Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 4 struggles to capture the magic of an already niche but interesting sport. Outside of diehard AMA Supercross fans, Monster Energy Supercross 4 is difficult to enjoy and harder to get the hang of. There are a few bright moments when playing some of the game's new modes, but players seeking a thrilling and enjoyable racing simulator won't find it here. It may look impressive on the outside, but Monster Energy Supercross 4's barrier to entry makes the game a wipeout.
Monster Energy Supercross 4 is the fourth installment in the series, which first released in 2018. Milestone S.r.l has developed a new Monster Energy Supercross annually since 2018, and each boasts an innovative wave of content when compared to their predecessors. These games operate similarly to other motorsports titles where the major changes are visual upgrades, expanded rosters, and new courses. Monster Energy Supercross 4 promises all of these and more including a new Compound which is the crown jewel of the entire experience.
The main game mode that Monster Energy Supercross 4 encourages players to experience is the Career mode, which is a very grindy process that forces players to compete against overly aggressive NPCs to farm skill points to upgrade their character's performance. Until they have enough points, their character will continue to perform poorly, which feels very demoralizing for newer players. The game prides itself on a very long and difficult career mode, but players may find it too difficult to suffer through the first few weeks of the first season.
However, players are sure to find respite in the game's new and improved Compound mode. This mode allows the player to invite three of their friends to join them as they freely roam around an open-world, Maine-inspired island. It's not a huge area to explore, and it doesn't feel very dense either, yet it's a very enjoyable experience to carve down cliffsides and jump off rock formations on the beach. There are also collectibles for players to find that range in difficulty to acquire - some require players to hit a sick jump through the windows of ruined buildings, while others are simply hiding among some trees. While the Compound doesn't make up for the game's overwhelming flaws, it's a very bright spot and is something Milestone should look to build off of in the future.
Despite not having breathtaking visuals, Monster Energy Supercross 4 still looks impressive. The tracks and environments, along with the characters and bikes, are pleasing to the eye but don't quite give off that current-gen realism. In contrast to the game's visuals, Monster Energy Supercross 4's physics are unforgiving and create very frustrating moments for players. It's not a full throttle experience with tight controls and excting races. Monster Energy Supercross 4 is more of a technical battle with overly sensitive physics moreso than a white-knuckle thrill ride. To top it all off, the game's soundtrack is a mix of unpleasant rock and EDM, making the game more enjoyable if it's muted.
Monster Energy Supercross 4 is not easy to get the hang of, and even seasoned players will find frustration in the game's very grindy career mode. For fans of AMA Supercross, this is just another mandatory purchase to enjoy the current courses and rosters with little improvements from the last game - but for people who are looking for an exciting racing game, that experience won't be found here.
Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 4 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Screen Rant was provided a digital PS5 code for the purpose of this review.