Written by: Ian

 

 

 

'Ferrari Challenge' only came out just over a year ago. Instead of the promised DLC, we get a new, full priced boxed game. Is it worth upgrading for? The game promises re-tooled AI, better graphics, and new tracks- but does "SuperCar Challenge" deliver on the long list of improvements that I was given?

 

 

There’s a very basic kind of story here, which is no different to any other racing game really. You get your tutorial presented by UK TV personality and ex- F1 driver Tiff Nidell, and then you get to compete in various events around the world in order to become the number one driver in the world.

 

It’s fine really, but I wish that someone would try something new, rather than the rather faceless approach which dominates racing games at the minute. You do get to name your driver, team, and create a livery for them, but it’s all rather generic, and the livery creator isn’t a patch on the Forza one.

 

 

The first thing I was a little disappointed with was the track choice. While there are many real tracks in the game, which are beautifully modelled, many of these are re-hashes of tracks from Ferrari Challenge. And many of the ‘fictional’ tracks are so close to their real-life counterparts, I’m surprised no-one has taken legal action.

 

 

The ‘Riviera’ track is a blatant Monaco rip-off, and one of the Canadian tracks is quite literally the same as the Montreal F1 circuit, but with a different name. I’m never a fan of fictional tracks in realistic simulations anyway, so this was more than a little unimpressive, especially as you start off in Canada in the career mode on too technically unlicensed circuits.

 

However, whilst some people moan that a game with less than 50 cars will never have the breadth and depth of the Forzas and GT’s out there, I rather liked the fact that the most ‘basic’ car out there, that you start with, is either a Zonda F, DBR9, or Enzo Ferrari- not bad!

 

The career structure has improved though. Instead of arbitrary race lengths, you now race a set number of laps (normally 3-5). There is also a tutorial available for every circuit. You also don’t have to race multiple times before you can save. However, you are still forced to qualify, which some players would no doubt rather ignore. And the progression, whilst better in some respects, is not better in all. You earn race points depending on where you finish, and you need to earn a certain number before the next country is unlocked. However, with the AI remaining pretty brutal, it may take three or four races of each circuit before the next is unlocked- which will get dull for all but the most hardcore of racing fans.

 

There are plenty of other modes, like Arcade and Time Trial, but the meat of the game is clearly in the challenge mode, so you will be forced back there at some point. AI has been improved in some aspects, and is still some of the best around there, but it seems like the AI will make more mistakes for no real reason now. In some cars (e.g. the F40), it seemed like the entire field was incapable of taking one of the chicanes at the fake Montreal circuit. One, or even two cars braking late and going wide in a hail of tyre smoke would have been a neat touch, but when 15 cars do it, it just looks stupid. Having said that, similar problems existed at the FC launch, and the team quickly patched them, so here’s hoping that Eutechnyx get their act together quickly. Despite the little niggles, the core racing action remains as fun as ever, although the game is clearly still aimed towards the hardcore.

 

 

Even on the most arcadey settings, the game will still feel tough compared to many other titles, whilst on simulation, with the driving aids off and the difficulty ramped up, the game can be brutal. Having said that, this is probably what the hardcore do want- a tough, exciting, wheel-to-wheel challenge.