Last Sunday I was walking with a friend of mine and, as a motorcycle roared past us she asked me if I had ever rode one, to which I answered no. It's not that I've never thought about it, but rather it seems just a tad bit dangerous for yours truly, but I certainly daydream about it from time to time. The wind quickly zipping through my hair, the intense adrenaline rush as I speed down the highway at well over 70 miles per hour, and of course, the massive amounts of bugs that I'd inhale. I mean seriously! It's a free lunch out there! Anyway, THQ and Climax Studios are going to bring all of the excitement of actual bike racing to our living rooms this May in Moto GP 3: Ultimate Racing Technology for Xbox and PC. I had a chance to blaze down a few of the game's courses, and I'm happy to report that it's quite the speed demon.

Blisteringly fast-paced. That's the best way to describe Moto GP 3. If you're like me and spit on most racing games that run at 30 frames per second you're going to be in heaven because THQ's game runs at an extremely smooth 60 frames, meaning every hairpin turn, pathway, and mountain that you climb and rocket down is going to be ridiculously insane. It's the type of experience where it's going to take crashing for you to realize how fast you were actually going, but you won't wipe out because of bad game design. Climax has spent a lot of time on how the game handles, so braking feels more realistic, thus giving you better control over your ride.

Speaking of rides, there are quite a few bikes in the game. Sixteen new ones join the already impressive collection of vehicles from the last game from manufacturers such as Honda and Yamaha (the game features the full Moto GP license), and this year there's a greater amount of customization options. Not only can you change the color of your bike, but you can also create your own logo as well as slap your name onto your ride. Heck, you can even exchange engines and make other cool alterations, and this is all made possible through cash earned in Moto GP 3's Extreme Mode, a name that's certainly apropos considering its exclusive 16 new courses feature crazier twists and turns than the included 17 original ones.

Of Moto GP 3's game modes (Quick Race, Grand Prix Mode, Extreme Mode, Time Trial, Training Mode, and Multiplayer), its online component looks to be the sweetest (unfortunately, online mode wasn't available to play in the demo). Up to 16 people can race at one time (there's also a split screen offline mode), and the game features a cool seeding system that allows you to pair yourself up with racers of similar skill levels. It's just one of three neat online features, the other two being Commentator Mode and Spectator Mode, both of which are exactly as they sound. Commentator allows you to sit back and basically call the race, and you can say whatever you want, so if you're a really good trash talker (or just a funny guy or gal), you can get into the other riders' heads. Unfortunately (well, it's a good thing for people who don't know you), you can't just hop in and out of races as you please. You'll have to be invited by the player hosting the match.

Spectator mode is just that. You can watch races without playing an active part. There are multiple camera angles for you to enjoy, and this mode should allow you to get a good idea of track layout. After all, it's better to watch other people crash.

Lastly, rounding out the game's online component is the ability to enjoy its Grand Prix Championship mode online or off, and supposedly you can even mix them together, so if you want to have a 100% online experience that's fine, or if you want to play a little offline in the morning, a little online in the afternoon, and some offline before bed that's cool too.

I normally find racing games that run at 60 frames to be rather gorgeous and Moto GP 3 certainly doesn't disappoint. The riders as well as their bikes are extremely detailed and adorned with all sorts of logos, and the tracks, which include European city streets and a tropical paradise, during the day and at night, among other locales, look fabulous. Plus, you can toggle between various perspectives, so you can actually watch your bike barrel down straight-aways or switch to first person for an even greater sensation of speed.

Climax has also done a great job with the Moto GP 3's audio component. The team recorded the bikes' engine noises to beef up the game's realism, and they managed to snag BBC commentator Suzi Perry to call the races. Also, if you don't appreciate the in-game music (or just need a change of pace), the game supports the Xbox's custom soundtrack function. Whatever you decide to listen to, it'll sound even better if you have Dolby 5.1, which Moto GP 3 fully supports.

Not only is Moto GP 3 gorgeous and lightning fast, but the ridiculous amount of options (including the ability to unlock new tracks, riders, cheats, and other goodies), will keep us all busy for quite some time. It may not be AS thrilling as riding on the back of an actual motorcycle, but it's still a highly addictive racing experience. Definitely check it out when it releases May 2005.