Where the game succeeds, it does so beautifully. True to life graphics and fun and funky music are great tools. But at the end of the day, it’s the content within that will determine the fate of you game. I feel that Ride 4, is simply not for newer players. Veteran’s of the style will probably adore it. New players who want to break into the genre, I’d recommend MotoGP 20 first.

Ride 4 is one of the best motorcycle racing games ever. Visually great and superb in terms of handling, Milestone did a great job delivering a fantastic experience on the track. The career is a little bit underwhelming in terms of design, but the game is still great to play.

Milestone continues, with Ride 4, the evolution of its 2-wheel racing simulator with ever more realism whether in terms of graphics or physics engine, but also the introduction of elements inherited from MotoGP: artificial intelligence ANNA, tire wear and fuel management. In addition, it is also necessary to add here the appearance of dynamic lighting depending on the time of day and the variable weather, as well as an endurance mode introducing a new type of racing. Too bad the environments always fall short of the rest and that accidents related to the driving of other pilots are so recurrent.

Milestone has made an undeniably solid game in the form of RIDE 4. The physics are mostly improved, though still have issues with collision. The career, while still a little too much of a slog, is far better organised than previous outings. There's a good variety of game modes to play through, giving a lot of replay variety, with the new endurance races being a high point. Some smaller race types, however, are infuriating in their rigidity and inaccessibility. The AI has been improved thanks to the new A.N.N.A. system, but it still isn't the most realistic and you'll find the computer trying to wipe you out for having the temerity of being where they want to be. For every negative, there are at least two positives, making this the most solid of Milestone's outings, I'd recommend it.

Ride 4 is more complete than its predecessor in terms of gameplay possibilities, that's a fact. It retains its qualities in the finesse of the grip, will delight fans of the first hour without totally putting off the neophytes, and adds several strings to its bow...On the other hand, Ride does not advance in its staging, tasteless on the track and in the off-circuit events, and even regresses in the career. The latter is running out of fuel in terms of originality, even showing itself to be frustrating in its construction.

Did Milestone want to release his Ride 4 absolutely before the end of the year in order to finish the PS4 / Xbox One cycle? No one will probably have the answer in the near future. Still, if the game is improving well on technical aspects (graphics, modeling and AI) it has lost all the mood that its previous opus had managed to generate. It is now a game of motorcycles on circuits that merges into the category.

Ride 4 is tough, really tough, but not always in a good way. The penalty system is confusing, the driver’s A.I. is quite stupid and some parts of the game aren’t explained enough. However, if a challenge is what you seek, this might be the game for you.