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GRAND PRIX 4
Is this the perfect Formula?
By MARTIN KINGSLEY
 Crammond,
Geoff : Mastermind
extraordinare and Grand Prix nut. Approach with caution, skilled in the
arts of gameplay and physics…. No other information available…
I leaned back on my non-ergonomic
chair and pondered what I had learned. Upon receiving the package known
only as "Geoff Crammond's Grand Prix 4", I wondered out loud:
"Who the hell is Geoff Crammond?".
10 minutes later, I was calmly
giving the task of answering this question to the Mormon naming database
supercomputer in Atlanta, a supercomputer focused on recording the names
of every single person that had ever existed and that ever will exist.
I gave the computer one more
name to deal with: Geoff Crammond…
It sat there, processing this
new request and then came up with the above information. Hmm… Interesting
(it must be said that at this point, I desperately wished for a beard
to stroke thoughtfully -- rather than my own rather pathetic 13 o'clock
shadow).
 So it was that I approached
GP4. But first, let me say this loud and clear: I Don't Like Grand
Prix Games. There, now that it's out in the open and we know where
we stand, we can get on with the review. I do, however, know when I'm
standing (or sitting, as the case may be) in the presence of greatness.
Mr Crammond is, shall we say,
not my personal hero, but he is the personal hero of many a Formula One
fan. Even since the first Grand Prix, he has revolutionised the Formula
One racing genre. With every new release, he makes a quantum leap in graphics,
physics and gameplay - GP4 is no different.
The graphics engine is nothing
short of amazing, and although I have noted some complaints of choppy
frame rates from a few people, on my relatively moderate rig (consisting
of a 1.2Ghz processor and a Geforce2 MX 400) it ran fine with a minimum
of graphical tweaking.
The same can be said for the
physics with cars breaking into parts upon hitting a wall and the customary
wheel rolling (bouncing, sometimes) away from the carnage. Unfortunately,
the same cannot be said for the control system.
 To be honest, you can't
play this game with a keyboard. You need a good steering wheel or you've
got no chance of achieving any kind of control. For example: After an
hour of playtime with the keyboard, you hit the keys just slightly too
hard and instantly suffer from a fatal overdose of brick wall.
In contrast, with a wheel,
control is a dream, especially on a nice, ergonomic Logitech Momo Force
wheel, that allows even the most mediocre of drivers to outclass Schumacher
with a minimum of effort and at only $499 AUS, what a bargain! (*accepts
a large bag of cash on the side from Logitech*) Ahem. Now that I've earned
my graft, its back to the review (Ed's note: the game is actually better
with a wheel).
The sound is the most disappointing
component of GP4. The engine sound effects are, to put it nicely, PATHETIC!
You'd expect some meaty growling at the very least, considering the horsepower
under the average F1 hood, but what do we get? A weak "brrrrr",
that sounds more like flatulence than anything that was ever placed under
a bonnet - even an electric scooter sounds meaner than what's on offer
here.
The ambient sounds make up
for this, but still, it's a bit of let down for someone who wants to be
immersed in driving an F1 racecar.
 Moving along, and the
interface is painful. Very painful. Some might go so far as to suggest
that its single purpose in life is to be painful.
Trying to customize the controls
is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, when the needle is made
of hay and the stack is sitting in the middle of a minefield six miles
in diametre. Should you actually manage to make it past the menu, you'll
be surprised to discover that the interface becomes noticeably easier
to use.
For all it's good points, GP4
is somewhat buggy, which is surprising considering the amount of play
testing that it was supposed to have gone through. Strange things happen
on the race course, including:
1. Cars driving around
with no wheels.
2. Chassis parts falling out of the sky.
3. Cars careening off boundaries, the paintwork untouched.
Although these events seldom
occur, you'd have to think that there are some unresolved issues inside
the GP4 source code. Maybe these incidents are placed for humor value?
Or perhaps not...
 The
AI component is strong, with the computer-controlled-drivers not being
infallible, sometimes overshooting corners or braking a bit too soon.
As a result, accidents happen frequently, usually involving multiple drivers.
Engines can stall, tires can
pop, brakes can, well, break. If you prefer your F1 to be more arcadey,
however, then these screw-ups can be turned off, but it's more fun to
leave them on, if only to see the fancy accidents.
If you're an F1 junkie or a
hardcore racing fan, GP4 is the best simulation that money can buy. If
you're a newcomer, then buy it but be prepared to dedicate your mind,
body and soul to playing this game or it will grind you into the tarmac
under its hard leather racing boots. I have only one final comment to
make: Grand Prix 4 is a great game.
But I still don't like it!
ORIGINALITY 70%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 80%
PLAYABILITY 75%
ADDICTION 80%
ENJOYMENT 80%
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