Hi folks,
Having managed to get SODA demo to see my Rendition card I fired this
game up for another look. iP225-MMX (3x75), 32Mb EDO, Intergraph
Reactor with latest BIOS and SODA-demo drivers.
Zoiks! What a difference! Playing SODA in 640x480 and even in 320x240
with all details turned off my main gripe was that it just felt so
sloooooooow. Not the frame rate (which seemed smooth enough) but the
car just didn't feel like it was going fast. With the Rendition fired
up and working it is a world of difference. The game has a FAR greater
impression of speed and is really fun to play!
Good Points
^^^^^^^^^^^
Handling : The handling of the car is a lot of fun with a wheel, a
little difficult with a joystick and damn tough with keys. If you have
a wheel this is lots of fun. It's probably the first time I've ever
used FULL opposite lock on my TSW to catch a slide, but that's how far
out the tail gets on one of these cars. Full lock, feed the power in
and then countersteer to catch the tail as it flicks back the other
way - this game needs a yeehaw! button more than Monster Trucks :)
Tracks : VERY up and down, good use of bumps, contours and elevation.
If you think of Moto-Racer style "Bercy" track (in the stadium) it's a
dirtier, bumpier version of that. I can't wait to try the others, and
with a track designer it could be fun. Anyone ever felt like throwing
mud all over Spa and going for a spin... :)
AI : The AI seem pretty good, very aggressive, and follow reasonable
lines. I'm not yet good enough to go wheel to wheel so it's difficult
to judge so far.
Views : The***pit view works really well, really gives you the
feeling of being there.
Bad points
^^^^^^^^^^
Graphics : Very effective but a little too simple maybe? Without a
Rendition card the game just feels slooooooooooooow, and this REALLY
needs work before release.
Sound : Again, effective but sounds a bit weedy. Locking and wheelspin
noises are useful, but sometimes I had the effects of wheelspin but no
sound (foot mashed to the floor in first gear and tail-ed swinging
round rapidly!).
Overall I liked this quite a bit, and makes a nice change from deft
and delicate touches required for current sims. One question I do have
- do SODA drivers _really_ change gear that often? I was up and down
more often than Tommy Lee on his wedding night and if these are manual
boxes then these SODA drivers have really got their work cut out!
Nice demo from Software Allies, looking forward to the full release.
My only caveats would be the points If you have a wheel and a
Rendition card then this is for you. My only caveats being the points
above. Please, please, please work on a 3dFX or D3D version though,
this really demands an accelerator card and more people have 3dFX than
Rendition - why limit the market?
Cheers!
John
