NICE2 - Breakneck - Mini Review

First let me say this game is only available as an IMPORT at this time. Even though this game is better than anything currently available in the US you will have to find a dealer who can get IMPORT titles if you want to enjoy it. I recommend InteractCD (web-store) where you can find it for $39 This game has EVERYTHING: 50+ cars (ranging from go-carts to Indy Cars to Monster Trucks) 24 tracks (that can be mirrored and reversed for 48 more) Plenty of SPONSORS Realistic race/season calendars ARCADE and SIM modes Extremely configurable options for varying difficulty EXCELLENT Force Feedback Incredible graphics using Direct3D This game takes racing to a whole new level. Starting with a fixed amount of cash you go shopping for a sponsor and a car. Your race calendar will be randomly generated for each CHAMPIONSHIP with 24 races which vary in car class and track style. Make sure you don't buy a CLASSIC racer if your first race is a PREMIUM race otherwise your car won't be eligible. Use your winnings to upgrade your current stable of cars or buy new ones. You can trade in cars from your currently garage to buy new ones. Even cooler is the concept that if you have a single off-road race you can actually RENT a car/truck for that single race. Of course you will also have to buy Comprehensive Insurance but the rental and insurance is always cheaper than the full purchase price of the vehicle. During you car shopping you can even take your dream car for a spin - but it will cost you 1% of the purchase price. If you do buy the car they will deduct this fee from the final price. Sounds are INCREDIBLE. Engines on all 50 cars are unique and realistic. Environment sounds are equally as excellent including owls, birds and wolves howling in the moonlight to chugging trains rolling over the tracks as you fly under the bridge at 180mph. The track detail is great with lots of foliage, buildings, mountains, not to mention little details like dust and smoke and fog and mist, reflections in the cars and windows and very realistic lighting effects from head and tail lights. There are plenty of cool TIME OF DAY effects such as moonlight races, sunset and sunrise, and daytime races complete with the best damn lensflares I have EVER seen. Rain and snow are also available and slippery handling is realistically modeled, visually and with the force feedback. Multiplayer mode is fully supported and works great of LAN or TCP/IP. And for those of you DEATHMATCH racers out there, you will be pleasantly surprised to find a FULL ARSENAL of weapons available in the combat racing modes. But don't be fooled - just becuase this game has fun things like ARCADE mode and weapons, this racer has a SIM MODE that cannot be rivaled. Breakneck is the FUTURE of racing games so grab yourself and IMPORT copy and start driving. There is a demo version of this game available on www.avault.com ENJOY! My P3-500 with a TNT2 card was able to run this game at 1280-1024 at 32bit color at 42.5fps

On 16 Aug 1999 07:35:25 PDT, I can't find it at www.interactcd.com (or anywhere else). I searched on N.I.C.E.2 and NICE2, etc., etc.. Do you have a direct link to a U.S. distributor? Also, is the text in the game in English, or German? Thanks. -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com

Another opinion: Nice 2 completely sucks. Really, it does. The driving model is ridiculous. It's no simulation, it's an arcade game, but even for an arcade game the model is too stupid for words. I even don't want to spend my time on writing a review for this piece of trash. Let me just say that it's one of the worst racing games I have ever played. I know that I may be the only one on this planet who doesn't like this game, I just had to say this to warn you. After reading the review in this thread even I would go immediately to the store and buy this game, if I hadn't played this game allready. Maybe you'll like it (in that case you probably HATE Grand Prix Legends, Viper Racing, Toca 2 or any other racing game that tries to simulate racing) but be sure to play the demo first! Andre

You need to go to CDROM Titles - GAMES - Driving/Racing or just click here http://www.interactcd.com/icd/cgi/PrintDetails.cgi?name=BREAKNECK%20%...

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>On 16 Aug 1999 07:35:25 PDT, >>First let me say this game is only available as an IMPORT at this >>time. Even though this game is better than anything currently >>available in the US you will have to find a dealer who can get IMPORT >>titles if you want to enjoy it. I recommend InteractCD (web-store) >>where you can find it for $39 >I can't find it at www.interactcd.com (or anywhere else). I searched >on N.I.C.E.2 and NICE2, etc., etc.. >Do you have a direct link to a U.S. distributor? >Also, is the text in the game in English, or German? >Thanks.

