“SBK X: Superbike World Championship” is the complete opposite of the last racing game publisher Deep Silver released two weeks ago, “nail’d,” which featured an engine that was like an old-school racing game on steroids.

A simulation-heavy racer, this title will be most appreciated by fans of the sport, as the 14 tracks, 90, riders, a bevy of customization features and a cool first-person-view option will surely quench their thirst for authentic superbike action.

The casual gamer however won’t have the same reaction. Long loading times and finicky controls make it almost impossible to truly enjoy the game, as the steep learning curve requires a few hours of gameplay to truly get the most out of the total package.

As a result, it’s a game that’s worth a rental for anyone not addicted to the sport.

Nevertheless, good graphics and sound and excellent licensed soundtrack give this game some appeal to the casual gamer. You won’t mind the constant spills you’ll undoubtedly take through your first hundred or so laps, partly due to the rush the game provides. Overall, it has a good sense of speed, especially with so many other racers on the track with you. It can turn into pandemonium pretty quickly. With four online modes as well, and up to 16-player online multiplayer, the learning curve essentially goes out the window and you have a fun racer.

Well, that’s if the other players involved think they can turn on a dime and not pay the consequences.

The gamers that do grasp the fundamentals of the sport will be rewarded however, as the sound effects and background noises, of engines firing and burning rubber and other ambiance, do the license justice. A story mode also adds to the realism, as you can create your own racer and take them through the course of a SBK X career. This mode is essentially full of challenges to beat in order to gain reputation points in a quest to become a legend in the sport.

Again, for those who think Max Biaggi is a chef on the Food Network and are in the dark when it comes to the near 25-year history of the sport, this mode may not be for you. With all the options there as well, it’s way too easy for a novice gamer to get lost here.

However, if you’re looking to just pull some wheelies and race, the arcade mode isn’t a bad option. It’s not the deepest mode granted, and the lack of incentive in this mode robs the game of some replay value, but overall, if you just want to play the game without all the bells and whistles, it’s the most accessible part of the game.

As a complete package, “SBK X: Superbike World Championship” has a little something for everyone, but not enough to keep them captivated for very long. If you’re looking for a great racing game this holiday season, or just in general, you could do worse than this, but you can also do much better.

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