Racing Rams Test: a motorcycle game that is dry patina?

On the paper, _ RIMS Racing _ we still sold a little dream. It must be said that, in a biker, we had liked that we are pushed a game that would put the beautiful mechanics at the center of the debates, with a limited choice of mounts and circuits, but which would be completely offset by an avalanche of mechanical parts. We could turn our hypersport freshly out of the dealer into a real superbike capable of squatting all the podiums, without even putting up on the hands. Moreover, although it is the first game of Raceward Studio, this new entity is composed of Veterans de Milestone, which is rather reassuring when we talk about motorcycle. Finally, the game is published by Nacon, which has, in passing, provides KT Engine from Kylotonn, a graphic engine that had made wonders on two wheels in the game TT Isle on Man - ride on the edge. It is therefore full of confidence that we started in the test of this game. And the first moments were rather enthusiastic with a sympathetic intro with the runway missiles from the largest motorcycle manufacturers.

Easy Rider

After creating our avatar, the game asks us to make our first choice: that of our mount. Here no thundes nor nothing, just a pure question of personal preferences, knowing that we can no longer change bike before a sacred moment, the second grinding wheel being charged full fare. Eight hypersport therefore share the poster, from the greatest manufacturers. The good news is that we start the list directly with very recent models. APRILIA RSV4 1100 FACTORY 2020, BMW M1000 RR 2021, Ducati Panigale V4R 2020, Yamaha YZF-R 2020, Honda CBR 1000RR ABS 2019, etc ... A Honda Fireblade 2019? Bizarre, especially since its replacement, the 1000rr-R (a radically different, more beautiful and more powerful mount) is available since 2020! Why did you use an old model? It is also the same story with Kawasaki ZX-10RR which is present in vintage 2019, while the motorcycle also changed in 2021. It's less disturbing for Suzuki GSX-R 1000 and MV Agusta F4 RC. which are also in vintage 2019, but that have not really changed since that date. In short, damage for fans, and we wonder if trade agreements do not hide behind all this.

In our case, after waiting for a long time between the Noal Beast and the Munich Missile, we opted for the deutsche qualität. We then discover our garage, which is a pretty two-storey installation. At the top, the customization of our perso, with its pilot style: pick up Mick Doohan or the shoulder that rubs the quartararo track, each adjustment is possible. Question Look, we can also undermine our pilot (man or woman) from foot in cape thanks to the catalog of many accessorists, even if the offer is widely more restricted than in the Milestone Ride series. Arai or AGV helmets (but not Shark), or leathers, boots and gloves from Alpinestars, there will be for just about every taste. The ground floor reserves the heart of the subject, namely the mechanics, the preparation of our bolide, and the R & D zones. In truth, there is not much new under the sun, and if you spent a few hours on a game of the genus F1 2021, or the last WRC, you will find that _ RIMS _ S ' Inspires more than largely, without however reaching the depth of its models.

mechanical thunder

The real surprise is on the side of the mechanical parts store, where there are hundreds of parts all from the catalog of large manufacturers. We really appreciate the minutie of the studio that has carefully modeled each of them. Öhlins Fork, Brambo Brakes and Platelets, D.Id Transmission Channels, Yoshimura Exhausts, Arrow and Akrapovic, Oz Racing or Marchesini rims. In short, everything is in the most minute details. The bike is composed of a multitude of parts, and apart from the screws, everything is available to the unit in multiple references. Of course, OEM pieces (original) are the cheapest and the least efficient, while hyper high-end racing parts will be ruinous, but will bring huge gains by weight and performance. You should know that the game has a pedagogical aspect, because each piece will have to be installed as in reality. Clearly, to change the fork before, it will be necessary to disassemble the wheels, the braking system, the bracelets, the fork tees, etc ... it is the same story with a change of exhaust, or air filter , who will ask for a lot of DIY. All the steps are clearly mentioned, and the game takes us by hand. The only problem, and it is size, it is that each operation is done via a kind of QTE. As much as you say that after putting your grinding wheel, it will be necessary to activate it. Moreover, the developers have only planned a handful of combinations, which makes everything extremely tired.

These operations are boring, and the studio is also aware, the evidence: it is possible to do without investing cash in-game in the right menu. It is also the same story during pit-stops where we will have to realize Qte so that our crew changes the wheels and fill the tank. Again, by spending a packet of sorrel, we can save these ungrateful tasks. Unfortunately, as we will see, the thuman fifters between our fingers even faster than our M1000 RR on the road. Indeed, in a hyper realistic way, the mechanical parts of competition are not given, and we wander our crust rather. Never mind, you'll tell me, just save. Yes, except that here, in normal mode, the game forbids any flashback, prohibits to start a race again, and each fall will scrapping its lot of components that will have to replace. Of course, the more damaged the bike is, the more its road behavior will be difficult to handle, especially if essential components are affected, in the image of the suspension, or brakes. In short, the more the wheel is damaged, the more it is difficult to fly, and the more we end up on the ground to be screwed even more of Matos. The big vicious circle what. The worst thing is that we can not twinkle between two races, which means that a fall in testing or qualifier is a real disaster. Moreover, most of the time, when one knows the circuit, we will pass the test sessions to minimize the risks. It should also be noted that the damage, if they are real on the behavior of the machine, do not translate itself visually, if not by a few traces of dirt, like a Gran Turismo. Do not expect to see your motorcycle in pieces, with a torn fairing, a backed pot, or a bracelet that hangs at the end of the wires.

Wild Angels

You surely noticed that we still have not addressed the subject of what we offer _ RIMS _ Once in saddle. Unfortunately, it is here that the game loses the most of its chandelier. Already, visually, it is not at the level. The KT Engine does not give at all as in Isle of Man, and the title suffers from big performance problems. We have inexplicable Framerate Falls, big artifacts that dot the image, and even a kind of tearing while there is a G-sync monitor. To give you an idea of ​​the disaster, be aware that the V-Sync 60 IPS setting has locked the 25 FPS display once, then to another, and finally to 34 a third. As much as you say right away, if the screenshots are not shameful, when everything is moving, your eyes are damn crying. If we could at least console yourself with the piloting sensations. But again it's the cold shower. The physics is strawberry, and we are witnessing completely improbable falls, the loss of adhesion on the front tire resulting in a flight of our grinding wheel instead of a slide. We never really know why we dropped, and it is particularly annoying and frustrating in the long run. Besides, I.A. Continues to ransack the result with a good behavior of the best games of the 90s. All the bots follow each other properly, without calculating, and often picking together together in the same turn, and every turn.

It's a shame, because Rims ** _ had everything to please simulation lovers, with a lot of settings available on our wheel, even if still missing a few things like the management of multiple motor maps, Or the use of electronic suspensions, however standard on most hypersport bécanes proposed by the game. Finally a last word to talk about the circuits. Ten classic destinations and good Aloi are on the program, with rather well modeled plots (light-years still stays with Tauliers like Assetto Corsa Competizione) in the image of Zolder, or Castellet. Nevertheless, it is also rather weak when we look at what the competition offers.