MXGP 2020 Review – For Hardcore Motocross Fans Only

Milestone‘s MXGP 2020 is the official video game of the Pro Motocross Championship. But while it creates an incredibly authentic Motocross experience, complete with realistic bikes and believable mechanics, it’s incredibly difficult. In fact, I would describe it as the Dark Souls of sim racers.

From the moment the game roars into its presentation and various menus, I knew that I was in over my head. This isn’t Excitebike.

MXGP 2020 is a game that requires me to know a little about the sport. It believes I have the knowledge and skillset to tune my bike in a way that gives me an advantage over the other races on the track. It also hopes to punish me on every corner and every bump I come across in its muddy terrain.

That’s right, MXGP 2020 pretty much hates me. It’s looking for every opportunity to make a fool out of me for even trying to pretend that I’m worthy of navigating a bike (and the rider) across a bumpy road.

That’s the only thing that makes sense to me. Why else would it be so unforgiving?

Even with the game’s optional Rewind feature, which allows players to undo critical mistakes, it felt nearly impossible to get the upper hand in any of the races.

As it turns out, there are Motocross enthusiasts who actually know that they have to lean forward to accelerate the bike and steer it by leaning left or right to effectively navigate the sharp turns. And this is a game made for those oil heads. It’s a full-on Motocross simulator.

Everything and anything is adjustable and customisable — from the bike’s suspension to its wheelbase to its colours and to the name on the back of your biker’s jacket. It’s impressive. Milestone hasn’t spared any detail. It’s all here in MXGP 2020.

I wish I could talk about some of the more technical bits of the game. But I can’t. In all honesty, it took me a good week just to make it past the game’s tutorial (or first race).

What I can tell you, however, is that MXGP 2020 offers stunning graphics on the PlayStation 5 — the weather elements, the bikes, and the backdrop all look incredibly life-like.

It also feels alive, with the DualSense controller taking full advantage of the game’s sensitivity.

Furthermore, it even sounds exceptionally realistic.

There are a host of online features too — allowing gamers to compete online in various modes. Of course, I didn’t dare to show my face there either.

Again, to repeat, MXGP 2020 hates me. I’m a hundred percent sure it’s a great game for those who love Motocross wholeheartedly, but for amateurs, like me, this is an incredibly difficult game. It comes highly recommended to hardcore fans, but everyone else should stay clear.

Gamefinity provided a review code to Fortress of Solitude for the purpose of this review.