Then you have the multiplayer, which is just as dreamy as it's always been. Along with the typical split-screen/system link options to take on friends right there in the living room, you can hop on Xbox Live and challenge a variety of racers on all sorts of courses, and even in tournaments. I noticed only a little lag time in these modes, and the frame rate remained just as smooth as always. It performs up to, ahem, "speed" online.

Through both of these modes, you can experience a number of courses that will enhance your racing ability. Along with taking on opponents on a number of official racing circuits, you can also challenge on Extreme courses, varied throughout different locations that take you off the familiar terrain. One allows you to tear ass through a neon-lit city with buildings just whizzing by; another puts you in the mountains where the side details are so beautiful that you can get distracted from a wall and plow into it rather easily. The design of both the official and Extreme tracks are superb and will keep you on your toes.

In fact, the look of the game itself retains the great flavor the series has kept over the years. The frame rate remains at top speed, and some of the lighting details are staggeringly cool. There's also some excellent replay and camera options, even allowing you to get right on the front of your bike and ride along, curve after curve, even getting a little nauseous at the speed of it all. I have to also give props to the "blur" effect, which isn't new in games such as this but is done splendidly here once you get into a "zone".

Then we come to the sound, and this is the only area I could really think of where nagging would come into play. The techno music provided in the game may be the perfect state of mind for some gamers, but I found it really bothersome and couldn't get into it. Fortunately, Climax and THQ threw in the option to have your own customized soundtracks, both in the menus and in-racing itself, so it more than makes up for it.

On top of this, the game also features a few video extras, including some tutorials that walk you through the game's control scheme, and even some MotoGP clips that engulf you further into the sport and introduce you to many of the riders involved. It's a nice bonus treat, even if you'll probably be spending time racing instead of watching.

MotoGP 3: Ultimate Racing Technology is, far and away, one of the best current generation racing games out there, just because it sticks so true to its sources and fails to bend down to the simplistics of being arcade-styled. Some people may not find that very impressive, namely those natured by EA's Burnout series. But there's a place for serious racing as well, and MotoGP 3 clearly leads the pack for all motorcycle throttlers. My only question is where Climax can go from here with the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Photo-realistic terrain that could make some people even more nauseous around turns? Online play where you actually feel the heat brimming off the track? Hey, you never know. Some people manage to surprise just by keeping it real, and this is as real as it gets.