Hmmm...you must have been playing with a keyboard then. The physics and response modeling was dead-on for me. Of course if you pick ARCADE from the loader then all realism goes out the door but if you pick STANDARD then it's Viper/GPL physics all the way. When played with a MS Sidewinder FF wheel the game will blow you away. You can FEEL the backend breaking loose. Come over a hill too fast and you go slightly airborne and lose you handling momentarily until you bounce on your physically accurate shock absorbers and regain control. Counter-steering and powersliding are excellent - not exaggerated like the PSX games. This game reminds me a LOT of Ultimate Racing Pro but with lots more sim aspects as far as money management and maintaining your vehicle through upgrades and repairs between races. Oh well - my Andretti wheel just arrived in the mail and I have to go see how it works with Breakneck...

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>Another opinion: >Nice 2 completely sucks. Really, it does. The driving model is >ridiculous. It's no simulation, it's an arcade game, but even for an >arcade game the model is too stupid for words. >I even don't want to spend my time on writing a review for this piece >of trash. Let me just say that it's one of the worst racing games I >have ever played. >I know that I may be the only one on this planet who doesn't like this >game, I just had to say this to warn you. After reading the review in >this thread even I would go immediately to the store and buy this >game, if I hadn't played this game allready. >Maybe you'll like it (in that case you probably HATE Grand Prix >Legends, Viper Racing, Toca 2 or any other racing game that tries to >simulate racing) but be sure to play the demo first! >Andre

NICE2? What game are you talking about? By the way, can you post how the Andretti wheel works out in terms of precision, durability, and ease and qickness of use. I am thinking of dumping my TM Sprint but one thing I like about it is that I can quickly strap it on without any hassle. Thanx * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet's Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet - Free!

Just a question: do you work for the company that made or is distributing this game?? I can't say that I was very pleased with the demo. Graphics were good, but, it didn't have that lasting appeal that a racing game should have. It was an okay arcade racer but even that is pushing it. the friendly pysco

On Mon, 16 Aug 1999 20:31:20 -0700, How could you judge 'lasting appeal' from a demo which allows you to race on one track with 4 cars, in arcade, not simulation mode? -- * rrevved at mindspring dot com

Thank you, I thought I was the only one that thought this game stunk. This game is by far one of the worst racing games I've played.

No, Logitec FF and CH Pro pedals. If you enjoy the game, that's great. Everybody has his own taste. I just wanted warn everybody to play the demo first before buying it. I gave it another shot yesterday with your review in mind. And I really, really hate this game. IMHO the driving model and the FF is terrible. The AI is very bad. What I very often have is that the AI is driving in front of me for half lap, I don't get any closer to him no matter how good I drive, and then suddenly I can overtake him with much more speed than the AI is driving. When I overtake him it seems that I'm driving 50 miles faster than him. And no matter if I drive perfect or not, half a lap later than AI is on my tail again and overtakes me with much more speed. It doesn't feel good, the AI is programmed to let you pass if you stay behind him for a little while, and when you're in front, the AI gets more speed so he can overtake you. And I do drive on standard mode. And how about the menu structure in the complete game? This is truly the worst designed menu I've ever seen... Definately try before you buy. BTW the game has to titles, it's called NICE 2 and Breakneck. I think it's NICE 2 in Europe and Breakneck in the states or something. Andre

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>The physics and response modeling was dead-on for me. >Of course if you pick ARCADE from the loader then all realism goes out the door >but if you pick STANDARD then it's Viper/GPL physics all the way. When played >with a MS Sidewinder FF wheel the game will blow you away. >You can FEEL the backend breaking loose. Come over a hill too fast and you go >slightly airborne and lose you handling momentarily until you bounce on your >physically accurate shock absorbers and regain control. >Counter-steering and powersliding are excellent - not exaggerated like the PSX >games. This game reminds me a LOT of Ultimate Racing Pro but with lots more sim >aspects as far as money management and maintaining your vehicle through upgrades >and repairs between races. >Oh well - my Andretti wheel just arrived in the mail and I have to go see how it >works with Breakneck... >>Another opinion: >>Nice 2 completely sucks. Really, it does. The driving model is >>ridiculous. It's no simulation, it's an arcade game, but even for an >>arcade game the model is too stupid for words. >>I even don't want to spend my time on writing a review for this piece >>of trash. Let me just say that it's one of the worst racing games I >>have ever played. >>I know that I may be the only one on this planet who doesn't like this >>game, I just had to say this to warn you. After reading the review in >>this thread even I would go immediately to the store and buy this >>game, if I hadn't played this game allready. >>Maybe you'll like it (in that case you probably HATE Grand Prix >>Legends, Viper Racing, Toca 2 or any other racing game that tries to >>simulate racing) but be sure to play the demo first! >>Andre

you are not alone at all. I always wonder why that piece of junk got such high ratings in nearly all German *** mags

