SBK-09 received mixed reviews, with a Metacritic average of 71% on the PS3 and 70% on the Xbox 360.
IT Reviews praised the game's accessibility and its appeal to both novice and hardened racers. The review said, "The medium skill settings represent a suitably measured challenge to the average gamer, with reasonably realistic but not punishing bike physics. Crank it up to the top level, however, and the bike becomes very demanding, requiring a feel for proper braking and accelerating techniques."[1]
Xbox World 360 magazine in the UK commented that SBK-09 was "Impressive - as long as you don't expect a massive evolution of last year's game".[citation needed]
IGN disagreed and said, "SBK-09 is a flavourless affair with a personality like an R&B’ing Joaquin Phoenix. It feels very much like a game for sim-nuts."[2]
