Incline

Riding a motorcycle is not everyone’s cup of tea, especially since you are entirely exposed to the elements, not to mention the fact that even light crashes can end up with broken bones. However, the thrill is difficult to resist if you are a fan of speed, given the fact that you are pretty much one with the track and much closer to the action than in a car.

Incline is one part simulator and many parts arcade, with the added cherry on top in the form of microtransactions that go as far as to prevent you from playing if you don’t pay actual money. In short, you get to ride a motorbike around various courses, with the goal being to stay on the bike through the turns and making as many laps as you can without crashing or running out of fuel.

The game is played from a first-person point of view, which means that you see the bike’s dashboard only, so it’s a bit difficult to orientate yourself if you have not ridden a motorcycle before. As the developer says, the physics are designed to be realistic and mimic the real feel of a bike, but that’s a pretty bold statement. In truth, the rider can fall off at 15 MPH in a straight line for some reason, and things get even weirder once you pick up some speed.

There are ways to keep the experience feeling fresh as you continue to play, such as spending cash on better equipment and different paint jobs for your bike. However, you also need to pay cash every time you enter a course, which means that if you play long enough you will get in a situation where you do not have enough money to enter a race. It’s also worth noting that if you fall too many times during a race you have to pay a medical fee in order to keep going.

Apparently, currency is accumulated at all times, even when you are not playing, but at a very slow pace. If you also decide to spend money on equipment or new paint jobs, the cash goes away very quickly, leaving you with the sole option of spending real money to keep playing. The game is far from enjoyable from a visual standpoint as well, because the graphics are very basic for this day and age.

Incline has a pretty interesting idea at its core, but it’s very difficult to focus on the challenge itself when you are constantly assaulted by microtransactions. Hence, this particular free-to-play model is far from enjoyable, so a few major changes are definitely needed.