Messages

1

Nintendo Gaming / RE:R: Racing Evolution goodness

« on: April 29, 2004, 05:29:48 AM »

Hi Joe,

Pressure-sensitive buttons are nice, but nothing like an analog stick or trigger. So I still think that the Gamecube allows for better control of this type of game.

Quote
Basically, it doesn't come close to GT3 in terms of realism and control.

If you read the reviews carefully, most of them only compare directly to Gran Turismo in terms of numbers of cars, tracks, and other features. Some say that RRE lies between GT3 and arcade racers in terms of realism, but I think they are really referring to things like the pressure meter and brake assist option. Also, as you point out, the GT series offers more car customization. Nevertheless, some reviews specifically credit the physics engine in RRE as quite good.

I have played one of the Gran Turismo games briefly, but more importantly I have played a game much more realistic than GT: Grand Prix Legends. According to my experience, the physics engine in RRE is very good. My point is that the quality of the physics engine here is under-recognized, amidst all the comparisons of other aspects of the game. I don't need more cars, more tracks, more customizations or paint jobs to improve my enjoyment of the game when the core driving experience is so good. My other point is that there is nothing that comes close to RRE on the Gamecube.


So does anyone have an answer about that Password in RRE?

-Cooper

2

Nintendo Gaming / RE:R: Racing Evolution goodness

« on: April 28, 2004, 10:01:55 AM »

KDR (Kappa Delta Rho?):

I honestly don't find the pressure bar to be a problem. Keep in mind I have played Grand Prix Legends a lot, which is arguably one of the most realistic racing simulations ever made. I would spend hours at a time going around the same track, just trying to shave a few tenths of a second off my lap time. I even started the full length races in career mode: for two hours I would be clenching the controls with perspiration beading on my brow, only to have the smallest flinch or mistake throw me back two or three positions instantly. Is that fun? You tell me.

At some point between frustration, boredom, and time management issues, I decided it wasn't worth it. Why do I want to have to work for hours at a time just to be able to have a chance at finishing in the top 5? And I don't think I ever tried the highest difficulty level!

So if you're more casual about gaming, like I am today, then the AI difficulty in R: Racing Evolution is appropriate. With a little practice, a novice can get bronze and some silver medals very easily. For many of the gold medals, you must often drive a car in a lower class than your opponent. You have to be consistently close to your opponent to make him spin out, and by that point I don't usually mind the help. Sometimes I will pass, but if I stop driving on the edge, he overtakes me again. And if you're still not challenged enough, then turn off traction control and/or ABS. Maybe I just really suck, but I'm at the point where I have to do some time trials before each event in order to get golds, and I'm not nearly half way through the event challenge mode.

Just don't use the brake assist. They should have disabled brake assist for all the silver & gold medals.

-Cooper

3

Nintendo Gaming / R: Racing Evolution goodness

« on: April 28, 2004, 04:47:05 AM »

Hi Everyone,

As a PC gamer turned Gamecuber, I am very satisfied with this system. I think there are some very high quality games on this console, with my favorites being Eternal Darkness, Zelda, Timesplitters 2, and R: Racing Evolution. I will say upfront that one aspect I like about consoles is the "pick-up-and-play" thing. Consoles are cheap, stable, simple to operate, and offer a consistent interface.

Anyway, my last good driving game was Grand Prix Legends for the PC, and I've been looking for a racing game on the Cube for awhile. I have Burnout, which is cool but pretty shallow and short, and I have NFS 3, which has a mediocre framerate and little realism and subtlety. After picking up R: Racing Evolution for $20, I was really impressed. Most importantly, it has a really good, diverse set of cars that handle in a very realistic fashion, with regard to understeer, throttle-induced oversteer, weight distribution, and other things. And if you want to challenge yourself, try turning off the ABS & traction control completely!

So I wanted to say that I think this game is highly underrated, especially for the Gamecube where it has no competition. While I haven't played a lot of other console racers, I have a hard time believing there's anything more realistic on this side of Formula 1 type simulators. And how can Gran Turismo compare when they clearly went more for mass quantity than individual car tuning and feel, not to mention the fact that gas & brake are digital buttons! It seems that people knock this game because

1. It has "brake assist," which defaults to On.
2. It doesn't have nearly as many cars and tracks as games like PGR and Gran Turismo.
3. It's not a graphical marvel.
4. No motion blurring, or whatever it is that people think creates a sensation of "speed."

This game has actually drawn me in more consistently and for longer gaming sessions than any other Gamecube game I have.

One last thing: has anybody played this game in Time Attack mode? I noticed that when you quit, the results screen tells you to press Start for "password," which then presents you with a ~12 character password. What on earth is the purpose of this? I can't find ANY reference to this anywhere on the Internet or in the manual. Is it just a vestige of an unused feature?

happy gaming,
 Cooper