constantly be reminded of just how hard it is to control a car going at
incredible speeds. Yes, it is a quite dangerous sport, but the risk the
drivers put themselves at now is nothing compared to the earlier days of
motorsports.
Grand Prix Legends lets the player immerse themselves in the 1967 Grand
Prix series, back when safety measures consisted of a small roll bar and
a helmet. No computers, no traction control, no slick tires, sometimes no
safety barriers on pit road. These men were really putting themselves at
risk. The cars they drove had thin tires, volatile engines and no wings
or spoilers for downforce. They were literally at the mercy of the track
they were on.
A great example of the inherent dangers of these old courses would be
Monaco. A street course, the Monaco Grand Prix of 1967 was a risky one.
Sidewalks along every street make the chance of hopping a wheel over the
curb a pretty good one, which usually leads to a loss of control. If that
werent bad enough, many of the lampposts remain on the racing side of
the course barriers, head on collisions abound. Perhaps the most
dangerous aspect is the fact that the only thing separating pit road from
the racecourse is a painted yellow line. For anyone who doesnt know, pit
row resides on the inside of a long, gradual turn at Monaco, meaning
hugging the inside wall could lead to a multiple car pileup.
Elevation changes on the course also pose a very real threat, as these
cars seem to get airborne quite easily. Using Monaco as an example again,
theres a small chicane after a very long straight that has a slight
bump. This basically means you have to set up the turn quite early, hold
on and hope for the best.
The presentation of this title is phenomenal. Using a new 3D graphics
engine, Papyrus has recreated the cars and tracks in stunning detail.
This may sound strange, but my favourite aspect of the graphics is the
tires. The white Firestone or Goodyear logos on your tires will spin in
relation to how fast youre going, slowly becoming a blur as your speed
increases. Hit a tight turn and your inside wheel will rotate a little
slower than your outside wheel, which actually shows up in the game. It
may seem like a small detail, but it means a lot to me, and its so
realistic! The only other thing I would have liked to see them do with
the in-car graphics would be to have the brake discs glow during heavy
braking.
To add to the presentation is the replay mode, and its gorgeous. At any
time you can stop the race, practice, etc, and view a real-time replay of
your event up to that point. It looks so impressive, and its possible to
use different camera angles, save and edit all replays.
Rounding out this impressive package is the sound. No music is present,
and theres no announcer or pit-crew chief on the radio. Thats a no-
brainer, considering these guys didnt use radios. What is there is the
sound of your engine, and its superb. When you combine the authentic
sound of this with the graphics, the sense of speed is second to none.
You can also tell where opposing cars are by the sound of their engines,
and also which make of car they are by the pitch of the engine whine.
Papyrus has always been known for their incredible control of every
aspect in their motorsports simulators, and Grand Prix Legends carries on
the tradition. The physics model is totally new, the same one theyll be
using in the upcoming Nascar 1999 Edition.
The actual driving experience is very authentic. When navigating the
various courses, you must take into account how thin your tires are, the
fact they arent slicks and just how unstable and light your vehicle is.
Going into a turn at top speed is almost always a fatal mistake, but
learning to slow down just enough before each bend will get you around
the track much faster and safer. There are multiple driving aids and
difficulty levels to help the novice come to terms with the completely
different way these cars handle.
Featuring real drivers, real tracks and real cars, I really cant find
anything worth mentioning that detracts from the incredible racing
experience that is Grand Prix Legends. Formula One fans everywhere would
be doing themselves a great favour by purchasing this title. My only
suggestion is to buy a wheel/pedal combination, like a Thrustmaster T2,
Microsoft or Guillemot Force Feedback wheel. Race fans will find the
older cars a refreshing change from the myriad of F1 simulators out
there. This is a game that even my race-sim-hating friends love.
-- Greg Sewart
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