| Introduction
A group of drivers and teams have split from the
Formula 1 championship after being held back by rules
and regulations for too long. Races have become boring;
excitement, overtaking and pure racing is at an all
time low. The new racing league has been condemned by
the FIA as too dangerous, and banned from using circuits
around the world. The races take place in and around
major cities. The cars use all the technology available
today to increase speed and down-force. With less stringent
rules, teams have worked in different directions creating
a wide variety of enhanced super-cars. This is the world
of Downforce . . .
GamePlay
Your first challenge in Downforce is to choose your
game mode of which there are four - Arcade Trophy, Free
Race, Time Attack and Championship. Beginners should
without question give the Free Race a try first as this
not only allows you to sample all the tracks and cars
initially available but there are no other racers around
to hinder your driving. It's refreshing to see that
the developers have spent some time on the car physics
and not only do they all handle very differently but
they also slow down considerably as soon as you drift
from the track. There is unfortunately no damage ever
inflicted on your car regardless of your driving ability
but as we usually forgive this in Arcade Land, we'll
move on.
Your objective in Arcade Trophy is pretty obviously
reaching pole position in every race in order to gain
a prize. Arcade fans will be more drawn to the Time
Attack, which has the timer counting down and awards
extra seconds every time a checkpoint is passed. By
far the most immersive mode of play is the Championship
option and racers here must not only qualify for starting
position but complete the following tracks too. Once
each race is completed, and depending on your performance,
you're awarded with points with the driver gaining the
most at end of season awarded Champion status. All of
these have 3 difficulty modes (beginner, intermediate,
and expert), which are unlocked as they are completed
along with a few other things but I don't want to spoil
anything so you'll just have to discover these for yourself.
The actual screen layout manages to convey a great
deal of information without ever becoming cluttered.
By far the most useful is the track layout depicting
not only your position but everyone else's too. You're
also given your time, speed and the all important race
position. With the absence of a battery backup the developers
have wisely opted for a simple password system so inputting
only five numbers will have you back to you previous
game not to mention all your unlocked bonus cars and
tracks.
Controls
Downforce represents a GBC interface on a very GBA
title and as a result all control frustrations can be
firmly placed to one side in order to immerse you in
pure arcade action. In addition to this the cars are
a joy to drive and the handling is both responsive and
fair to the player. The various menu systems have also
been well thought out so navigation through this game
really is incredibly simple.
Graphics
When you first start Downforce you may be a little
concerned that the title screen is less than inspiring
but don't dismay as hidden in this tiny cart is a visual
feast. Everything from the environments you race around,
the cars and even the menu systems are, for once, pushing
the GBA to its graphical breaking point. Even the animation
is good and the spinning cars during the driver selection
are a nice touch. Overall Downforce looks absolutely
wonderful and is without a doubt one of the most visually
stunning racers I've ever played on a handheld system.
Sound & Music
If you thought the graphics were impressive then
you'll be just as pleased with the audio. Even the PR
department at Virgin urged me to experience the game
through a good set of headphones and a better suggestion
has never been handed down to me. The fact is the sound
enhances the gameplay to a degree that simply can't
be explained in writing so you really need to sample
it for yourself. You will feel the speed as the rush
past cars and even grip your seat as you skid around
corners. Other developers should note that this is how
audio should be done.
Final Comments
There have been more than a few 'Mode 7' racers since
the introduction of the GBA but Downforce is the only
title that's firmly routed in reality and this alone
sets it apart from the rest of the pack. Possible the
most outstanding aspect of Downforce is the sheer playability
contained in this tiny cart and you'll find yourself
continue to repeat courses simply to open up new cars
and tracks. This is before we even mention the graphics
and audio which places this cart not only on the must
buy list but also the one to show off to your friends
just what the GBA is capable of. The only downside is
the lack of any multiplayer option, which would have
made a great game into a classic.
|
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