RiMS Racing

Developer: Raceward Studio | Publisher: Nacon | Release Date: 2021 | Genre: Racing | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

If you are a motorbike enthusiast, chances are good you are familiar with the Ducati Panigale V4 R, MV Augusta F4 RC, Aprilia RSV4, MBW M 1000RR, Suzuki GX-R1000R, Honda CBR1000RR, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10RR, and Yamaha YZF-R1. These are some of the most powerful European and Japanese motorbikes on the market, and they are all present in RiMS Racing. Instead of including a bunch of motorbikes that most people will scroll past on their way to the decent ones, developer Raceward Studio has instead focused on the cream of the crop. While eight motorbikes might not sound like a lot for a racing game, RiMS Racing makes sure that players become intimately acquainted with their chosen ride.

What sets RiMS Racing apart from the pack is that it is not only a realistic racing game but features an in-depth mechanics management system too. By collaborating closely with the manufacturers of these dream bikes, the developers were able to present them with unparalleled detail. With a catalog of over 500 official spare parts, this game is very much aimed at players who want to get their hands dirty on and off the tracks. However, dismantling all of your bike’s parts is not just for fun. The motorbike with which you complete a race is usually the same one you’ll be using for the next race. Without maintaining your bike between races, you’ll quickly find yourself eating the dust of your competitors.

Thanks to the “Motorbike Status Check” feature, you can get a real-time overview of your bike’s behavior, so if something feels off, you can pinpoint exactly what’s going on. If it’s something simple, such as tires, you can fix it during a pitstop, but for significant repairs, you will have to hope your bike lasts until the end of the race. Even if you drive very carefully, every race will inflict wear and tear on your bike that has to be carefully monitored. Also, if you are anything like us, you’ll be able to see exactly how much abuse your brakes take during each race by the number of times they need replacing.

The mechanics management system in RiMS Racing is not just a list of parts on a menu either. Instead, each part is rendered in detail and requires a series of button presses to remove or attach. This can be quite immersive the first few times, but thankfully there is an option to automate the process if you prefer getting back to the racing action. The same goes for the pit stop, but in both cases, you need to unlock the option to automate these events by spending Engineering Area Skill Tree Points. It’s a trade-off, though, as these could have been used on other features, such as reducing component wear or unlocking additional custom motorbike tuning slots. Engineering is not the only area with a skill tree either, as points can also be pushed into Research and Management. The skill trees are not as in-depth as those found in the WRC series, but they add an additional layer of strategy to the game. Players can also customize their rider down to the number of fingers they use to brake, but watch out as equipment such as your helmet, jacket, and trousers will also deteriorate if you crash.

The whole mechanics management system can be somewhat daunting for new players, but after a few races, it becomes second nature to patch your bike where you can and add some performance upgrades if you can afford them. The same can be said about the actual racing, which is also aimed more at enthusiasts than casual players. The physics simulation level in the game can be dropped down to “Beginner” for players who really struggle, but playing on “Intermediate” or “Realistic” is the most satisfying. Unlike something with four wheels, it doesn’t take much to crash a motorbike, so managing your speed, racing line, and braking is essential to not just winning races but staying on your bike in general.

As with the motorbikes, RiMS Racing doesn’t go overboard with the number of tracks either. Instead, the game features ten faithfully recreated official circuits that include the likes of Silverstone, Laguna Seca, Suzuka, and Nürburgring. Along with these, there are five point-to-point routes on roads across the United States, Norway, Australia, Spain, and Italy. These make for a nice scenic break from all the circuits but require just as much concentration to conquer due to how narrow they can be.

Players who want to immerse themselves in the world of RiMS Racing fully should jump straight into the Career Mode, which can be played on Novice, Semi-Pro, or Pro difficulty. In this mode, players have a race calendar filled with seasons full of events to complete. Along with Academy Events that teaches players the ropes, there are also sponsored races, 1 VS 1 face-off events, cup events, world championship events, and more. Completing these events rewards players with money, new parts, and points that can be spent on the skill trees. Players looking for a fully customized race experience can head to the “Single Race” mode instead or “Private Testing” if they prefer racing without opponents. Speaking of opponents, they can be a ruthless bunch and have no qualms causing you to wipe out if you get in their way. The game also has some multiplayer options for players who prefer doing their racing against real opponents. These include online challenges for time trials, custom events for races or championships, and even offline duels in the form of split-screen racing.

From a graphical standpoint, the bikes in RiMS Racing really steal the show. It is possible to look at the brake system, exhaust, fairing, suspension, wheels, aesthetics, electronics, power, and transmission to work with individual components. Mounting and unmounting these components will also give players a new appreciation for the amount of effort that goes into simply swapping some parts. The circuits in the game look good too, and the roads are very scenic, but be prepared to see them all many times over across the career mode. While we spend most of our time racing with the chase came the game also has a few first-person view modes for players who really want to experience the sensation of speed. Driving a wet track with the helmet cam is a breathtaking experience, to say the least. Those who want to marvel at the visuals in a safer manner can activate the photo mode for a closer look without the risk of wiping out.

The soundtrack of RiMS is a little unusual as all of it is by Italian EDM outfit The Bloody Beetroots. The music is pretty good, but purists will probably lower the volume to focus on the sounds of their motorbike. We didn’t have any issues playing the game with an Xbox One controller, but there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to completing a race unscathed. Since bikes don’t magically repair between races, you’ll find that your mistakes can be very costly in the long run.

RiMS Racing might not be the most accessible motorbike racing game on the market, but the mechanic management system definitely puts it in a class of its own. This is not the type of game where you hop from one bike to the next while winning race after race, though. Instead, you need to become very familiar with your chosen bike and tweak it to perfection. It is undoubtedly very daunting and can be frustrating for players who are used to more hand-holding in their motorbike games but put in the time, and you’ll reap the rewards.