F355 Challenge

"Wow, there is a racing god and it's name is F355"

Firstly this game is absolutely, positively THE greatest racing game in the history of console-kind. Seeing as it is made by AM2 and Yu Suzuki (the genius behind games such as Shenmue, Outrun and Hang-On) the game has a lot to live up to and it certainly doesn't disappoint.

The first thing that strikes you is the amount of effort that has been put into the game, the graphics are sublime and every little detail has been included (such as on the replays the driver turns the wheels and the brakes light up). However this game started it's life out in the arcade and it simply wasn't an arcade game.

You see this game is pure physics, racing realism at it's peak. You won't be able to pull off powerslides similar to those seen in Daytona USA, nor is this game like Outrun. This is pure simulation at it's best. Which is why many people simply WILL not like it. You actually have to put something into the game to get results out of it. You have to practice, practice, practice to shave vital seconds off your lap times. If you want 1st place you WILL have to earn it.

The game is like any other arcade conversion and has been given extra modes that weren't in the original. Modes such as championship (where you have to race the 5 original arcade tracks and get a total number of points at the end (basically the same as any championship mode) but you can also have a network race (unless, like me, you own the Japanese import) whereby you join a race and you have to produce your best lap (you only have one chance), you aren't racing against anyone else, produce your best lap and then at the end a replay show's who was the best.

The AI of the CPU cars is frighteningly realistic, if you miss the racing line or accidentally slip off the track you will probably be overtaken. In most racing games the CPU cars act as moving barriers but in this game they actually seem to think!!.

With all the hype and news surrounding the unfortunate demise of the Dreamcast (WHICH IS NOT TRUE) you'd think that the console can't produce good games. Well I challenge YOU to play this game and not to love it like I do.

Well done Sega another superb title exclusively to the Sega Dreamcast.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/26/01, Updated 01/26/01