It’s time for another racing review here on Portal Viciados, and this time we’re taking on the role of Valentino Rossi in RIDE 6, the latest title in this Milestone franchise—the same studio behind Hot Wheels Unleashed… but is the new game actually any good, or is it just more of the same?
RIDE 6 Review Index
Where and how RIDE 6 was played
As the title suggests, RIDE 6 was played on a PlayStation 5 Slim, connected to a 24-inch LG Ultragear monitor with a resolution of 2560×1440, a 144Hz refresh rate, and HDR10 support. For audio, I tested using a wired HyperX Cloud II headset connected to the DualSense controller and the speakers I have in my room, which feature 6-inch rubber-coated speakers. The audio experience was more immersive through the headset.
Performance and graphics modes
RIDE 6 delivers extremely smooth performance on the base PlayStation 5, even though there’s a version dedicated to the PS5 Pro. On the standard model, the target is 60 frames per second, though it can reach 120 fps if your TV or monitor supports VRR (Variable Refresh Rate).
In my case, using this LG monitor with FreeSync but without official VRR support on the PS5, the game locked at 60 frames per second. Even so, the stability was impressive, with the frame rate remaining solid, delivering a very consistent experience.
Drops were extremely rare, occurring only at specific moments—mainly when there were many competitors on screen at the same time, combined with weather effects—and the game briefly dropped to around 50 frames per second. However, these drops were brief, and performance quickly returned to normal without compromising gameplay.
As for graphics modes… there’s no choice here. The game doesn’t offer options like “Performance Mode” or “Quality Mode.” There’s only one preset that balances resolution and frame rate. It may seem like a limitation for those who like to adjust everything manually, but in practice, the optimization shows that the decision was well thought out.
Using Unreal Engine 5, RIDE 6 manages to deliver a very clean and detailed image in native 4K on the base PS5. The sharpness of the motorcycles, the reflections on the fairings, the dynamic lighting, and the level of detail on the tracks demonstrate a strong command of the graphics engine.
Graphics and Environment with Ray Tracing
Using Unreal Engine 5 as its graphics engine, RIDE 6 focuses on realistic graphics to create a strong sense of immersion for the player, making them feel like a real rider—just like Valentino Rossi himself… too bad I’m a total klutz, hehehe.
The graphics are a spectacle in themselves, everything is extremely detailed… whether you’re on the starting grid or during the race, watching the scenery change across the various tracks in the game.
The textures are high-resolution, which makes even the stickers on the bikes and details on the rider’s gear look sharp. However, during the race you’ll notice that the hanging sponsorship signs have a delay in loading their textures.
From a distance, you only see a blur that only becomes clear when you literally pass underneath it. This doesn’t get in the way at all, but it’s visible because it’s in your line of sight, right in the center of the screen.
The environment in RIDE 6, on the other hand, brings even more interesting elements: Ray Tracing was used even in the PS5 Base version—albeit not at the full intensity of the PS5 Pro version.
You notice the soft natural sunlight, defined shadows, and artificial lighting on tracks at night; however, the reflections are softer to maintain consistent performance… but between us, does it look good with Ray Tracing? Of course! But it’s a racing game where everything happens very fast, so even without its full implementation, it’s still beautiful.
Everything adds depth with the dynamic weather, where it can be sunny, start to cloud over, and eventually rain, or you can set the rain and its intensity directly from the menu… and racing with the scenery like this adds another layer of difficulty, since we have to take even more into account the type of tires we have installed on the bike.
The raindrops on the rider’s visor and the bike’s dashboard are incredibly realistic, and depending on the camera angle you choose, they will definitely get in your way.
However, while RIDE 6 is visually stunning, it doesn’t represent a major evolution compared to its predecessor, RIDE 5.
Game Modes and the DualSense
RIDE 6 offers more than one game mode, even though the main one involves planning the circuit, choosing your best bike and upgrades like the best tire for that situation, stronger brakes, and then selecting a weather condition and time of day.
In addition to just racing, you can learn from the tutorials, which teach you, for example, the right timing to balance acceleration with braking to take a perfect tight turn and reach the finish line. It’s very similar to Gran Turismo and its driving lessons; you’ll come out of this mode having mastered various technical elements of the game.