Is this the same NICE2 that was available as a demo about a year to 18months ago? I had it and it was pure arcade. Nice pretty graphics, but the worst menus I have ever seen (including F1RS). The physics were non-existant, and it pushed the credibility of even being an ARCADE game. I hope they have changed it a lot since then. NO way would I buy it until I try a demo of the current version. -- Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors Super Touring - Club Cars - Alfa Romeo http://fullspeed.to/astc Australian Super Touring News and Information

Because it's a German game. And German games allways get ridiculous high ratings in German game magazines. Andre

Nathan, yes it is the same game. And nothing has changed. Except the name, it's now called Breakneck instead of Nice 2. Glad to see that I'm not alone with my opinion about this game :) Andre

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>Is this the same NICE2 that was available as a demo about a year to >18months ago? >I had it and it was pure arcade. Nice pretty graphics, but the worst >menus I have ever seen (including F1RS). The physics were >non-existant, and it pushed the credibility of even being an ARCADE >game. >I hope they have changed it a lot since then. NO way would I buy it >until I try a demo of the current version. >-- >Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors > Super Touring - Club Cars - Alfa Romeo > http://fullspeed.to/astc > Australian Super Touring News and Information

TURN OFF "CATCH-UP" option. It's in Option Screen 3/4 Even NFS had this option. I just wish it defaulted to OFF rather than ON. <snip> <snip>

Ok, didn't know that. But I hope you can imagine why I didn't see that option in the wonderfull menu :) Nonetheless, the game still sucks badly. Andre

>This game has EVERYTHING: Except for the minor detail of car physics/driving model that in any way resembles actual wheeled vehicles. NEXT. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

>Another opinion: >Nice 2 completely sucks. Really, it does. The driving model is >ridiculous. It's no simulation, it's an arcade game, but even for an >arcade game the model is too stupid for words. I agree 100%. I LIKE arcade games, but NICE 2 really and truly ir horrible. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

>The physics and response modeling was dead-on for me. I agree with the original post. The NICE2 demo makes Need for Speed 2 look like a masterpiece of accurate simulation car physics by comparison. I haven't played a game with worse physics than NICE2 since I used a Commodore-64 for ***. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

What I meant was that it was fun for a little while but after a bit it got pretty boring. I've been playing the gp500 demo for days, hours on end now and still haven't gotten at all bored. Same with SCGT and the Viper racing demo. If the demo can't hold my attention for more than a few hours there is no way that I would buy the full version. the friendly pysco > On Mon, 16 Aug 1999 20:31:20 -0700, > >I can't say that I was very pleased with the demo. Graphics > >were good, but, it didn't have that lasting appeal that a racing game should

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> >have. > How could you judge 'lasting appeal' from a demo which > allows you to race on one track with 4 cars, in arcade, not > simulation mode? > -- > * rrevved at mindspring dot com

I'm assuming your comments are based on the final version that's been out for about 14 days now and is only available as an import title and not some pre-release or reviewers copy. Several versions of this title have been floating around for the past 2 years.

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>>Another opinion: >>Nice 2 completely sucks. Really, it does. The driving model is >>ridiculous. It's no simulation, it's an arcade game, but even for an >>arcade game the model is too stupid for words. >I agree 100%. I LIKE arcade games, but NICE 2 really and truly ir >horrible. >Joe McGinn >========================================== >Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network >[link lost in import: /***.com/] >==========================================

I agree, thats what demo's are for. If you don't get much enjoyment out of a free demo, why pay cash for a full game?

Yep. The final version sucks as bad as the pre-releases. In fact, I couldn't notice ANY changes between the final 'Breakneck' release and NICE 2 which was released months ago. Andre

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>I'm assuming your comments are based on the final version that's been >out for about 14 days now and is only available as an import title and >not some pre-release or reviewers copy. Several versions of this >title have been floating around for the past 2 years. >>>Another opinion: >>>Nice 2 completely sucks. Really, it does. The driving model is >>>ridiculous. It's no simulation, it's an arcade game, but even for an >>>arcade game the model is too stupid for words. >>I agree 100%. I LIKE arcade games, but NICE 2 really and truly ir >>horrible. >>Joe McGinn >>========================================== >>Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network >>[link lost in import: /***.com/] >>==========================================

Hey! You're offending the C64 now! C64 racing games were far better than NICE2 ! Andre

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>>The physics and response modeling was dead-on for me. >I agree with the original post. The NICE2 demo makes Need for Speed 2 >look like a masterpiece of accurate simulation car physics by >comparison. I haven't played a game with worse physics than NICE2 >since I used a Commodore-64 for ***. >Joe McGinn >========================================== >Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network >[link lost in import: /***.com/] >==========================================

