RACE 07 Review

By Oliver Clare Published 11 October, 2007

Ethnographers will be disappointed.

Version tested: PC

The RACE 07 review code arrived on the same day Team Fortress 2 entered my life. Unfortunate timing. I mean, who in their right mind would choose to drive a simulated Honda Accord round and round Anderstorp when they could be erecting sentry guns, beating medics to pulp with baseball bats, and plunging daggers into the backs of waddling heavies?

Me, it turns out. For the last few days TF2 hasn't had a look in. I've been too busy wearing out the tarmac at Zandvoort and Brno, Brands Hatch and Pau. Too busy bustling through chicanes, nudging bumpers, clipping kerbs, correcting slides, weaving between pranged rivals, and generally driving like a footballer fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run.

Beaulieu-ful bounty

I didn't have particularly high hopes for RACE 07. Its predecessor, last year's RACE, didn't impress the way SimBin's earlier offerings GT Legends and GTR 2 impressed. The racing was close and convincing, yes, but there was something missing. Charisma, blistering speed, Cortinas... something.

RACE 07 is much more successful primarily because the devs have taken a leaf out of the Codemasters' design manual and supplemented their conservative core content (contemporary touring cars) with tantalising exotica like Formula 3000, Radical sportscars and Caterhams. When you get weary of the fairly sedate, slightly school-run SEATs, BMWs, Alfas and Chevrolets, you can go jump into something seriously skittish like this or seriously swift like this. Those that like their steeds feisty have access to plenty of feist.

'RACE 07' Screenshot 1

Always slow down when approaching zebra crossings.

The sim also benefits from the livelier venues on this year's WTCC calendar. Last time around the only street circuit was Macau. In the sequel we get to belt along the concrete-lined boulevards of Porto, Portugal, and the palm-fringed rues of Pau in Southern France. The latter location (and this is a compliment) really doesn't feel like a suitable environment for high-performance automobiles. The roads are too narrow, the corners too sharp, the vistas too quaint. Rounding most bends, you half expect to see a Gallic granny plodding across the road with a wicker shopping trolley in tow.

Caterhaming for all tastes

Less fraught, but just as exhilarating as Pau is Zandvoort. Built amongst the wind-buffeted sand dunes of the Dutch west coast, its undulations and interesting cambers give it the personality that the other new track - Anderstorp - lacks. Not that the odd dull circuit matters much. With variants there's a store of more than 30 courses to choose from. Create a customised championship rather than opting for the recreations of the 06 or 07 WTCC season and you can build a sequence from your favourite tracks, and race it using your favourite car class. I'm currently two races into a fun-sized Caterham season. Five European circuits, single-race weekends, half-length races, smallish fields... it's all very cosy, very me.

Possibly more important to hardcore fans than highly customisable championships is the fact that RACE 07 - at least in its non-Steam incarnation - appears to tolerate a fair bit of tampering. The original RACE was locked up tighter than Fort Knox (which didn't help it make friends). Fans are already inserting new tracks into this edition.

Shock absorber

'RACE 07' Screenshot 2

Throttle delicacy is essential in the open-wheelers.

Fancy a game-related anecdote? Well, you're going to have to endure one; it will help illustrate the pleasingly fallible AI.

Picture the scene. Last lap in a damp Radical race at Curitiba. After spinning out earlier Yours Truly is on a charge. He's fought his way back into the points and is now pushing hard - really hard - for a podium place. Half a lap from the finish he takes advantage of a scuffle between the two cars in front to nip through on the inside. He's in second place and quietly congratulating himself when, rounding the penultimate corner, he finds the race leader sideways, smoke-wreathed, and stranded in the centre of the track. There's a split-second of shock followed by a crunching collision. Detached wheels bounce off in several directions. A howl of anguish tinged with disbelief rends the air. The End.

