 |
|
7.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
G1 JOCKEY 4 2008 Posted by Dan Pearson on Oct 19, 2008 14:54 (Oct 19, 2008 14:54) |
||||||||||||||||
Koei have long been the best at bringing niche games over from Japan to let us Europeans have a go. This time it’s the popular G1 Jockey series, but will we European gamers get what it’s all about?
Racing games are really ten a penny in the current generation and whether it’s racing with karts, cars, bikes or space ships all have controls are not that different from one and other, so a horse racing game with simulator like controls seems like a very different way to go on the current trend.
 Thankfully the G1 Jockey training mode takes you very slowly through the subtle control methods of the game and its here that most players will pack up and turn on a different racer such as PGR, however should you persevere then you will be in for a surprise.
The training is very thorough, showing you how to get the perfect start, how to take corners and sensible use of the crop. It will also show you that the most important factor of this game is not speed but strategy. In the first few races you will run straight out of the fence into first place, only to be last at the first turn. The training will teach you that unlike motor cars that have an engine, horse racing has you rely on a living animal that runs on stamina, so going hell for leather at the start will leave your horse tired on the final stretch. This kind of racing is a real pleasure and a welcome change to the normal foot down approach.
 Graphically this game is not breaking any new ground, in fact it does look a bit dated, the horses appearance and animation are pretty good on a HDTV but if anything they could fit just as well on a PS2.
The main game has you joining a team from the start of the season, here you meet with some new friends and train with them, trying to prove yourself on the track with a selection of horses. As you progress through the races, other teams will take notice of you and make you offers to race their horses. The in-game story is told using a talking head text based approach like very old SNES RPG’s. Not very exciting but it gets the job done.
Fans of racing games may not understand this, if you get the hang of the controls though you are in for a real treat as the races are often to the nose. Those who enjoy equestrian sports will get a lot more enjoyment from this title.
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
Comments |  |
