at high speed, though it sounded like being in a convertible at 25mph, not a moto at 125.

Post-GT3 designers should have learned the obvious lesson by now: you can ignore opponent AI if you can provide enough feedback and physics to make the vehicle a joy to drive whether you're off the front or being left behind. There's no joy of simply driving in this game.

SBK2001 (PC) has been out for almost 2 years, and it remains the only moto game that is fun and challenging. That said, I can't stand PC snobs and hope that GTA-Vice City's motorcycles will be fun to drive.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun But Far From Perfect, October 24, 2002

By 

Brian Glass (Zanesville, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Riding Spirits (Video Game)

I've been looking forward to the release of this game since I first saw it advertised months before it came out. Maybe that anticipation built up my expectations too much. I was really looking forward to a motorcycle version of my favorite game Gran Turismo 3. This game is for better or worse the closest thing out there right now. MotoGP is a great game with good looking graphics and challenging game play but is limited to GP bikes and race tracks. With Riding Spirits you get your choice of real world motorcycles and street courses. I haven't played too deep into the game yet but have started to get a feel for it.

Some pluses are -
A fast build up to good bikes. It doesn't take too much time or money before you can purchase a GSX-750R or YZF-R6. There are a lot of aftermarket accessories too. I was pleased to see I could equip my rider with my own Arai and Shoei helmets, and I'm looking forward to trying out my own FZ1 and V-Max.
Tracks are well designed and allow for a lot of high speeds.
The physics are decent but not perfect. You have to remember to treat handling different than that of a car racing game. Once you have that down it's a lot of fun.

The minuses would be -
Poor graphics. The bikes are big and blocky. Colors and shading don't transistion well giving the game a slightly cartoonish look.
Frustrating handling. If you run wide on any curve and touch grass you loose tremendous distance with the rider in front of you. I would expect slow down in sand but it's bad everywhere.

All in all it's a fun enough game but I'm still waiting for Sony to include motorcycles in Gran Turismo 4 or better yet an all motorcycle version.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Get speed kings instead, June 28, 2003

By 

M. Kivlehen (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Riding Spirits (Video Game)

Ugh. I was hoping this game would be like GT3, unfortunatly it's not. It shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath.

PRO's
Lot of tracks
Can upgrade your helmet, suit, & motorcycle
Lots of Bikes

CON's
Third person view only!! Whats the use in buying upgrades & bikes when you can't see them while racing. You only see them when you crash.
Boring track designs
OK graphics
Brakes don't brake. It's the same as releasing the gas. No quick stops??
No redeeming value whats so ever. It doesn't keep your attention at all.

I suggesy getting speed kings. It's much more fun. If you really like bikes get this game used. I got mine for 20.00