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Well 2 weeks to go and the first reviews are coming in....and there good! This game was one of those that could be a clasic or a flop, seems system 3 have pulled it together and come out with something for us driving sim fans. Having owned the dreamcast and been a dedicated fan of the original sega ferrari challenge I was really watching this one with a cautious eye, the original was the first "real" driving sim on a console and because of this the new version has a lot to live upto. Now the review I'll draw quotes from is the IGN one so go check it out, firstly the things which are looking good in my opinion is obviously the 16 player online races, the weather effects and also the handleing, so without further ado heres the juicy bits of the review.
All quotes from IGN review.
Ferrari Challenge takes a singular focus on the output of the Scuderia but it's an exhaustive look back to the past marvels of the Italian marquee, with 32 cars included from the focal F340 stretching all the way back to 1957's Le Mans-winning Testa Rossa.
The core of the single-player game is given over to the titular Ferrari Challenge, a single-make series that sees Ferrari F340's embark on a globetrotting journey over 14 of the world's finest tracks a generous selection that's topped up by a further two unlockable courses
Race weekends encompass a qualifying session and two 15-minute endurance races that, while plausibly faithful to the source, can prove infuriatingly time consuming. Whilst the option is present to reduce the races to more readily digestible five minute chunks, it remains a frustration throughout.
a decal system that's shamelessly aped from Forza 2 is included, and whilst it remains competent it doesn't quite span the breadth of Turn 10's system, lacking the means to share creations with other users.
Sticking two fingers up at that other PlayStation 3-exclusive racer, car damage is included, though it's largely inconsequential
Rain has a profound effect on handling, making cornering a heartstopping affair.
when it comes to taking to the track, Ferrari Challenge has more than enough strengths to earn it a place amongst the premier pack. With its handling pitched somewhere between the obsessive geometries of Gran Turismo and the skittish arcade thrills of GRID, it manages to create a driving experience that is instantly gratifying - liberate the car of all the driving aids and you'll unleash a handling engine that manages to find a near-perfect balance
Graphically Ferrari Challenge proves proficient, if rarely dazzling. It's at its best during wet weather races, with raindrops streaming down windscreens and the damp gloss of the track surface looking spectacular
Racing itself is a step above other fare on the PlayStation 3 though thanks to an emergent artificial intelligence system it can take a little while to reveal its true colours. The first tentative steps into the world of Ferrari Challenge pit players against some slovenly opposition traveling at a pedestrian pace, but over the course of a few races the game steps up to match your ability. It makes for a harsh peak in the difficulty level you'll likely win your first few races with relative ease, only to find yourself struggling in the lower orders towards the end of a season. But it's amidst the thrill of the pack that the game's racing pedigree truly shows itself.
Indeed, it's one of the finest attempts at racing yet seen on a console, with opposition drivers displaying personality and, more importantly, a ready perception of your actions on the track. Find a favourite overtaking spot and the A.I will soon pick up on it, aggressively defending their line and moving to block any opportunistic maneuvers.
Closing Comments
Throughout Ferrari Challenge theres a clear sense this game isnt out to woo the casual racing fan. Instead, its a hardcore sim, a love letter to both Yu Suzukis classic arcade racer and everything thats rolled through the gates of the Scuderias factory. It often frustrates and is at times rough around the edges, but shining through these flaws is a game with heart and passion. System 3 has managed to produce a thoroughbred racing experience that manages to retain so much of the charisma of its source material - and for those so inclined its one of the best racers available on the PlayStation 3.
Well it says all the right things for me, being marked down on it's inacesability to the "casual" gamer is a good point in my book LOL, score? 8.3 not bad for a simultor.
All quotes from IGN review.
Ferrari Challenge takes a singular focus on the output of the Scuderia but it's an exhaustive look back to the past marvels of the Italian marquee, with 32 cars included from the focal F340 stretching all the way back to 1957's Le Mans-winning Testa Rossa.
The core of the single-player game is given over to the titular Ferrari Challenge, a single-make series that sees Ferrari F340's embark on a globetrotting journey over 14 of the world's finest tracks a generous selection that's topped up by a further two unlockable courses
Race weekends encompass a qualifying session and two 15-minute endurance races that, while plausibly faithful to the source, can prove infuriatingly time consuming. Whilst the option is present to reduce the races to more readily digestible five minute chunks, it remains a frustration throughout.
a decal system that's shamelessly aped from Forza 2 is included, and whilst it remains competent it doesn't quite span the breadth of Turn 10's system, lacking the means to share creations with other users.
Sticking two fingers up at that other PlayStation 3-exclusive racer, car damage is included, though it's largely inconsequential
Rain has a profound effect on handling, making cornering a heartstopping affair.
when it comes to taking to the track, Ferrari Challenge has more than enough strengths to earn it a place amongst the premier pack. With its handling pitched somewhere between the obsessive geometries of Gran Turismo and the skittish arcade thrills of GRID, it manages to create a driving experience that is instantly gratifying - liberate the car of all the driving aids and you'll unleash a handling engine that manages to find a near-perfect balance
Graphically Ferrari Challenge proves proficient, if rarely dazzling. It's at its best during wet weather races, with raindrops streaming down windscreens and the damp gloss of the track surface looking spectacular
Racing itself is a step above other fare on the PlayStation 3 though thanks to an emergent artificial intelligence system it can take a little while to reveal its true colours. The first tentative steps into the world of Ferrari Challenge pit players against some slovenly opposition traveling at a pedestrian pace, but over the course of a few races the game steps up to match your ability. It makes for a harsh peak in the difficulty level you'll likely win your first few races with relative ease, only to find yourself struggling in the lower orders towards the end of a season. But it's amidst the thrill of the pack that the game's racing pedigree truly shows itself.
Indeed, it's one of the finest attempts at racing yet seen on a console, with opposition drivers displaying personality and, more importantly, a ready perception of your actions on the track. Find a favourite overtaking spot and the A.I will soon pick up on it, aggressively defending their line and moving to block any opportunistic maneuvers.
Closing Comments
Throughout Ferrari Challenge theres a clear sense this game isnt out to woo the casual racing fan. Instead, its a hardcore sim, a love letter to both Yu Suzukis classic arcade racer and everything thats rolled through the gates of the Scuderias factory. It often frustrates and is at times rough around the edges, but shining through these flaws is a game with heart and passion. System 3 has managed to produce a thoroughbred racing experience that manages to retain so much of the charisma of its source material - and for those so inclined its one of the best racers available on the PlayStation 3.
Well it says all the right things for me, being marked down on it's inacesability to the "casual" gamer is a good point in my book LOL, score? 8.3 not bad for a simultor.
