Moto Racer 4

TL:DR: Motor Racer 4 is a completely different game in the Motor Racer series, in more ways than one. Moto Racer 4 isn't an evolution of the series, it's a completely different game. Literally; it's been said to be ATV Drift & Tricks with a motorcycle themed reskin. I have not played ATV, but I don't think this is a bad thing. Even then, this entry to the series is not even made by DSI - but given the direction of their original publisher (if you know, you know), I'd say this is for the better. There is no announcer voice in this game. Although I liked the announcer in the original, given how many times the announcer was recycled in recent years, it was probably better to ditch the voice. The soundtrack is a solid mix of rock guitars and electronic percussion. I guess nostalgia and high expectations are blinding me when compared to the stellar rock and roll of MR '97. I decided to blast some of the OG music on a few races on this game, and it felt similar to a degree. On top of performing wheelies and tricks, the TURBO mechanic also adds a QTE where you can boost even more than usual. Timing it correctly gives max boost, but missing it will slow you down. You can simply ignore this to avoid risking slowdown. It can also be adjusted to be easier with less boost, or tighter with even more boost. The wheelie ability in 97 was spammable, so the addition of a timing mechanic is a decent tradeoff. There's also a style system for bonus objectives, but that's more of a leftover from ATV. There's also a penalty for going off the road (or... going on coarser dirt on the dirt tracks), which can be irritating if you aren't paying attention. The addition of characters (the cast from ATV) is a nice addition to the Moto Racer series. Aside from just picking different colors to change the stats of the bike, each rider also has their own unique look, animations, and backstory to boot. I often pick Admund since he has the highest speed stat in the game, and his backstory fits me in a way. The tracks, well... There is a healthy variety of tracks, but there is a lack of snow, which is more of a personal nitpick than anything. ...Okay, here's the part where I prioritize taking notes from ATV Drift & Tricks, but I'll go from observations and online videos since I don't have that game. I'd say that MR4 improves ATV in some ways, but there are some holes that do show where MR4 came from. The dirt bike tracks are recycled from ATV, not a bad thing depending on your POV. They are great as is, and that's okay. The superbike courses are solid, but some of the scenery looks half baked and would need some changes, especially when compared to the dirt tracks. There are also some more ATV tracks that didn't show up in this game, including the mentioned snow courses, which would've helped MR4 in terms of environmental variety. In conclusion, Moto Racer 4 is a solid game with a complicated history. It is a completely different presentation and style of play when compared to the Motor Racer games, and an improvement to ATV Drift & Tricks. Moto Racer 4 can hold out on its own, but lower your expectations if you're a Moto Racer fan.