I should point-out that the only reason I was able to claw my way back into contention in the above situation was that I'd cunningly nobbled the AI before the race. As in most SimBin creations there's plenty of different settings you can fiddle with to make the game friendlier. With driver aids like traction control and ABS active, automatic gearboxes and corner indicators on, and cars like the Mini and Leon in the line-up, there's really nothing here to be wary of. Hell, with the surprising efficiency of the mouse steering you can even get away without a wheel or gamepad.

'RACE 07' Screenshot 3

Guess where Caterhams are made. That's right, Dartford.

If you are new to race sims you'll definitely want to avoid the bizarre new helmet cam. Available when driving the open-wheelers, it's meant to simulate the view from a crash helmet, but includes so much of the chin-bar you end up feeling like your gazing at the world from the back of a cave. Oh well... tearing away the disposable visors to remove dirt and splattered insects is satisfying.

Engine wear

SimBin are currently working on a new game engine called Lizard. Playing around with the numerous camera options in RACE 07 it's not difficult to see why. Despite improvements in areas like rain effects and bystander depiction, the Gmotor engine is beginning to look rather tired. Crude shadowing and reflections, primitive vegetation modelling, deserted pit lanes... none of this stuff matters that much when weighed against the superlative handling models, strong audio, decent AI, and robust MP, but it does mean I can't bring myself to award this very fine racing game more than a Nascar-mocking 8.

8 / 10

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About Oliver Clare

Read more articles from Oliver by visiting the Oliver Clare archive page.

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Comments (32) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sonsonate #1 4 years ago

    This looks decent

  • Apologie #2 4 years ago

    i know these have nothing to do with RACE07 or the article but....

    can anyone tell me if the ps3 version of Fifa08 is better than the x360 version???

  • Miths #3 4 years ago

    I'm really looking forward to this. After buying that damn XBox 360 last month, my Logitech G25 hasn't gotten much exercise.

    It's nice and comfortable to lean back on your couch with a gamepad and an arcade racer or pseudo-sim like PGR, Forza, Dirt or Sega Rally, but I'm starting to miss playing a proper sim with a good wheel and pedals.
    Though admittedly there hasn't really been anything stopping me from loading up GTR2 or the original RACE - other than that damn comfortable counch :p.

  • rob76 #4 4 years ago

    @Apologie
    "i know these have nothing to do with RACE07 or the article but....

    can anyone tell me if the ps3 version of Fifa08 is better than the x360 version??? "

    You serious lad???

  • Darren #5 4 years ago

    "can anyone tell me if the ps3 version of Fifa08 is better than the x360 version???"

    Odd place to ask this but based on the demos - I do own the full game on the 360 though - in terms of gameplay and audio, they're pretty much identical and I'd assume the content is exactly the same in both but graphically the PS3 version is slightly inferior to the 360 version as it lacks anti-aliasing, so looks "jaggier" and, of course, it doesn't have rumble. The framerate also doesn't seem to be as good but overall they're pretty much the same game.

  • Snooz #6 4 years ago

    Is this a serious try from SimBin to put "live for speed" out of business? I havent played LFS for years, but the caterhams and the f3000 surely fooled me into believing that LFS had changed names.

  • Apologie #7 4 years ago

    Darren

    thx

  • Miths #8 4 years ago

    "Is this a serious try from SimBin to put "live for speed" out of business? I havent played LFS for years, but the caterhams and the f3000 surely fooled me into believing that LFS had changed names."

    What's been keeping me from playing LFS (I think I may still have one of the recent versions installed) is the complete lack of AI. The "AI" drivers are just as braindead and utterly oblivious to their surroundings as the ones in Gran Turismo 4. They just follow the racing line around on rails and don't move or brake for anything that might be in the way.

    Not a problem if you solely race online (and of course that's what LFS is aimed it in its current lacking state), but I prefer offline races. Usually you can get much better racing with a fairly decent AI (GTR2, RACE, GTL) than an online pickup race full of wreckers.

    Another LFS problem for me were the extremely weak synthetic engine sounds, but supposedly they have at least been partially fixed (or beefed up a bit) in recent versions.
    Overall though, with their glacial development pace, it probably won't be "finished" (final version) until around 2012 :) - and if the GMotor used in the SimBin games is looking bland and outdated now (which it is), I wouldn't want to see LFS in four or five years unless they throw in an entirely rebuilt graphics engine as well.

