Developer: SoftPlanet
Publisher: SoftPlanet
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
FIM Speedway Grand Prix 15 – Review
With the plethora of sport games on the market, it was only natural that the ‘Speedway Grand Prix’ would make for an interesting simulation title for motorcycle enthusiasts. While the overall discipline might always seem as if it’s the same story over and over, there’s more than meets the eye in this sport. Beware, if you get dizzy easily, spending your time with a game that revolves around driving in circles all the time might not be the best thing to do.
Story
As expected, a simulation game with this topic doesn’t truly have a storyline. Nonetheless, you’ll have a career mode in which you’ll be able to make a name for yourself. The only regrettable part about this all is the fact that the game has just been released, revolving around the 2015 season, which is already over. It would have been great to see the 2016 competitors in the lists, but as it stands now, you’ll have to make do with the 2015 roster.
While there is no actual story value to be found, it’s fun that the creators implemented actual video footage in the career mode, in order to get you into the proper mood. A simple feature perhaps, but certainly a welcome one that is often overlooked in other simulation titles.
Graphics
With the actual discipline in mind, the developers did their best to present you with a graphically strong game, which for the most part it is. The bikes look detailed and realistic, and the different tracks are based on those in real life. The drivers look properly done, even though you will only see them in their outfit and helmet, thus it’s easier to create the different characters without having to show any facial features of the real drivers.
While the overall effect and detail level is present in the game, the mud effects aren’t always on par with the rest, as well as the rather bland audience that attends your events. They often lack movement and seem rather bored to be there. Luckily the overall boredom of the audience gets compensated with the actual footage they use in the career mode, but you’ll be left wanting more in the other disciplines (single heat, single event).
Sound
After being greeted by very upbeat music in the menus everything simmers down in the races, when the commentator comes to foreground. The comments on everything that is going on feel accurate and add the proper mood, although some things are being repeated a bit too much. Other than that the SFX add to the overall realism of the game and that’s pretty much about it.
Gameplay
FIM Speedway Grand Prix 15 is a simulation/racing game that revolves all around the ‘Speedway’ discipline in the motorcycle sports. For those who are unfamiliar with this discipline, it’s pretty much motorcycle racing with sixteen drivers, who get paired per four, where the two best drivers per round get to go on, until only four are left. There are no fancy tracks in the sport, just the same circular lap over and over again (in different arenas nonetheless).
At the beginning of the game you’ll be prompted to choose between arcade or simulation, which is pretty much the equivalent of an easy or normal mode, as the arcade mode is more lenient than the otherwise hard simulation mode. For newcomers the arcade mode is certainly the way to roll. Everything after this choice is rather self-explanatory, except for a few of the tuning options the game offers.
You’ll either have the option to play the career mode and play with one of your favorite fifteen real drivers, or a single event or a single heat, with the latter being only one of those four driver duels we described earlier. Before each race you’ll be able to adjust some engine settings, tire pressure and so on, making sure you have the setup you fancy the most, as the controls prove to be rather tricky at the beginning.
Seeing the game falls in the simulation genre, the controls are harder than actual arcade games, thus don’t let the arcade mode fool you. You’ll be punished quite harshly for mistakes during races, which are often due to you not mastering the controls properly. If you hit the side a bit too hard or another driver, you’ll fall off and it means the heat is over for you. If you cause an accident, same story. Last but not least, crossing the inner markings of the track, you’ll also be disqualified, even if it’s only for a mere second. Nonetheless, when you get the hang of things, the game feels quite pleasant and even though you’ll have to do the same thing over and over again, it actually feels rather fresh every time you do it.
Even though the game doesn’t require you to learn all that many extra functions, it would have been nice if there were a few extra tutorials in the game, especially for those who love the sport but don’t know how a motorcycle and such actually works internally. Nonetheless, again it’s a matter of slowly getting the hang of things.
We tried exploring the content a bit further online, but for some reason our hope to share our racing skills with other players was always interrupted as the client could never find other players online. Hopefully this will get resolved in the future, if it’s a bug at least, rather than a lack in player base.
Conclusion
FIM Speedway Grand Prix 15 will probably be one of those fairly unknown games in the racing simulation genre, but it’s definitely worth checking out. While the game does not offer a truckload of options, there is enough to keep you occupied for many hours to come. Decent graphics, a fun commentator and solid gameplay will make for an amusing experience.
FIM Speedway Grand Prix 15 - Review,
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