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Due out in March.

50 Ferraris. Awesome tracks. Sign me up.

 

50 Ferraris. Awesome tracks. Sign me up.

Slightly Mad is my absolute favorite production house. Shift/Shift 2 were by far the most visceral racing/game experience I've ever experienced. To me, Shift 2 feels far more realistic than Forza. I think the lighting is far superior to Forza with the way the light reflects off the interior (esp the trackside bumpers), the unpredictable driving characteristics I favor and feel more accurately reflect driving at the limit, the way the cars feel like they are actually on the track and not floating above, to camera movements to the AI that dont drive like drones....I could go on forever. I think if more people went in depth with it and actually tuned the cars rather than bitching about "steering lag" or "cars dont look good when 1/2 an inch away", etc, they to would fall in love with it.

Its a racing game were photomode isn't a top priority, which strays from the current trend.

This will be a winner for me. Judging by the video, its along the same lines as what got me hooked in the first place.

 

If physics are as arcadish as in the Shift games, I'm out.

 

Great selection of Ferrari's....

 

Physics don't look as "loose" as Shift, and there less camera shake/jolting.

 

I hope that the driving dynamics are better than Test Drive Unlimited (2). I loved playing them, but when I switch to Forza Motorsport, the physics and everything are so much different (better) that I have to get used to playing either of them. In fact, I've played TDU2 maybe 4 times since I bought it

 

I picked up the game for $30 at a Gamestop close by a while ago when I purchased Forza Horizon & NFSMW.

You can tell this is developed by Slightly Mad in the the gameplay actually looks and feels. It isn't quite as polished as the Shift series was, but it is at times pretty. The inside of the cars are very detailed. From the feet working the pedals, reflections on the gauges, accurate bump textures on everything from alcantara to leather to stitching, not just a little on the steering wheels (FORZA!!!). The tracks are very pretty and life like. Gone are all the Shift banners and neglected track surfaces. There are new tracks, classic tracks and classic-er tracks. The 60's version of Spa is incredible. I think there are 4 different time periods for Silverstone, all VERY accurate. The Nurburgring looks very realistic. Track selection is bullet proof. Lots of tracks...lots of tracks you've never seen before in other titles. You've still got your motion blur, a touch of heat haze, great looking smoke from Shift, but no marbles or fire out the exhaust. All tracks have 3 times of day and clear or cloudy options for each time. This is great...keeps things looking different, and new. The "story" is based off of a freelance driver turned pro, which is very lame and poorly implemented, but none of that really matters. Just turn the speech volume off when you start out and you'll save yourself from tiring comments made by your coach.

The cars, IMO, handle better than they do in Shift. It's along the same lines, but less "wagging of the tail" if that makes sense. I never really had a problem with the way the Shift cars handled. I mean...if you go into a turn, in real life, and lock the steering wheel in one direction you're going to have a whole lot of issues. I think Shift portrays this, where as other racing games don't. If you go to fast into a turn and try and correct it, you're going to get some understeer/oversteer. After you've gotten past the learning curve, it's easy to get them under control, same goes in this application. All of the cars have very distinct characteristics. The older cars have significant body roll and traction issues, turbo'd cars have notable turbo lag, and F1 cars are a handful, just as you'd expect. The sounds from the cars are all very individual and authentic. Some have excessive exhaust over run, but that's really my only complaint. The F40 sounds like an F40 and the 355 sounds like a 355.

....The gameplay. Here is where it gets good. This is a very simple game. You race to unlock cars and tracks. At the beginning of the game there is hardly anything unlocked, like maybe 5-6 cars and 3-4 tracks. The career is divided into three sections, 50-60s, 70-80s and 90-Present. There are easyish races and there are races that you will throw your controller against the wall shouting obscenities. The only time I think it gets long in the tooth is when you have to qualify for a race, which can take you several laps, and then have an actual race afterward...some what repetitive in that regard. There are obstacle courses set up on tracks in time trials that are very difficult...Gran Turismo license test difficult. If you cut the track to many times or drive recklessly you'll be disqualified. Also, no rewind. You forget how easy rewind makes racing games. Last lap of the race you make a mistake...you pay for it! Sometimes if you are sneaking up on the AI, they will over correct causing a wreck and all sorts of havoc. Some people don't like Slightly Mads AI, I love it. It seems more real to me than other games I've played. Its like they know you are on their bumper.

I haven't played FH or NFSMW since I've gotten deep into this game. Forza wasn't exactly what I'd call a challenge and NFS is kind of a mess...on crack. Test Drive Ferrari is enough of a challenge to keep me hooked and unlocking new cars and tracks keeps me going. I've been playing on medium difficulty and its been perfect. Easy the AI is a little slow, and hard if you start out a 15 lap race in 6th, you'll finish that race in 6th, or last.

If you like Ferraris and historic tracks, pick this up. It is certainly a challenge.

 

Thanks for the review, I was very skeptical of how a game with only Ferrari was going to be. I may pick it up later down the road when it's a little cheaper because I know I'll beat the game and drop it lol

 

Yea, its one of those games for sure. Not a whole lot of replay value because it pisses me off so much.

I forgot to mention, there are little random "additions" to the game that pop up unannounced...such as "your arm is cramping up, you can't shift gears" which sucks balls and makes it ridiculously difficult. It usually only lasts for a lap or so, but thats enough to put you at the back of the pack.

 

What

The

Hell

definitely some points taken away there.

Who the hell has arm cramps from a paddle shifter?!

 

Well, it hasn't happened in any of the newer era cars...mainly 1970 and before, and even then only 3 times out of a hundred or so races.

 

Put in some laps in the 360cs tonight. Damn good car. The downshifting sound is incredibly real.

I feel like with this game (and the shift series) I am driving a car, rather driving a simulator. It's almost moving in a way...

 

Beat the game in easy to unlock everything last night. There are a couple of races that are BRUTAL. For example, there is a 333sp race where you've got to finish 2nd, but make sure "Chuck," your rival, finishes below the podium...without causing an accident or wrecking into him.

anyway....time to go back through and attempt to finish it in the pro mode.

Great game, fantastic difficulty...it really makes you want to play more. I will say, that one of the last cars unlocked is the Italia. You unlock it after a series of F1 and prototype races which almost renders it unddriveable as you get so used to braking late, turning in late and driving a mile ahead of your car.

 

I feel like getting this game just for the sound! Engines sound quite nice.

 

Jump on it if you can find it cheap. The campaign is highly addictive and long, but after that it's no frills.

I do enjoy Nurburgring'ing it in the various cars from time to time, though.