The game
The new game by Yu Suzuki, the Sega of Japan guru, is the direct conversion of the arcade arcade of the same name. The only difference with the latter lies, apart from certain graphic details (in fact in the room it runs on Naomi), in the lack of the two side screens that made the game a truly unique experience and was the cause of total involvement.
But let's take a look at what the Dreamcast title offers us.
The main screen offers us the usual options: arcade mode, championship, single play, versus, car settings, driving data, options, save and load game. Up to now the innovations are non-existent as the available modes offer exactly the same as other titles in the genre. Therefore Arcade Mode will be a single race but allows you to get new tracks; Championship mode consists of a series of challenges where you will use points to climb the rankings; Single Play allows only one run; in Versus mode, two human opponents will compete for breathtaking races.
With Car Settings you can change many parameters of our car. Entering the actual game, through, for example, Arcade mode, you will be able to choose a track from a shortlist of six (Motegi, Suzuka, Monza, Sugo, Long Beach and Suzuka short), the difficulty level between Novice and Intermediate (respectively with automatic and semi-automatic gearbox) and finally you have the possibility to decide in which mode to play between Training (training), Driving (running without opponents), Race (running with eight opponents).
But the important thing is the game on the track; that is why, if you want, you will buy the game and then I will immediately go on to describe the sensations I got by driving. First, remember that this title is a simulation; but not one of those simulations that turn out to be so only on paper. Yu Suzuki's work is in fact able to give the player everything you might feel while driving a real car. Of course, at first everything may seem a bit difficult but over time everyone will be able to have a stable ride. There is no need to be afraid, since the level of difficulty is really well calibrated, with increasingly difficult challenges without generally being frustrating.
The game physics of the cars are excellent and it is precisely this that makes the simulation experience unique of its kind.
Realism is therefore the spearhead of this gem and precisely for this reason Suzuki has chosen to provide only one view (the internal one) to the player. I must admit that this choice at the beginning left me a bit confused but in the end I got used to it.
Graphics & Sound
Let's now move on to the more technical aspects, such as graphics and sound.
The first one will leave you speechless. This game features the most beautiful images ever seen in a driving title. The polygonal models are practically perfect and the applied textures are excellent. The same also applies to the reflections on the bodywork. Let's not talk about the tracks and backgrounds, on which the Sega programmers have really placed a maniacal care so as to touch the limits of photorealism. All the details, including the mechanics at the pit stops and the drivers inside the cars, are made with extreme care. The sound is excellent, the sound effects are really realistic and finally the engines and braking have a semblance of real. The only note I can make concerns the music which, to be honest, does not convey much the idea of realism and could even annoy the most delicate, since it is pure Hard-rock.
In conclusion???
What is left for me to say, then? Longevity is guaranteed by the good number of options and the great challenge that the game poses to your skill and your patience. Summing up, I can't help but recommend this game to everyone, from Dead or Alive 2 geeks to Gran Turismo fans.
In conclusion???
Pro:
Incredible level of realism
The best graphics ever
Great sound
Against:
Deafening music
Excessive realism is sometimes frustrating
Introduction
Everything opens in a common Modenese street. Then the scene moves on to Maranello, the place where Ferraris are conceived, built and tested. From here comes a car that represents the dream of millions of people. A car capable of participating in any challenge, with beauty and devastating power. The car Ferrari F355. After its release we are overwhelmed by a spectacular race between some of these dream cars. Thus begins one of the most spectacular games of all time which takes the name of F355 Red Passion.
