| Game: |
Ferrari F355 Challenge |
| Author: |
Sonic |
| Genre: |
Racing |
| Released: |
N/A |
| Developer: |
Sega? |
| Score: |
0.0 / 10.0 |
| Date: |
8.20.00 |
|
|
Okay, one of the first definitive reviews on the net. Why? Because the
Bag got the import version, and this is the most realistic racer ever made. Fun too?
Find out inside...
The Bag loves his racing games. He loves his Crazy Taxi and his San Francisco Rush 2049 demo, but he has been waiting patiently for a truly realistic driving simulator for years. The Bag strolled into the Ferrari dealership the other day as usual, and he tried to test out a Ferrari as usual, and he got "escorted" out of the dealership by security for "straddling the cars" as usual. Hey, the Bag loves these cars, but the problem is that they just cost to much to own and smother with baby oil. I guess that Sega and Yu Suzuki were listening in on the Bag's prayers, because they decided to stop messing around and make the most realistic, intense driving "simulator" ever made. This fantastic piece of driving heaven goes by the name of....drumroll please...Ferrari F355 Challenge. The game debuted in arcades everywhere with much acclaim, and it instantly became known as "the most authentic racing game" ever made. From its authentic Ferrari Arcade cockpit to it's 3 monitor dashboard display, this game turned many an arcade gamer's head. OK, now flash forward several months later, and Sega announces that they have been very busy making a Dreamcast version of the game. Well, after a very impressive E3 showing of the game, the Bag patiently waited in line at the local import store on August 3rd and grabbed his own copy of the game! Alrighty, here we go...
Graphics
Although the arcade version has been out for almost a year, the DC version packs a visual 3 hit dragon punch combo. I am talking about a 3 hit combo, an extra flaming fireball thrown in, and some trash talking in between. First off, the Ferraris themselves are just as impressive as anything you'll see in Ridge Racer 5; we've got authentically designed racing machines loaded with tons of polygons, nice car and window reflections, and fully animated drivers. These babies look the part, and they don't cost nearly as much! The courses are absolutely breathtaking, with lots of clear, crisp trackside detail, impressive lighting and weather effects, and a solid "race course" feel. Apparently, Yu Suzuki and his team modeled the tracks after their real world counterparts, and the sheer amount of detail is astonishing. The coolest addition would have to be the random weather and lighting effects that now accompany each racetrack, thereby giving the player a fresh experience each time they set foot on a course. In order to keep the game as realistic as possible, you are only given the standard cockpit view to use when racing. Let me explain this to you: the Bag absolutely despises the cockpit view in most racing games, but this is done so well that it provides an unparalled racing experience. Wipping around a corner whilst fighting off an angry powerslide, sliding right in behind the leader and taking the best line towards the finish, the cockpit view gives the racer the ultimate in speed and realism. There is no pop-up, draw in, or slowdown in the game and it displays up to eight cars at once with a crisp, clear framerate. We've got smoke trails, we've got shadows and lighting effects, we've got, well, everything that comes together to create an ultra realistic racing environment. Despite a drab color or too on the road and a few buildings, this game's graphics are almost hotter than the Ferrari license itself.
Gameplay
To say that Yu Suzuki and his team literally packed and squished a real Ferrari into this game would not be to much of a stretch. In order to make the game as authentic as possible, F355 Challenge is played from an inside the cockpit view complete with a steering wheel, rearview mirror, and animated driver's hands. The feel of being inside of a real driving machine is painstakingly realized, and it will intimidate the toughest of drivers from the start. Although beginners can play with an automatic drive and such assisted functions as stability control and anti lock brakes, intermediate drivers must use a full fledged 6 speed manual shifter and alot of skill. These babies pack alot of horsepower, and it certainly shows. Like a wild horse in a two bit rodeo, these badboys will get out of hand if you let up on the reins for even one second. One false move, and the bone jarring smash that shakes the screen after a collision with another car or course obsticle will scare the showboat right out of the most fearless racers.The Bag is not sure how Sega did it, but the superb control of the arcade cabinet has been faithfully recreated in the analog control and acceleration/braking triggers on the DC's controller. Of course you'll be zig zagging all over the track like a handicapped student driver at first, but once you tame the beast and blast down a straightaway at 230 miles per hour, you're life will flash before your eyes. The game then becomes a one on one battle between you and your car as you slide around corners and hairpin curves, ever so gently blurring the line between control, and the illusion of control. The act of slipping by the lead car on the inside of a turn, only to momentarily loose traction of the car and shift into a higher gear to compensate for the redirection of power while regaining control is almost more satisfying than racing blindly through any street in Crazy Taxi. One warning: the game is really tough, but the Bag would not expect any less. Those of you who think they are up to the challenge will find a game with flawless control and fiercely professional A.I. The computer is really sharp, and it will take everything you have just to stay in the race.
Sound
The car's sound effects are superb; the perfect balance of realism and flair. The 80's lamo guitar riffs are very disturbing to the Bag and do not exactly enhance the game as much as they frighten and scare the Bag. Word is Yu Suzuki enjoys this type of music, but the Japanese are, after all crazy, so that explains alot. Luckily, the music does not show up in the actual racing modes, only for the intro and the race replays. To recap, sound effects good, music....err...an "I see dead people..." type of thing. Be wary young Jedi, there is a major disturbance in Yu Suzuki's music selection.
Lastability
This game almost has too many modes to count. We have a training mode which shows the best driving line to take and practice the various courses with, we have an arcade mode which takes you through any of the courses within a certain time limit and checkpoints, we have a full championship with points given for placing in each race, we have an online addition to upload fastest race times or download other player's "ghost" times to race against, and we have random weather and lighting effects to keep the courses fresh. If you thought the arcade's six courses were not enough, there are five (!) additional secret courses to unlock that are exclusive to the DC! What a port we have gotten! Add to these factors very realistic and extremely challenging drivers, beautifully rendered authentic courses, arcade perfect graphics, spot on control, and a smooth framerate, and you have one heck of a racing simulation. By the way, the import version is almost entirely created in English, so feel free to import now and exerience the beauty for yourself. The Bag is a changed Bag: gone are the days when he hated the stick shift and the cockpit view. Ferrari F355 Challenge is here to play, and it is one heck of a ride!
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