I just unwrapped my copy of WORLD CIRCUIT: GRAND PRIX II, that I
received
from Gabe Turk at Spectrum for evaluation.
WOW.
Let's start with the SOUND. You can smell the clutch burning!!!
GRAPHICS: Move over NASCAR II, and INDYCAR II. Photo realistic comes
to mind. You GOTTA see Monaco...I crashed several times looking out
at the Villas on the hills. Talk about the Boat Harbor, there's boats
in the Harbor. BEST GRAPHICS of any racing sim...NO QUESTION.
CARS: Looks like a choice of FARARRI, WILLIAMS, LOTUS...etc...etc.
Seems you pick your car when you pick your team, 10 to 14 teams, I
fergit exactly, but PLENTY to choose from. Two driver slots per
team, and of course, you can edit the team name and driver's names.
TRACKS: Looks like we lost Mexico and Phoenix, but gained Pacific,
16 Circuits in all. Talk about GRAPHICS. The tracks are STUNNING.
Did I mention the "groove" sound that your tires make when you
cross over the curbs...you know that "ribribribrib" sound, and
it comes from the SPEAKER that is on the side of the car that
has the tire off the track. Dopler...shit, this is awesome.
SEtups...I'll leave that to you experts, but it looks like you
have MORE control of the setup of the car than you did in F1GP.
Braking ratios, gear ratios, tire selection, suspension, etc.
Did I mention the "CLUTCH" sound when shifting gears...
TRACKS: You NOT have to re-learn the tracks that you know from
the old version. The tracks are the same...surprize. I found
that my cues were all there and I was turning some respectable
times first time out. At Monza I was near my previous times.
The WALL of death is still there at Hock...the *** area is
still a transmission killer at Monaco...but you will remember
the power braking spots quickly, me thinks. At least I am/did.
Did I mention the engine sounds....FANTASTIC...PERIOD.
TIRES: You have to take it easy on startups. You can, and I
suspect will, burn off quite a bit of ***, and don't forget
to look out the rear view mirrors (one on each side) to bear
witness to it. The smoke plumes are fantastic.
Did I mention the *** burning sound...HEHEHEHE
Options...If you need more options than this call for therapy.
You can adjust ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. Sound, video, detail,
names, dates, measurments...etc..etc...etc.
Did I mention the statistical log that the data logger keeps
of you laps...that can be review in GRAPH form...
Oh, then again there is the HOT LAP tape that you can record.
There are too many features to mention, but here are some.
Realistic teams, drivers and sponsers.
Great 3D effects on the graphics.
Selectable FAILURE modelling. Trans, oil leaks...etc.
Full race strategy planning, pre-planned pit stops.
Did I mention the way the car shakes, rattles and rolls when
you get off the racing surface. WARNING: stay off the dirt, it
is a killer on the undercarriage and it is a pain to get off of
the dirt. If you must spin...do so near the grass...hehehe
SVGA...resolution...STUNNING, GORGEOUS.
CHEATS: All the F1GP "aids" are there, for those of you (us?) who
are lilly livered, at least at the start. YOu wanna know something,
this sim is MORE FUN than NASCAR and INDYCAR, it allows you to get
in and TEAR UP SOME ASPHALT. BUT, it has all the realism that you
could want as well. You can (and I will) turn off all the niceity
things and go for it, if you wish. But you can just jump in and
start racing as well. It has a great level of choice.
CONTROLLERS...you can configure ANY type of control known to man.
PERIOD. I setup my THRUSTMASTER T2 controls in NO TIME and was out
on the track at MONZA just like that. It has the ability to store
up to 8 different controller configurations....I said 8.
Did I mention the music...really good music...I know, who cares,
but it is really good racing music.
Ah, what about the FRAME RATE. TOTALLY adjustable. TOTALLY.
I fear that the 486 boyz are gonna be driving this thing too.
I was hoping for an "elitest" type thing for us power users, but
this thing can be completely adjusted for frame rate.
On my machine I'm getting the MAX with the MAX.
Bottom line...MUST HAVE, that's M U S T H A V E.
Get your sleeping bag, go down to the local software place and
camp at the door... GET IT as soon as you can it is going to be
a winner. HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
Above based on a P6 200, Matrox Mill 4 meg, 32 megs ram running
from DOS.
Have fun, I'm am...
JEB in Vegas (actually Monaco...hehehe)