Is there really anyone out there who has not heard or played at least one version of Geoff Crammond's GrandPrix. This game has been around almost as long as home Computers, Yes even on the OLD Amiga platform. Indeed thanks to devoted fans of the game, Who have developed "Third Party Editors" You can still "Upgrade" the original Amiga version (Or any other PC version ..for that matter) to include New cockpits, Car colours and updated drivers, So bringing the game to todays standards.
Writing a review of a long running game like GrandPrix ...Is not the easiest thing in the world. Everyone who plays this game ..Do so to suit their own tasted or skills in a Fomula 1 racing car.
Those who just want a quick speed around the circuits or want to challenge for the Drivers championship, May have all the driver aids switched on, While others preferring a real life simulation, will turn them all off and depend on their driving skills to try to win races (In this mode it really brings home just what a difficult job these guys have in trying to stay on the track)
OK! ..Grandprix 4 will cost you around the £40 mark ... But surely version 4 is really an upgrade from GrandPrix 3 (Or 3 2000 to be precise). So perhaps many of you who have purchased GrandPrix 3 and updated it with the editors, will wonder if it is really worthwhile spending good money to this newer version.
Well in short ...The answer is two fold. (1) If you are content with your version and just enjoy the odd spin around various circuits ...Then perhaps you should save you cash. (2) However if you enjoy motor racing and want the latest, greatest game on the shelves today ...This is a Must.
Read on and discover why.
Grand Prix 4 is based on the FIA Formula One World Drivers Championship, which is probably one thing that will turn a few people away from this title considering that other titles (F1 2002) have been released this year with all the current drivers and manufacturers. While the menu system has been completely overhauled, all the familiar options from the previous three Grand Prix games are there, plus a few new additions. Some of these additions include far more detailed track data (like what speed for each corner at a particular circuit) performance review (which allows you to look at your past races and how you are going) two new driving aids (traction control and launch control systems) and a jump start option.
The different modes of game play have not changed from earlier versions with the exception of "Quicklaps". QuickRace, Free Practise, Non-Championship Race and Championship are all still included. Players settings still include Ace, Pro, Semi-Pro, Amateur and Rookie which will be of benefit seeing that depending on which difficulty mode you select the game will adjust the driving aids and AI accordingly. While this is not a new feature it allows for everyone to enjoy the game; from the person who has never played an F1 Simulation right up to the die-hard, petrol- heads who play non-stop.
Graphics options within the game are once again handled straight up by an in-built calibration option which runs the first time to start the game. While this is most probably a sensible way for the developer to let you see how they would like it to look I would still suggest you get in there and tweak it up to the highest setting your machine can handle. A nice addition to the game is the full implementation of EAX Hardware Supported Sound. This makes for excellent sound effects and is fast becoming a standard by which all games are measured. This is also calibrated the first time the game is run and again I would suggest you get in and set it up to your liking.
Multiplayer settings are once again included with the game but to many die-hard fans dismay there is no "internet" option. While the multiplayer mode uses the familiar TCP/IP protocol, getting it running across the internet will be another thing which may be left up to the Grand Prix Community to solve. Included in the previous expansion pack for Grand Prix 3 was GPaedia. This again provides a valuable resource for new comers to sit with and learn some of the finer details about the Formula One Sport. Also full video explanations are now incuded in each section of the cars and drivers, tracks, how to set them up for racing and finally pitstops.
A major problem with Grand Prix 3 was the lack of driving views to choose from which has now been fixed. Thanks to many GP2/GP3 sites the people behind Grand Prix 4 have realised that in order to stay at the top they must adopt change and listen to gamers from all over the globe. Thankfully this has been done with a number of new driving views to suit everyone's needs. These include the very popular driver position, rear view and now a tv cam view of racing. While the implementation of this is not as good as seen in F1 2002 its still a lot better than having none at all. Also included are the old rear and front views, both left and right side pods, nose and gearbox cams. This makes it very easy to see all the action from any point on the car.
With a new graphics engine this game makes the most of some very impressive features and it shows in the attention to detail around some of the circuits as well as with the car shapes and liveries.
One major part section that was lacking in previous versions was the pitstop. Grand Prix 4 now includes the most detailed pit crew in any F1 Simulation. A full complement of 18 mechanics lovingly pour over your car when you visit the pits during a race meeting. Not only that, when you are testing or practising they can still be seen coming out to lift you off the jacks and make sure that the pit exit is clear. If this wasn't enough, when an accident is so bad and you manage to limp back around to the pits these guys will push your car back into the garage so that they can take a look at it. This is fantastic.
A function that was introduced in the Grand Prix 3 Expansion Pack was full replays. Once again this has been included and improved upon and depending on your machine you can record as much or as little of the on-track action as you like so that you can view it from one of more than 10 different angles. A new addition to the replay function is when viewing a wet race the camera lens actually shows the rain drops hitting it and trickling down to the bottom. This makes viewing wet weather replays all that more realistic as you get a sense of what the race was like. This is a very nice touch.
Something else that will have long GP supports excited is the damage model for Grand Prix 4. This has to be one of the most detailed models in a driving simulation to-date. The cars can be broken up into the smallest of pieces which is not the best way to win races but for the purpose of this review a number of them were damaged beyond repair. Hit another car and bits of carbon fibre go flying in all directions. Lock up a brake and the wheels squeal in pain, not to mention the smoke and glowing brake discs. Ride a curb hard and you can not only feel every bump but hear the car bottom out on the road surface. These are just a few of the feelings that this title produces and it does it extremely well.
Finally this title shows how much the Grand Prix Series of games has matured over the years. With fantastic attention to detail and graphics to match the other titles currently on the market a few things do let it down. The most important of these would have to be the lack of a 2002 Season. This will either be made by the public at large or maybe even released as an expansion pack similar to Grand Prix 3 Season 2000. The other problems with the game include longer drivers names not being displayed completely on the tv screen overlays and the machine specs to get this running like a Ferrari on race day. Make not mistake this is going to be the ultimate F1 Simulation mainly due to the depth of detail it provides. Just when you think you have seen it all the smallest of detail will catch your eye and you will be amazed. Even with these few small problems Grand Prix 4 will no doubt be hailed as "King".
Rating 96%
Ian C Fyvie
