Published by: Milestone S.r.l.
Developed by: Milestone S.r.l.
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Release Date: March 17th, 2022
Supercross is a sport to which I have only heard about before playing this game. Going into the game, I could have told you almost nothing about it. That however, wasn’t at all a barrier into enjoying Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5. This game is a really fun, albeit different, racing game, and is enjoyable by those deeply involved in the series, and those who are brand new to it.
The Racing
As a huge fan of Wreckfest, the good feel of the racing in this game instantly called me back to that. The physics engine feels really fine tuned, and these races are absolutely thrilling. Every hop over a mound feels death defying, and the constant battle to keep your position is an engaging challenge. Drifting is a racing concept that many games have; in Supercross 5 it is a survival technique. All of these mechanics blended to one experience leaves you feeling fulfilled after each race. Depending on the difficulty settings, the AI can feel like a minor nuisance, or like you are truly racing against the professionals, as they race laps around you.
There are multiple ways to play, Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5. From single events, to time attack, to a career mode, and even a giant free roam compound area, there is plenty to do. All of these are engaging ways to play, and each bring their own asset to the table. The compound was the last thing I checked out before writing this, and it was a treat. It is a beautiful area to practice a lot of different skills, and just enjoy riding around. It is one of those things in a game that wasn’t a necessity for enjoyment, but it sure paid off.
Accessibility to a general audience
Some racing games are just plain hard, but Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5 is not one of them. Well, it doesn’t have to be anyways. The developers advertised that the game had a robust tutorial, and different settings to change how much (or little) support the game gave you when you raced. The follow through on this is spectacular. I tried the game with the least assist settings at first and I died. A lot. I then turned on some of them, and found a Supercross 5 experience that really felt right for me. I am highly confident that someone familiar with these games could use every mechanic to their advantage. That being said, I still felt fulfilled without that skill set.
a look into the next generation
As this console generation begins to build a body of games, we are starting to get a glimpse into what different genre’s will look and feel like in the near future. Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5 gives us one of our best glimpses into what racing games will be like. This game is absolutely beautiful. The crowds feel alive, the dirt being kicked up off the courses looks like it might actually make your house dusty, and the pyrotechnics glimmer in the background. The framerate is also solid, and the game rarely, if ever, studders.
On a more niche note, this game uses the Dualsense controller to its maximum potential. The rumble feels like you are riding on dirt, and the adaptive triggers bring the bike to life. When you have over-drove a turn and are braking for your life, the controller really makes you feel the stress of it. The Dualsense adds a whole other layer of immersion to the game, and I sincerely hope other games take note of the way Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5 uses it.
Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5: A rewarding Racing game
If you have an itch to play a racing game, I would highly encourage you to give Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5 a shot. It certainly isn’t the traditional type of Need for Speed experience, but it was a far more enjoyable experience than I expected. I have little to no doubt that hardcore Supercross fans will find this to be a rewarding game, and those who have never heard of the sport will too.