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F1 Challenge Review by: Joe Boerner Summary: This is a Indy car racing game by Sega Sports, and distributed by Virgin Interactive Entertainment. F1 Challenge has Arcade Racer compatibility, three modes: arcade, time attack, and options. In the selection screen (Arcade mode only.), you can customize your car's front and rear wings, tires (In the instruction booklet and game, it's says "tyres". Is this a misprint?), and fuel. Plus, you have five real F1 racing teams (One driver for each team.). You can choose from two racing views: cockpit, and behind the car. Another option, that Need For Speed has and Sega Touring Car Championship will include this feature soon (Releases in December '97!), is a rear-view mirror. Finally, six tracks to race on, three real and three fake: Hockenheim, Suzuka, Monte Carlo, Neo City, Novice, Neo City Advanced, and Neo City Expert. Now, let's get to the review! Graphics, 8.0/10: The backgrounds are not really that colorful (Bland looking.), but the cars are nice looking. When you see a cpu or your car (Behind the car view.) go off the track, the game will show a brown haze transparency from the dirt. Also, when you hit a cpu car and vice-versa, or see the cpu skid, there is a smoke transparent effect. To me, they look nice, and this adds to the realism of the game. Like Virtua Racing (The Saturn port wasn't that good in my opinion. I thought the Genesis version of VR was better.), you can see sparks from your car or the cpu's car. Another welcome graphic effect, is the rear-view mirror, the only other Saturn racer (Currently.) that has this, is Need For Speed. This game has an excellent intro too! There is pop-up, similar to Daytona USA. Examples: The side of the track, crowd stands, and building. Sound, 7.0/10: The car sounds like it's taken from a real Indy car! The other sounds are bangs, when you hit the side of the track, and skids (For spin outs and tires wearing out.), nothing spectacular. Disappointing, there's no crowd cheering, they just watch the race. The cheering crowd sound helps set the mood for a racing game. Examples: Wipeout, Daytona USA, and Daytona USA CCE. The music is jazz and rock, but very mellow, since the cars engine sound drowns it out. Control, 9.5/10: This is what makes the game shine the most. Using the control pad is simple, one button is for accelerating, one for braking, one for switching views, and another for the rear-view mirror (To turn it on or off.). F1C is more forgiving than any other racers for the Saturn. It has a loose feeling similar to Daytona USA, it will take a few racers to get to use to. F1C isn't as addicting like Sega Rally or WipEout, but it does have six tracks to master, and five cars to use. The computer doesn't cheat either and I'm glad, but it does challenge you (Increase the difficulty settings if you need to.). The cpu cars even go into the pit stops, unlike Daytona USA and Daytona USA CCE. I am disappointed that a game like this doesn't have a two-player split-screen mode. Arcade Racer compatibility, 9.5/10: I also used the Arcade Racer with this game, and it has the same loose feeling like the control pad. Using the Arcade Racer, the game is very forgiving, and it feels realistic! So far, this is the best racer with playability, with the control pad and Arcade Racer, in my opinion at least. Overall, 8.5/10: The fact is, this is a excellent game, even though it doesn't have a two-player option. It does have the best playability than any other Saturn racer that I've played. You want a Indy car racing game, look no further, buy it! If your skeptical about F1 Challenge, I suggest you rent it, then make your decision. All I know is, that I plan on buying it in the future. Reviewed on July 4th, '97.
My rating system:
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