MotoGP 08 (Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows)

MOTOGP 08 is a very basic motorcycle racing game that does away with all pretense of a story., so don't expect any frills or gimmicks here. The game is all about the career of a racer who must work his way from the rear to the front of the pack, all the while earning respect and sponsorship spots to help advance his career. Rather than a drawn out season like some sports titles, the game is menu-based with minimal interaction between races, focusing rather on the extremely realistic racing simulator.

Players can follow the career mode, jump into a quick race, or even recreate a race from the 2008 MotoGP season. A set of challenges are also present which involve trials such as time tests, speed checks, and judging your ability to stay close to the ideal racing line on a track. Online modes also exist, but these are limited to single races that can be tracked on the online leader boards.

Thanks to the power of today's consoles, this game looks very sharp for a title that is heavily based in reality. Even while screaming down the track at speeds well over 100mph, the game looks fantastic. The sound on the other hand is very bare bones, with music only noticeable during menus and not during race time – that's reserved purely for the sounds of speed. Also fun is that you can customize your racer and gear.

The game's biggest downfall is the complex controls. Things like cornering and driving straight takes patience and talent -- you have to learn to judge how much you can move the bike. Even braking takes great judgment to get the correct decrease in momentum. This game can be frustrating even for seasoned gamers.