R: Racing Evolution

[pace]

For those who are interested in buying the game it's only ?13.30 at play-asia for the next week (ps2 version).

[charlesr]

I only got this for Pacman Vs, but I've been playing it for hours on end. That's a terrific price. If you like Time Trialling, this game is superb. Turning off ABS and Traction Control gives some of the most rewarding driving ever experienced. Almost similar to GP Legends. For example if you nail it in 1st you will just spin round and giving it too much right foot coming out of corners will spin the car. But the option is there to make it easier to drive and nail it everywhere with ABS and TCS, so fun for everyone. The AI is really good, albeit a little easy to start with. But TT and multiplayer is really good. The variety of vehicle models (rally, drag, prototype, GT, old stuff) is really good. The rally cars can perform well on the road tracks against the road cars by cutting across the corners. The rally tracks are good fun and delicate use of the handbrake is essential. There could be more track variety, but I'm still learning and improving times on the tracks that are there after many hours/days/weeks play. If you have the Logitech wheel, this is an essential purchase. The force feedback is incredible. Not locked solid like Burnout2, it actually gives constant feedback to how the ground is changing. I'm not sure what it plays like with a pad though because I haven't even tried.

[JamieOilyFcker]

IC, how would you compare it to PGR2? Graphics, physics, gameplay etc - If you have to choose between the 2, what would it be?

[charlesr]

The graphics in PGR2 are very clinical. I somehow prefered the DC graphics in MSR. R:racing's graphics are very grainy when still, but on the move it improves a lot. It's an aquired taste but gives the game it's own distinct look. R:racing seems a bit unfinished at times. There's little in the way of graphical effects. There's a bit of tyre smoke and dust off-road, but no rain pouring down etc.
If you want online play PGR2 does it perfectly, but R:racing is restricted to code generated online time trial rankings. Physics in R:racing is awesome, although you will only really notice if you turn ABS and TCS off. Body roll and weight transfer is particularly well done. PGR2 is more arcadey in comparison.
PGR2 has more long term appeal due to Live elements. So I'd probably go with that. But if you only have a GC, then R:racing is THE essential driving game, especially since the Force wheel ?13 offer is back at HMV.

[DESTRO]

Sorry for bumping an old topic. . .

But I have to say I've been really happy with this game. The physics have impressed me too. By far the best racer on the Cube.

One thing I noticed last night about the AI: If you race 'within the lines' on the more curvy tracks, tracing exactly the tire marks on the turns, the AI won't pass you. Even if you're taking a slower pace [within reason], they'll just run into you from behind.

[nemesis_god]

Bought the game a week ago...it's awsome....Monaco with a Bentley EXP 8 just rocks 8)
And it plays very well with Logitech Driving Force.

[ryodi]

Picked this up today from Gamestation. Had a quick go on Racing Life with the ABS and Traction Control off which certainly gave you a better feel of the car and caused me to spin in Monaco (in Quick Race) when I floored it out of the first corner Won't be doing that again.

So far my only complaint is that the graphics are really grainy and pixellated and playing it on Normal the racers don't try to block you when you go to overtake. Too early to make concrete opinions but this is my initial view. Look forward to playing this more later along with Pac Man Vs. when my friend gets back from uni.

[The Mole]

The game is selling well or was only released in a very small batch as no Gamecube version to be had in the whole of Newcastle, no Harvest Moons left either.

[MonkeySteve]

My local Game had 2 copies of the GC version left when I went in this afternoon, compared to about 20 copies each for xbox and ps2. They also had no copies of MGS:TS or Harvest Moon

I think they must be stocking smaller quantities of GC stock nowadays ft:

[ryodi]

Played it for a few more hours now. Racing life is a bit dull (but does have some nice cutscenes) and I am not entirely convinced by the handling model of the rally cars as it seems impossible to get them to powerslide properly.

I have a quick question though, where the hell is reverse. It is not mentioned in the manual and holding down brake does not reverse like in almost every other game so where is it? Am I missing something obvious

[Commander Marklar]

Hold it down longer... it's usually easy to bounce the car around though Powersliding is something else, takes a bit of practice but can be done. The GT1 cars slide nicely, with minor handbrake usage. The Rally cars are best suited to oversteer/accel control.

This is why it isn't a Ridge Racer title (for all you haters)

[nemesis_god]

Yep, to slide with the rally cars it's hard but very rewarding. 8) But I also don't like very much the handling of the rally part of the game
But the rest of the game makes up for it

[Tom Salter]

I dunno, I found the rallying great after a while. The tarmac racing doesn't let you slide it much, but stick a Pug 206 WRC on the gravel and then tell me it's hard to powerslide

[charlesr]

I've got an hilarious replay of me racing a rally car on greenfield (I think) road circuit against a touring car. I'm cutting all the corners but's he's catching me up elsewhere. If anyone is finding it difficult to powerslide, then turn ABS and traction control off. In fact the game, as I've mentioned before, is soooo much better with these turned off.

[Treble]

I'm beginning to think the game was underrated, too. I squarely blame Namco for that, though. The front end is over cautious and doesn't explain the differences in control offered by adjustments to the handling. Because you use a lot of different vehicles in quick succession (both in Racing Life and the main game), remembering settings is a pain in the arse, particularly as (stop me if i'm wrong) you have to change them every time you enter a race and pick a car.

If you take the time to get to know each vehicle, though, it becomes much clearer. Although you can't customise anywhere near as intricately and effectively as you can in the GT series, small adjustments do change the game massively, and its worth spending time on this. Like Charlesr, I'd say take ABS and TCS off from the start.

Athough it's a good game with some nice instances of handling, the aliasing is atrocious, and it looks like a PS1 game at times, it's that bad. A shame, as the frame rate appears to be effectively locked. Also, some of the control is a bit floaty. I find the drag type very realistic, with its bouncy suspension, and my RSX (I think) with a realistically slidy mechanic and lose grip point, but the rally cars have hardly any bite at all and feel floaty. It can be, as mentioned, compensated for, but the handling characteristics are a world away from the realism of 'proper' rally games and even GT3's rally sections.

Another gripe is the size of the thing: there is little incentive other than bragging rights and gaining cash to get gold, silver AND bronze in all the challenges, and they aren't as well structured or interesting as GT3. A better difficulty curve, some tougher challenges, fewer courses but better rewards would have made it more compelling.

That said, it does get exciting in a lot of places, and the course variety and design can be superb. If all the cars handled with the same great physics as the best examples in the game, it would have been amazing. As it is, I reckon its a long way below GT3 and F355 for realism, and nowhere near as exciting as Namco's own RRV.
In a word: competant. It's still good, though. Not as good as Pacman vs., like, which pisses on it