I bought SBK 2000 and have mixed feelings about it. Firstly, I LOVED the
original game. The graphics I find in this new 2000 version are very, very
good. I play it with all options on (except realistic shadows, which I see
no difference with anyway) at 1024x768 and 16 riders and I experience
flawless frame-rates. Many of the tracks are incredibly well detailed and
the track surface is detailed enough to see slight bumps and dips that are
going to effect your line.
The sound is better in a lot of respects, but a bit bizarre in overall
ambience. I have the EAX turned off but everything sounds like it's indoors,
in a big hangar or something. I suspect a sound bug, but we'll see.
Feature wise I dislike the game. They've removed lap record completely from
the game (how can you have a lap based racer without records??!!) and also
gone is the excellent telemetry recording system of the original. Also
missing is multiplayer championships, which I was hoping they'd improve upon
to allow savable multi-player championships.
They've also included riders and teams that weren't part of the '99 season,
namely the Bostrom brothers and the Vance & Hines Ducati team. Not only is
this a sin against authenticity, but they've made Ben so uncharacteristcally
fast you practically have to force him out to give the championship regulars
a chance at winning.
They've also included a 3D preview of the track at the start of all weekend
race meetings, which while nice I find annoying because there's no option to
disable it.
Generally I feel that SBK2000 is not the step forward from SBK that it
should have been (more a sideways step!) It has better graphics and more
dynamic handling characteristics, but the rest of the game is lacking
compared to it's predecessor.
On the plus side, I just can't stop playing it. So I guess that sums up my
views.
Si.
> About SBK2000 I dunno. I played the Beta and Demo so far, waiting for my
(slow
> ass) local stores to get it in so I can scoop up a copy. From beta to
Demo
> SBK2000 has come a long way. I never had a chance on the beta to play in
> 800x600 with the 8 bikes. Yet in Demo It wasn't a problem. 3d engine in
> sbk2000 is fairly efficent I must say. Milestone is genius. Even when
all the
> graphics are at their lowest it looks just great, and it does make a
difference
> in frame rate. F12000 I don't have full yet, but also once released in
local
> stores, I'll be picking up a copy. But the version I do have is just a
huge fps
> hog, and for some reason has problems with my voodoo banshee. Hopefuly in
the
> final it was fixed, or EAsupport will be hearing from me. And I will not
give
> up on this great game. I've seen\played the game at it's best, on my
friends
> system. Wow is all I've thaught.
