Review Double Header: Ferrari Challenge and Supercar Challenge

Game: Ferrari Challenge: Trofeo Pirelli
Console: Sony Playstation 3
Developer: Eutechnyx
Release Date: 4th July 2008

Fans of the Gran Turismo series will recall that until fairly recently there was no Ferrari licensing in the game, leaving a fairly glaring omission in the game's car list. I can only assume that this game was a contributor to that, and wonder how Ferrari allowed their name to be used here, but not in Polyphony Digital's vastly superior series. Fans of the Gran Turismo series will also be aware of how a good driving simulator game feels; the need for braking, realistic weight physics around corners and semi-competent AI who can at least manage to stay on the track for the most part.

The first thing players will notice about the game when playing is the absolutely awful driving physics; there isn't a term strong enough to describe how unresponsive the cars are around corners. With full braking from a long way before the entry to the corner, cars will still continue to go in a straight line while the AI cars seamlessly handle the corners somehow. It's a frustrating issue which plagues every corner of every race. Add to this the fact that there's only one car unlocked upon starting the game, and it's clear that the developers made some odd choices.

The career mode of the game features various race series which players can compete in, and the layout and progression isn't too bad. There's just little chance that players will have the patience to get through any of the races laid out before them. With some very cautious driving and cornering it's possible to win races, but it's hardly worth it as the fight is against the handling of the game rather than the AI racers who are hugely incompetent at times, leaving the track of their own accord and generally doing random things throughout races.

It's clear that parts of the game were worked on very hard by the developers; the visuals are generally gorgeous and there's some lovely reflections and lighting effects, but the views of the car are mostly from odd angles, damage is ridiculous and occurs to parts of the car which haven't even been hit, the map goes offscreen at times and these factors make for a confusing mix of high and low quality.

The sounds of the game aren't too bad, though Tiff Needell's 'witty' criticism grates after a while in the tutorial mode. Despite claiming to have over 50 models of Ferrari in the game, only 22 can actually be unlocked and there's only 1 available from the start of the game. Featured as a mini-game is a Ferrari top trumps set which can prove to be just about as fun as playing the main game.

The most frustrating aspect of the game is that with better AI and handling, Ferrari Challenge could have been a truly enjoyable racing game. Getting used to its handling is near impossible and it feels so unrealistic that it's hardly worth doing. As such progressing in the game has no real appeal, and after about half an hour of trying to get into the game most players will have given up.

Rating: 37/100
Grade: E

Game: Supercar Challenge
Console: Sony Playstation 3
Developer: Eutechnyx
Release Date: 4th September 2009

It's not often in the modern day that we see such a blantant recycling of a video game as in Supercar Challenge. If you'd like to learn about the handling and AI featured in the game, re-read the above review of Ferrari Challenge, because this game is essentially a car pack for it. In fact the two games, while released separately were also released as a single disc. There's almost no change between the games, and Supercar Challenge features many of the same Ferraris as Ferrari Challenge with a few other brands of supercar mixed in.

The same tutorial, tracks, AI and handling engine are used unashamedly from the previous game, and no attempt has been made to fix any of the issues. Multiplayer mode was removed between the two games and apart from Ridge Racer and Ridge Racer 2 on the PSP, I'm not sure I've seen such a similar set of games released so closely, purporting to be different titles. Had the System 3 logo on the bottom of the box not been obscured by a CeX sticker when I purchased the game, I'd have surely avoided it, but in a way I'm glad I was able to witness such a blatant re-release for a reminder of how cynical game publishers can be.

I'm not going to bother scoring this game, as it's essentially the same as Ferrari Challenge with some different cars. Simulation racing games are hard to get right, but that doesn't mean that developers shouldn't try. These games have all the hallmarks of titles which were rushed to release; the graphics seem perfectly finished but the AI and handling could have done with some polishing and it's a real shame they never got it.