  • Steroyd #9 4 years ago

    Hold on... Fifa uses rumble? o_O

    Since when?
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/07 @ 14:59

  • monkeymagic #10 4 years ago

    Can't wait for a decent F1 mod to come out for this. I've never got on with Rfactor too well...

  • smurphs #11 4 years ago

    Sounds good, but the problem I had with GT Legends was that although you could make the game easier, you could only do so by dumbing down the handling at the same time. Can you reduce the opponents skill without compromising the realism in this one?

    Also, please do something on the Xbox Simbin, my PC is getting creaky these days.

  • Miths #12 4 years ago

    "Sounds good, but the problem I had with GT Legends was that although you could make the game easier, you could only do so by dumbing down the handling at the same time. Can you reduce the opponents skill without compromising the realism in this one?"

    You can lower the AI skill level in GTL (and GTR2 and RACE) without having all or some of the driving aids turned on.
    Choose a lower difficulty (can't recall how it's set up in GTL) that allows you to set the AI slider at the level you prefer, and then manually turn off the driving aids with the function keys. You only need to do that in one race/practice session and the settings will be stored.

  • FlamingCarrot #13 4 years ago

    PLEASE somebody make an updated Grand Prix Legends. I know there are excellent mods but the original was sooo hard and the Ferrari sounded incredible. What is Geoff Crammond up to now?

  • Bidermaier #14 4 years ago

    Is this game controller friendly. Does it support xinput so i can use my 360 console to play it properly?.

    In old racing games you have to share one axis for both triggers, that is just stupid.
    And if the game does not smooth the analog input there is no way to play it with the tiny analog controllers.

    That kind of technical stuff should be considered in a PC review.
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/07 @ 17:44

  • secombe #15 4 years ago

    I play GTL, GTR 2 and RACE with the 360 pad and get on just fine, usually getting some fairly respectable lap times. Triggers to accelerate and brake and Anal-stick to steer.

    There are an almost infinite number of customization options for a pad, everything can be tweeked.
    Edited by 1 at 11/10/07 @ 17:58

  • FooAtari #16 4 years ago

    Go this pre-ordered (damn post is delaying it though), it is looking a bit dated. But sims are about the physics, and Race 07 seemed pretty good judging by the demo.

    I doubt there will be any mods though, like Race I think its heavily locked down, i dont think you can even edit the .plr file with sucks. But if you want to get mods and new tracks GTR 2 and rFactor have more that enough content.

    Also, you can make GTR2 / GTL AI easier without dumbing down AI or pissing about with aid settings. Change the config files, its pretty straight forward and plenty guids online.

    And I want a GPL sequal too, although the GP 1979 mod for rfactor is pretty good substitute.

  • reflux #17 4 years ago

    Simbin sits next doors to us, we snagged one of their artists earlier this spring when they had some erhm, slight financial problems. Good to see that they survived! \o/
    And, Anderstorp is nice. Saw a few four hour GT-races there back in the 90s, before the bosses of the tour decided that there weren't enough hookers around Anderstorp/Gislaved to satisfy them. Atleast that was the inofficial version since it seemed that all the drivers and teams liked to race there.

  • monkie_king #18 4 years ago

    @secombe: "Anal-stick to steer. "

    Umm, that's an unusual technique you have there.

  • nakke #19 4 years ago

    @Bidermaier: the default microsoft-supplied drivers for Windows for the 360 controller are flawed and don't even have rumble (among other things). You should check out the XBCD drivers. Makes rumble work and you can assign the triggers to different axes! Here's a great guide on installing, etc: http://xbcd360guide.5 0webs.com/

  • bestforever7 #20 4 years ago

    anal lol

  • Pulsar_t #21 4 years ago

    I'm bored of all these racers =|

    /reconsiders getting license

  • thejeek #22 4 years ago

    Damn! I was already dithering between Forza 2 and PGR4 and here is yet another option...

