Monster Energy Supercross 25 Review: A Solid Return To The Track

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For the first time in two years, enthusiasts of Supercross are introduced to a fresh game titled Monster Energy Supercross 25. This game, constructed from scratch using Unreal Engine 5, sees developer Milestone enhancing elements that made the series enjoyable previously, with the aim of extending the game’s lifespan through innovative additions.

However, how enjoyable is this first official Supercross game launched since 2023? In numerous aspects, it’s the finest Supercross game Milestone has ever developed. Yet, in some areas, there are quite a few improvements needed.

Monster Energy Supercross 25 Review

Let’s discuss the gameplay aspect first, shall we? Monster Energy Supercross 25 is known for its challenging nature. However, this difficulty shouldn’t deter you – it’s more about depth than being unapproachable. Far from it, it’s still very accessible to beginners.

As a die-hard fan, I must say, whether you’re a Supercross gaming newbie or someone who hasn’t played in eons, the customizable settings ensure an effortless ride on every track, aiming for that coveted first place. Yet, the thrill of such smooth sailing soon fades, leaving you yearning for something more invigorating. Fret not, because a stimulating challenge is precisely what you’ll encounter!

In various parts of the wet track, it’s crucial to perfectly time your bike’s acceleration coming out of turns and navigate the bumps without losing speed. I’ve often found myself crashing due to overconfidence, thinking I could handle sharp turns like a seasoned professional. Numerous falls in my initial races—specifically at Daytona—resulted in my top 5 position slipping away, as competitors zipped past while I watched.

As you grow accustomed to the unique handling of each bike and how they respond to your riding style, you’ll notice an improvement in both control and speed. There’s nothing more gratifying than setting a new personal best lap time on a track that you’ve previously found challenging. Add to this tracks that change from lap to lap, and success becomes even sweeter. The exhilaration you feel after your first significant victory is tough to duplicate in racing games, but Supercross 25 manages to do it effectively.

It’s indisputable that the transition of the franchise to Unreal Engine 5 has significantly enhanced both visual quality and gameplay. The tracks and drivers now appear more lifelike than ever before, and the gameplay has reached unprecedented heights – it’s in a league of its own.

The presentation remains quite consistent as it was. The commentary provided is limited to before and after the competition, with the main event being solely centered around the unfolding actions. It’s decent enough, but not particularly remarkable.

Indeed, there are some aspects of gameplay that can be frustrating. For instance, you might leap into the air and land right on top of the rider in front, only to bounce off and continue your race. Or, while racing fiercely, you could collide with the rider beside you without any slowdown whatsoever. These minor details can occasionally disrupt the sense of being fully immersed in the Supercross 25 racing experience. Fortunately, these issues didn’t occur frequently enough to spoil the overall enjoyment of the on-track action.

An Unfulfilling Career

In Supercross 25’s career mode, the fun can sometimes seem secondary. This is the area where I’d probably invest the majority of my gaming hours. The concept is straightforward: begin in the Futures division and climb all the way up to the 450 series. However, at times, the thrill can feel a bit overshadowed by the grind of progression.

Initially, it may seem as if there’s a wealth of content available. You’ll encounter rivalries, objectives for teams, potential sponsorships, social media management, and so on. However, upon closer inspection, you’ll find that most of this content is just superficial. There’s a lack of substantial, in-depth content to truly flesh out the career mode aspect.

Initially, it seems the personalization options for riders are the least expansive in any sports video game. While it’s understandable that we don’t usually see their faces during racing, providing a little more design flexibility would have added to the gaming experience.

As you advance, the atmosphere seems to revolve around consistently attempting to convince teams to offer your next contract by showcasing your skills. Simultaneously, you’re constantly scoping out other opportunities and determining what you need to do to pique a specific team’s interest. While some may require victories in races, others might be content with Top 10 or even Top 5 results from you.

In your professional journey, each phase is divided into distinct Acts, culminating in a Peak moment that achieves a specific objective, given the events of previous assignments. This structure infuses an element of suspense and variety, preventing monotony from setting in when performing similar tasks repeatedly.

An alternate breakdown of your professional journey can be likened to motocross races and rhythm attack events. These events boost your fan base, augmenting your popularity, yet it’s unclear how they directly influence your career progression. For instance, they don’t appear to raise or lower the chances of joining a superior team. The only factor that truly mattered was your on-track performance. Even when I deliberately used rude language in my limited social media interactions, it didn’t have enough impact to necessitate a change in strategy.

pick an upgrade, wait, then do it again.

What I’m expressing is not that I long for a story mode overflowing with cutscenes – I’m quite far from being one of its admirers. Instead, I yearned for more engaging interactions with other drivers and more impactful results. The subpar track performance felt more like a minor hiccup than a significant concern, stripping the game of the tension that a career mode should provide. In essence, there’s a strong framework for an exceptional career mode in this game, but unfortunately, it falls short this year.

Beyond the career mode, there aren’t many activities available initially, just occasional race weekends and a minimalistic online multiplayer upon release. However, the multiplayer aspect is expected to receive updates after launch, but currently, it only offers private rooms for play and uncompetitive races.

Monster Energy Supercross 25 Review Verdict

To start off, Monster Energy Supercross 25 stands out as Milestone’s top Supercross game in numerous aspects. The racing experience becomes satisfying once you get the hang of it, and the graphics are top-notch. However, the career mode could use a bit more depth to keep players engaged.

It’s hard to suggest buying it right away unless you’re an avid fan eager to jump back into the game world. However, if you’re not, it’s definitely a game worth considering once its price drops or additional content such as DLC updates are released, offering more activities beyond career mode and multiplayer options.

VERDICT: WAIT

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2025-04-07 19:48