There are plenty of Xbox 360 and PS3 racers out there, but name one thats a true simulation.
Gran Turismo?
I sure thought so, until I got into Race Pro and discovered just how complex setting up a race car really is. Whether you choose to sign a contract and embark on a career, play with or against other players over Xbox Live or via System Link, compete in an individual championship or take in some co-op, time attack, or open practice, theres no getting around the realism that you feel the moment you get behind the wheel, followed by a quick pause; quit (do you really want to quit the game? yes) and its time to tinker.
The basic options menu in Race Pro, where you normally adjust the volume and maybe set the number of laps, includes steering sensitivity, where you adjust the analog sectors to determine how much your steering movements are amplified when slight pressure is applied to the left stick; throttle and brake sensitivity; steering throttle and brake dead zone; speed sensitive steering; and a global steering lock, whatever that is. I read the description and I still dont get it. Adjust the steering to around 70% and you should be able to stay on the track. Once you graduate from your three-race Class-A (Mini Cooper) contract say hello to your Caterham CSR 200, the worlds most squirrelly automobile. Time to visit the actual Car Set-Up screen where you can adjust things like brake bias, suspension dampers and spring rates, aerodynamics down to the air intake for your brake ducts, and other such measurements you never knew existed. I havent seen that many decimals and measurements since high school math.
I play a lot of racing games and Ive never felt so intimidated or been quite so driven to dial in a game. Winning feels so much better when youve actually set-up the car, but be warned this is not a pick up and play racing game; you have to get your virtual hands dirty. Race Pro is the closest thing to real racing there is on console, and while it may not make me park my Mudplugger just yet, its definitely all the official FIA championship racing you could possibly ask for. Start your engines.
score 7.5 out of ten
verdict Simulation and racing aficionados raise a glass; everyone else, just try to stay on the road.
Please note: if you have come to this page via Metacritic, please click this link before posting a comment. Comments posted after directly coming here via a Metacritic link are currently not showing up properly.
Words
