For a while, the motorbike simulation genre has been pretty much dominated by Black Rock Studio’s MotoGP series, especially on the next-generation formats. However, we’ve got a new contender in the form of SBK-08 which has already hit Xbox 360 in Europe and Australia. Time to weigh up whether this is worth your cash:

IGN Australia (74%) – “As a game SBK 08 is a pared back, pure racing experience that is a dream come true for two wheeled aficionados to whom realistic control is paramount. Having said that, it does suffer from a noticeable lack of polish in some key areas; namely sterile environments, lengthy load times between races, and some ‘barely there’ audio.”

Videogamer.com (60%) – “SBK 08 has clearly positioned itself as a game for a niche audience. It’s hard to say for sure how well it appeals to those hardcore sim fans, but it seems to be an accurate representation of the sport. As a video game it doesn’t really cut it though. It’s a game that is so hell-bent on being realistic that it’s forgotten to be fun.”

The Times (60%) – “No two-wheeled racing game so far has stood up to the challenge of the top car-based titles such as Gran Turismo. And SBK-08 does little to change that.”

If you’re still not convinced about whether this game really does deserve your money, a demo has found its way on to Xbox Live Marketplace today.