It also misses that other little detail, which would be nice for an arcade game: FUN. Andre

>Hey! You're offending the C64 now! C64 racing games were far better >than NICE2 ! Quite right. My sincere apologies to Commodore. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

>I'm assuming your comments are based on the final version that's been >out for about 14 days now and is only available as an import title and >not some pre-release or reviewers copy. Based on the only version I have access to, the public demo. Maybe there's a new version that's better. But with such a horribly stinking demo there's no way on Earth I'd spend good money on the game without trying an updated demo first. If it's really changed hat much why woldn't the develpers release a new demo that properly represented the game? NO ONE will buy the game based on the old demo. Joe McGinn ========================================== Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network [link lost in import: /***.com/] ==========================================

Nothing has changed from the demo, the full game is just as bad as it is in the demo. The only difference between the demo and the full version is that the menu of the demo is quite workable. The menu's of the full version are unbelievable bad. I got pissed because I got stuck in the menu's, I couldn't get back to the main screen! Really unbelievable! Andre

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>>I'm assuming your comments are based on the final version that's been >>out for about 14 days now and is only available as an import title and >>not some pre-release or reviewers copy. >Based on the only version I have access to, the public demo. Maybe >there's a new version that's better. But with such a horribly stinking >demo there's no way on Earth I'd spend good money on the game without >trying an updated demo first. >If it's really changed hat much why woldn't the develpers release a >new demo that properly represented the game? NO ONE will buy the game >based on the old demo. >Joe McGinn >========================================== >Staff Writer for the Sports *** Network >[link lost in import: /***.com/] >==========================================

Whilst I agree this is a great arcade racer (everything the NFS series should be but isn't !! ) there is nothing in the demo or on the web site to suggest the simulator mode you talk of. Hmmm. Cheers, Andrew But don't be fooled - just becuase this game has fun things like ARCADE mode and weapons, this racer has a SIM MODE that cannot be rivaled.

To get SIM MODE you have to pick STANDARD from the main splash screen then when you are in the Game Setup Screens there is a red switch next to an entry called REALISM (looks like an arcade joystick) that you have to flip from ARCADE to SIMULATION.

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>Whilst I agree this is a great arcade racer (everything the NFS series >should be but isn't !! ) there is nothing in the demo or on the web site to >suggest the simulator mode you talk of. Hmmm. >Cheers, Andrew >But don't be fooled - just becuase this game has fun things like >ARCADE mode and weapons, this racer has a SIM MODE that cannot be rivaled.

Now everybody understands why I find the menu the worst designed menu ever... Andre

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>To get SIM MODE you have to pick STANDARD from the main splash screen then when >you are in the Game Setup Screens there is a red switch next to an entry called >REALISM (looks like an arcade joystick) that you have to flip from ARCADE to >SIMULATION. >>Whilst I agree this is a great arcade racer (everything the NFS series >>should be but isn't !! ) there is nothing in the demo or on the web site to >>suggest the simulator mode you talk of. Hmmm. >>Cheers, Andrew >>But don't be fooled - just becuase this game has fun things like >>ARCADE mode and weapons, this racer has a SIM MODE that cannot be rivaled.

Just for your information: There is NO simulation mode in NICE2, as I can tell, having played it as an "just-for-fun-arcade-racing-game" for months. Sure there is an option called "Simulation" or "Realism", but this will only change a few things: Acceleration in "Arcade" seems to be faster than in reality, while the top-speed seems to be lower. I did never use the "arcade mode" until some days ago, when I raced with the F1-car (I use to suck, driving that car) on the "similar-to-Hockenheim-track" both in arcade and sim modes and my impression was that the AI always uses arcade "physics", because I had no chance winning in sim mode, but won with about 10 seconds margin. There is an option to adjust the gravity too, this will shorten or lengthen the many jumps, making it more easy or more hard to play. But overall: Everybody who searches for realism is totally wrong with this game and should stay away from it, though as an arcade racer IMO it outlaps the NFS-series, esp. AFA grafics and steering are concerned. BTW, there is a track editor out now, which alows to create your own tracks. However, at the moment it is only possible to add 1 track to each of the "scenarios". This restriction will be removed, if enough players vote for it. So everybody who is interested in Breakneck or who wants to help the NICE2 fans can vote at http://n2.gamesmania.com/deutsch/news.html klcking on the "ihm" in one of the news from 19.08.99 and sending the already filled out e-mail, which only votes for the removing of the restriction. Zolli Keep on racin'!