Grand Prix II

"A realistic game that also manages to be fun. Oh, and you can whoop Schumacher's ass too!"

Grand Prix II is very, very old (it was released sometime in 1996, I think..), yet still, even now doesn't look all that dated. Even now the game looks pleasing to the eye, and if you were asked to guess it's release date based on this alone you'd most probably guess the game is ''younger'' than it actually is.

The game itself offers a great deal in the way of options and customization. There are several race modes available, the most significant of these being a full racing season, played out across 16 different race tracks (all of which are realistically reproduced in the game) from all around the world. Many options are available to make the campaign suit your needs, you can select the race length (just in case 2 hours per race is a little too long for you..), as well as the other drivers ability and many other, more subtle options. The game also offers a ''Quick Race'' option, for those among us who don't have the staying power to go through a whole racing season. Multiplayer modes are also offered, and although here it fails to match up with many more arcade-style racing games as far as excitement is concerned, multiplayer is worth a look-in at least.

The game is amazingly realistic, especially when you consider its age. The mechanics of the game are good, the movement and line of the cars is just as you would expect in real life, although collisions are a little sloppy - you can nudge other cars without feeling any consequences. Your car is very customizable - depending on the track you're racing on you'll have to find the optimal car setup if you want to get the fastest lap times possible. Car setup is realistic and incredibly detailed too - from the front/rear wing settings to the brake balance and everything in between, it's all there. For the avid racing fan this is great, although newcomers to the genre may be a little confused by it all. Still, you can get by with pure racing skill if you wish, though an understanding of how Formula One cars work or a willingness to read through the incredibly detailed manual is preferable.

The controls are heavily customizable too. You can set automatic or manual gear change, even auto-braking if you're struggling. Indeed, the difficulty of the game is also variable depending on the options you select. There are 5 difficulty levels, and as you proceed up them you notice your opponents getting faster and your ''driver aids'' getting more and more limited. The ''driver aids'' are great - they consist of various features that can be turned on or off at will (in easier difficulties), ranging from the aforementioned automatic braking and gear change to the displaying of an ideal racing line on the track. This helps raise the appeal of the game to both racing veterans and racing newbies alike.

Well, enough babble - here comes the summary!

Graphics - 9/10

Considering the date of release, the graphics are absolutely amazing. Even today they fail to look overly dated. Your car, the track, other cars and your surroundings are all displayed in beautiful detail. The game's graphical options are heavily customizable too, which is yet another bonus.

Sound - 5/10

It's a racing game. You get to hear your engine whirring a lot. Doesn't sound very appealing does it? Well, it isn't really. As far as whirring engine sounds go it's okay, but it will doubtless get on your nerves eventually if you're in a 2-hour race...

Gameplay - 9/10

Amazingly realistic - narrow your eyes and let your imagination run wild for a second and you could easily imagine you are actually there behind the wheel yourself. In many games realism is obtained at the expense of fun, but I can happily say that Grand Prix II is great fun too. Multiplayer mode is a worthwhile addition too.

Replay value - 9/10

So many customizable options and settings the possibilities are endless. Even when you've won the championship on ''Ace'' difficulty there's still that lap record you haven't beaten, and then there's multiplayer mode too. Will keep drawing you back for a long time.

Overall (not an average) - 9/10

Difficult to get hold of now, but if you come across it be sure to give it a go - it may have been a little overshadowed by its sequels but Grand Prix II is a great game in its own right.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 05/16/02, Updated 05/20/02