But if you want to race against your friends, or see who’s the worst… there’s the online racing mode, where you can invite your friends—but keep in mind, it requires a PS Plus subscription at any tier for this to be possible. Additionally, there’s the career mode, with a progression of levels and fame that unlock new areas on the map and new upgrades for your bike.
And what about the DualSense in the game modes?
Well, the interaction here is interesting. In addition to the triggers, which feature full haptic feedback and vibration—which is noticeably more intense when the engine is revving very high (the literal RANDANDANDAN)—the change in the controller’s LED strip is striking, as it corresponds to the engine’s RPM: the lower the RPM… GREEN; medium RPM… YELLOW / ORANGE; high RPM… RED; and when you shift gears, it turns PINK.
Photo mode
A quick but extremely important point: photo mode is good, but it could be better in terms of stability.
This is precisely where we see the game from a different perspective. To capture even more impressive images, photo mode locks the frame rate at 30 FPS, but in a completely unstable and fluctuating manner (you look at the ground and it stays at 60 frames per second and then drops again), and significantly boosts graphical quality. Textures, lighting, and level of detail get an upgrade, making everything even more beautiful
The customization options are extensive. You have control over aperture, focus, and depth of field, as well as the ability to adjust aspect ratios and screen proportions. You can use the traditional 16:9 or go for something more cinematic, like 2.35:1, which adds the classic black bars in cinema style.
There are also color filters, grayscale options, and even the ability to add particles to the scene, which helps create even more dramatic and dynamic compositions.
Check out a photo I took below:
Motorcycle Customization
A major highlight, and one that evokes a sense of nostalgia, is the motorcycle customization system. It closely resembles what we see in the Forza Horizon franchise, mainly due to the freedom players have to tweak practically everything.
In RIDE 6, you can swap out brakes, clutches, tires, and exhausts, make engine upgrades, and even remove mirrors and turn signals. It’s not just about aesthetics; there’s also attention to the mechanical aspects, allowing you to tune the bike to your riding style—whether you’re more into street riding or racing—which impacts the bike’s overall performance.
And of course, the visual and aesthetic aspects aren’t left out. You can completely change the paint job, apply decals, create your own designs, or even download creations made by other players online. In fact, by using a community-made customization, you also unlock a trophy—an extra incentive to explore this part of the game, especially for those aiming for a platinum trophy in RIDE 6. The decal system could be a bit more elaborate, but it works just fine.
In the end, it’s the kind of system that makes you spend more time in the garage than you expected, tweaking every detail until the bike is exactly your way—whether minimalist with solid colors or totally colorful and looking like a “float.”
Soundtrack, Audio, and Localization
The soundtrack in RIDE 6 is somewhat questionable. During the opening sequences, menus, and in training mode, there are more upbeat tracks that help create that exciting initial atmosphere, especially when combined with the instructor’s voiceover. In these moments, the game manages to convey energy and immersion.
However, during the races themselves, there is no background music. The experience is completely focused on the sounds of the motorcycles and the track environment. For some players, this may enhance immersion and realism, but for others, it may feel a bit empty.
On the other hand, the technical aspects of the audio are very well executed. The sounds are well-mixed, with a good balance between bass, midrange, and treble. The roar of the motorcycles is prominent, the sound effects don’t overlap excessively, and everything sounds consistent.
As for localization, the game only features subtitles in Brazilian Portuguese. The voiceovers remain in English by default, but can be changed in the menu to other languages, such as French, Italian, and German.
RIDE 6 Overview and Rating
Overall, RIDE 6 does indeed feature beautiful graphics on the PS5, especially if you play it on the PS5 Pro, but it doesn’t represent a very significant upgrade over its predecessor, RIDE 5, especially when you notice some textures loading in the foreground.
Performance is stable and smooth, rarely dropping below 60 frames per second, which is extremely good, especially since each race features dynamic weather, but the lack of music during races may be a downside for many players; I even missed having at least some background music during the race.
After testing all the modes mentioned above, the score for RIDE 6 is a solid and honest 8.5: Beautiful graphics, but not a major upgrade from RIDE 5.
We’d like to thank the folks at Milestone and 3NMedia for sending us the RIDE 6 PS5 key to help us write this article.
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