RIDE 4 is the newest entry into one of the only dedicated motorcycle simulations produced by a major company. The series has always bred quality experiences for its players, and that is no different this time around. RIDE 4 is truly a wonderful experience for major fans of motorcycling and of motorsport as a whole.
One caveat to the experience is that the game is so dedicated to its simulation fans that it often neglects the newcomers. Racing sims tend to be a bit hard to get into, and this is no different, as there could easily have been more tutorials and teaching moments to help new players find their bearings. While RIDE 4 isn’t needlessly obtuse by any means, its a shame that there are few other worthy titles for more casual players.
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When players boot up RIDE 4, they are tossed straight into a Time Trial session that will test their abilities. This serves as a tutorial of sorts in that it lists off the basic controls and tells players to give it a try. After that, players will need to simply drive the RIDE 4 track over and over again until they manage to complete a clean lap within the lowest allotted time limit. For seasoned players or players who prefer to learn by doing, this is a great introduction to the game’s mechanics. To anyone who has never played RIDE before and wants more of an instructive method, this can be rather difficult to get through. There is no way to skip this, the bikes are hard to control, and breaking track limits will immediately invalidate the current and possibly the next lap. This entrance exam could easily be a turn off for new players who may find the realism of RIDE 4 too hard to wrap their heads around up front.
Bikes are as difficult to control as their real world counterparts, and this dedication to realism is commendable, providing a truly challenging experience for players. There are controls for where the rider will press their weight, which set of brakes they will apply, and how they will manage the clutch and shifter. Each of the plentiful supply of bikes handle totally differently and are a blast to learn given the proper amount of time. The roster on offer is just as diverse as past games and remains as dedicated to emulating true motorsport as ever.
Racing is exhilarating as long as the player has their skills on point. RIDE 3 had an issue with AI racers displaying inconsistent racing lines and sporadic movements. This made it very difficult for players to navigate the track with the AI on higher difficulties, as small maneuvering strategies could often be foiled by seemingly insane racers. This problem is largely fixed in RIDE 4, and results in very few race-ending accidents fully at the fault of the impressive AI.
There are a few mechanics made to help out newcomers, and these are all very generous. For one, players can take advantage of the assists located within the menu. These need to be activated before a race begins, and allow players to adjust the level of realism within the physics simulation. There is also a handy rewind system in place for players that mess up royally and need to redo an important turn. This system can be easily turned off for players who aren’t interested in getting second chances during the race.
The tracks on offer are well-realized. The graphics aren’t all that different from the previous game, but that is by no means an insult. The tracks in RIDE 4 hold up remarkably well to laser-scanned tracks from games like Assetto Corsa Competizione, with locales such as Laguna Seca and Suzuka included. RIDE 4 features a many tracks that all require a healthy amount of practice to master, with the only noticeable issue being overly strict limits. Most games allow players to ride on the edges of the track just a bit closer before invalidating their laps, and RIDE 4‘s strictness can be annoying after a carefully run lap is ruined due to a tiny nudge of the limits.
Overall RIDE 4 is a great addition to the series that updates the roster of vehicles, the physics simulation, and the AI experience. For fans of true sims, this is the best there is for the motorcycle market. However, RIDE 4 is a hard game to get into and will draw no comparisons to Fall Guys or similarly easy to pick up experiences, and it would have been nice for the tutorial to have a more hands-on approach to coaching players through the game’s handling mechanics. Still, players could hardly ask for a more faithful representation of the sport, and RIDE 4 is definitely a game to check out for anyone interested in motorcycle racing.
RIDE 4 is available on October 8th for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Screen Rant was provided a PlayStation 4 code for the purposes of this review.