Tourist Trophy: The Real Riding Simulator (PlayStation 2, 2006)

This may just be Gran Turismo on two wheels but it's still as good of a motorcycle racing game you can buy. If you didn't like the Gran Turismo series before, you won't like this incarnation.

This game offers a pretty expansive array of motorcycles to choose from. Mostly Japanese companies like Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. But offers some BMW's, Ducati's and Triumphs as well. Bike size range from 125cc to bikes over 1,000cc's. All the bikes have a distinct sound, look, and feel. The bike renderings look great, as much detail as Gran turismo. One of the only downfalls to Tourist Trophy is that while you can tune your motorcycle you cannot buy new parts for it. You can only win bigger and faster bikes by completing racing. There is no money component in this game. So if your motorcycle turns poorly or isn't fast enough, it'll stay that way. The odd thing is that you can customize your rider more than you can your bike. Different Helmets, suits etc... from companies like Arai, Shoei and Alpine Star.

The course graphics are great, as they are right out of Gran Turismo. Which is both good and bad. The tracks are familiar and well suited to motorcycle racing, but there isn't anything new to really challenge you. The replay mode is as good as you'd expect from Gran tourismo. The racing physics are great, as are the controls and sounds. Replay value is about a 7 I'd say. Learning curve is about a half hour. Yes, there are still license tests, but this time they are WAY easier. So you should fly right through them. You can only race against three other computer controlled opponents, who aren't very difficult. On-line isn't a part of this game, but if you don't play games online (like me), you won't care.

There isn't bike damage in this game, but if you crash into a wall you will fly off your bike. You get right back on your bike and don't loose much time. Which is pretty stupid if you ask me. In real life if you dump your bike @ 140mph, you aren't getting right back on.

All in all it's a pretty good game, if you like bikes and you like Gran Turismo. I'd say it's worth it new price tag of $39.99. Tourist Trophy is the best Motorcycle simulator out there!!!!

The Gran Turismo creaters at Polophony Digital have been focused on the cars for years. Gran Turismo games 1-4 were great games and were all claimed as "The Real Driving Simulator". By 2006, Polophony now creates their latest Gran Turismo game using only bikes and scooters and called it Tourist Trophy: The Real Riding Simulator.

Based mostly on the Gran Turismo 4 game, 34 of 51 courses that are found in GT4 can be found in Tourist Trophy (which has 35 courses), Test Course cannot be raced, but is in a few tests in "licence school" mode. One track that's different to GT4 though, is the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, a popular course in the MotoGP Championship.

Gran Turismo 4 gave you 721 cars (GT4's game box says over 650), most can be customised with wheels and a wing. Tourist Trophy only gives you 135 of the most famous bikes and scooters, but also give you the opportunity to customize the rider with changing the riding style, height of the rider, and the racing or street uniform it wears.

The graphics are taken directly off GT4 with most Gran Turismo 4 car brands removed from the course, yet Fiji Raceway 2005 does still have the Toyota and TRD logos, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca still has Mazda stuff on the bridges, and Twin Ring Motegi-Super Speedway still has Chevrolet logo on the course (now there are a set of "easter eggs" in the game for you).
The Bikes are great looking with excellent precision to detail on all the bikes. Also, Tourist Trophy is the first racing game from Polophony to have a view of the cockpit of the vehicle (Bike), which actually makes GT5 on the PS3 second to have this feature!

Some things I noticed was with most Race-Custom superbikes above 600cc can be given Wheelies and Endos (front wheelies done while braking) when given the right tweaks. However, Race-Custom models over 900cc can do these with no tweaks at all! Also, you can fall off the bikes if you push the bike too far inside or while you are off the road, so be careful.

With all the factors despite lack of some extra courses and extra bikes, I would give this game a 8 out of 10. It has the fun you expect in the Gran Turismo series. If you are a fan of bike racing games, yet do not have Tourist Trophy, I recommend that you give this great game a shot.