I picked this up because I am MotoGP nut, but I probably should have waited until they released the 2011 team changes.
This is a review by someone that pretty much nails this game on the head even though it's based on the demo (especially if you have played SBK X):
I'll start off by pointing out things I liked:
The presentation is nice, the menus are slick
The graphics don't look as bad as they did in the videos either, the Mugello circuit looks good, I especially liked how the tarmac looked. The audience (sure its not important but) looked good too, with their banners and what not.
Some things I especially liked was the fact that the anti wheelie actually makes a difference. I was pleasantly surprised at times when I'd hit the throttle and the bike would flip over backwards! Not even SBK X got that right. When the bike stands up like that all by itself its a really cool feeling and it encourages throttle control (+1)
(the bikes should not be able to flip over backwards either... they are equppied with anti-wheelie)
Also, you can actually drift a bit in 10/11, something that is almost completely (and most disappointingly) absent in SBK X.
I'm also pleasantly surprised about the motion blur at high speeds. I thought this would get annoying but its actually kind of a nice touch.
It actually does give you a sense of speed without being obnoxious. In SBK X you know you're going fast but sometimes its tough to tell the difference between balls out and kinda fast. In fact, I hear SBK 2011 will have motion blur.
The bike also can feel a bit unstable at top speed which I like. Going rediculously fast shouldn't be easy and the slight dogleg on the home straight of Mugello takes a bit of precision.
(I disagree with this as the bike should be more stable at top speed)
The bike feels angry sometimes and can be difficult to tame, which is another neat aspect. If your overdue the throttle on the straight or during the turn the bike will let you know by standing up or wobbling thru the bend.
One of my favorite aspects is that you can actually role on the throttle. One of my biggest gripes about SBKX is that the throttle feels too much like an on/off switch whereas MGP 08 required a soft finger for the trigger. I miss rolling the throttle on coming out of the turn and 10/11 seems to have it (+1)
All around I was really impressed by how much better the game is than I expected (then again I was pretty pesimistic). Clearly they made a lot of progress from 09/10.
That being said there are a lot of things I'm not a fan of:
First, (and again) most obviously, the goddamn pivot angle! When you look at the Honda it feels as thought there is an invisible pole going right through the tail pipe under the seat to the front of the bike and that the bike rotates on that axis.
I literally spent the entire time playing the demo trying to convince myself it made sense and to get over it, but alas, it was to no avail. The center pivot is so frustrating because (for me anyway) it removes every perception of the rider being connected to the bike connected to the road. It makes it incredibly difficult to get a feel for what the bike will do and how it will react and when to lean in.
I also don't like the way the riders and the bikes look. Its funny because I think the tracks and background really look beautiful but the riders and bikes are just meh. Maybe I'm too used to SBK X where the bikes are literally down to a "T". About as photo realistic as it gets. As pretty as the track and background the bikes and riders look bland, foggy, and almost secondary. When the race starts and it shows the rider look into the camera, it just looks terrible and should be removed from the game, it kinda highlights a low part of the game.
The brakes, I just can't get a good feel for em. Granted, I should give myself more time but I mean damn. Sometimes I go into a turn at a snails pace but I still run wide, others I just crash. It just seems unpredicatble. BUT it feels oddly reminiscent (and unfortunately) like CLIMAX MGP 07, and I hated the brakes in that game. If the brakes were as accurate as the throttle we might have something here. TThe brakes seem to slow you down but not enough or not accuarately enough.
Again, I havent played enough, its probably just me and maybe I should've played with all the assists ON rather than OFF. Going into turn 1 just seems like a crap shoot every time. I mean, in SBK X I still crash and have no F***ing idea why but in 10/11 sometimes no matter how hard I try I just don't seem to be going slow enough for these turns or I need to go slower but the brakes just throw me to the ground.