  • FooAtari #23 4 years ago

    PGR 4 and RACE.

    Race can be had for 13 quid from Shopto.

    As far Sims go Forza can't compete with what the PC has to offer IMO.

  • FlamingCarrot #24 4 years ago

    I agree. Console racers can't touch the PC games. Just a shame they arent as commercially successful. PGR4 and Forza etc are good in their own right.
    Revs, Indy 500, all of Geoff Crammonds output and the Papyrus masterpieces. Thank goodness that at least SimBin makes racers for the PC. And Codemasters too. Their BTCC games were always good, especially no.2

  • Miths #25 4 years ago

    "... Thank goodness that at least SimBin makes racers for the PC. And Codemasters too. Their BTCC games were always good, especially no.2"

    Don't forget Blimey! Games (most of the original SimBin team - they actually have GTR, GTR2 and GTL listed on their site, the current SimBin developers have only done RACE and RACE 07).

    They just released the free short one track M3 Challenge "game", to showcase the new BMW M3 (someone already ported it into GTR2, so you can race it on any track you like if you own that game) and they are working on an officially licensed Ferrari game.
    I just hope they will be using a new engine rather than stick to GMotor 2 - but I probably wouldn't get my hopes up. Anyway, for true PC racing sims physics beats graphics of course, but it certainly would be nice to see amazing examples of both in the same game :).

    Well - I'm off to buy PGR4 :p, looks like RACE 07 won't be out until Monday anyway.

  • FlamingCarrot #26 4 years ago

    I just bought both. Indulgent i know but two different forms of motorsport! Be interesting to see what GT5 on the PS3 is like. The trailers look very nice especially the driver and in car view. About time too.....

  • thejeek #27 4 years ago

    Thinking about it, my PC would probably burst if I tried to run this on it so it's probably not in the running for my next racing game purchase anyway...

  • FlamingCarrot #28 4 years ago

    Anyone got a Logitech G25 wheel? I have a MOMO but wondered if the G25 is seriously better? Reviews suggest so..

  • UncleLou #29 4 years ago

    Hohum, I bought RACE at the time, which did indeed suffer from presentation issues, but I think I'll skip this one and wait for the next game with the new engine.

  • Miths #30 4 years ago

    "Anyone got a Logitech G25 wheel? I have a MOMO but wondered if the G25 is seriously better? Reviews suggest so.."

    I've never owned a MOMO, but I did have a Driving Force Pro before I bought my G25, and the latter was a huge step up.
    Even if you mostly or only use sequantial mode on the shifter (or the paddles), the sturdy metal pedals (which includes a clutch) and the quality of the leather bound wheel are worth it.

    The pedals in particular have a vastly better and more resitent feel to them than the flimsy plastic pedals on the DFP (don't know if the MOMO is any better?), and the force feedback also feel better in the G25.
    And of course when you're coming from a MOMO (unlike the DFP) you will also get the option of 900 degrees wheel rotation - or whatever you choose to set it to (I have it 490 for GTR2, RACE etc., 900 seems a bit excessive).

    The only thing that doesn't quite feel up to the quality of the rest is the shifter. It seems a tad too flimsy, though I don't really seem to recall seeing any reports yet of people actually breaking it (though I'm sure it's happened :)) - and it does provide a nice tactile response and click when you use the H-shifter mode.

  • FlamingCarrot #31 4 years ago

    Thanks for your feedback...no pun intended! The G25 looks superb and i wonder if the force feedback will work on PS3 games. It is compatible afterall. It then becomes even more appealing although my prefered system is my PC for racers.

  • FooAtari #32 4 years ago

    The G25 is a great wheel. For £140 - 50 ish its worth every penny and some imo. I used to have a DFP for the PC and the G25 is a huge step up. The pedals are great, the FFB effects are superb. Like Miths said the only part that inst up to standard is the shifter which is a little flimsy. But you cant beat heel-toeing your way down the gear box in GT Legends or GPL :D