Like a lot of race game fans I can’t drive. I can’t even control a kart with any kind of skill. And I suck at driving games. My brother acts like a bit of a petrol head, approaching discussions about horsepower and car speakers with a dangerous enthusiasm, which probably would have made him a better choice to review Race 07 were it not for the fact that he doesn’t see the point to these “PC games thingies”. So I was at a loss when the disc came through my letterbox, having had to look up what the likes of a ‘Caterham’ and ‘Radical’ were in an attempt to understand some of the press surrounding the game. One thing is for certain – the kind of automotive maniacs that whooped over Simbin’s previous game - GTR 2 - are the ones who will enjoy this title most, and probably don’t even need a review to tell them so. For the rest of us who might enjoy the occasional episode of Top Gear, Race 07 doesn’t let hardcore craft and attention to detail get in the way of some serious fun.
It’s billed as the official WTCC game, which means it packs both the 2006 and 2007 ranges of stunning touring cars and tracks to start with. Some of these are pure monsters to fling around a track, and there’s a solid mix of front and rear-wheel drive models, most able to squeeze out 280hp. And you feel it all too, with the whole affair being relatively easy to control, even though yours truly was hamstrung by his mouse and keyboard combo. You just can’t manage much finesse with a handful of blocky keys, but the option of mouse-controlled steering is a great inclusion and works well. The tour tracks are all consistently challenging and well modelled, but I was unable to really master any of them short as I was on time and talent. Race is the kind of game that requires plenty of practice.
The above isn’t all you get. For those looking for a more exotic drive Simbin have thoughtfully included a selection of the aforementioned Caterhams (English-made kit racers) and Radicals (stylish two-seater road rockets), along with Formula BMW and Formula 3000 cars. As physical constructions some of these things are patently ridiculous, with oodles of horsepower strapped into a frame that weighs about as much as a cereal box, but once you take them onto a track Race lets you delight in the insane speeds and thundering smash-ups that such engineering tomfoolery inevitably results in. It’s pure speedy delight.
There’s even some “classic” WTCC 87 cars tucked in here alongside some tripped-out racing Mini Coopers, but these aren’t nearly as fun to drive as the other cars. They’re the not-so-tasty garnish on this plate of delicious racing, er… steak and chips (It’s a legitimate metaphor, I swear.) They’re a flitting distraction at best, being completely eclipsed by the rest of the stellar content. There are enough cars, tracks and competitions in here to keep a fan engrossed for weeks, while the more casual (or less interested) among us can still dip in and out.
So it’s good then? Yes, certainly. Surprisingly good in fact; and by that I mean I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The driver AI is what did it for me, being both a worthy opponent in most races while still being hilariously fallible at times – it’s nice to see your fellow racers take a spill every once in a while, especially if they manage to take a few others with them while you slide on by. It’s satisfying even when you’re soundly beaten because the AI never feels like it is cheating. Even my limited experimentation with the online mode was reasonably painless too.
Race 07 is solid vehicular entertainment, and while I could moan about its graphical niggles and occasional bit of poor presentation there really isn’t any point. The hardcore will already be sold and the more casual will only care about the fun factor, which is present in spades. So buy it then, if that’s your pleasure. No reservations from me whatsoever.
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