The sound has been likened
to thunder hooves rending the ground as jockeys guide thoroughbreds
in an amazing test of strength, speed and stamina.
It has been called the sport
of kings, has captured the imaginations of millions and has been an economical
institution for a long time. But as far as a video game is concerned, how
can horse racing really translate to a game platform?
Koei seems to have found
a way. G1 Jockey 3 combines superb graphical elements with solid racing
action for the PlayStation2 platform.
G1 Jockey 3 is already in
active release in Japan, having hit the store shelves in December 2002.
The game has 10 racetracks (including California, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana,
Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Ontario) with 35
courses, including a steeplechase course, more than 100 rival jockeys,
4,000 playable horses with unique characteristics, changing weather and
track conditions, steward’s inquiries, two-player split-screen racing and
training modes.
This is a game that isn’t
just about horse racing. You have to pick the right mount for the race,
and there is training that must be done. The right jockey will also make
a difference. If you have a stable of horses, you must pay attention to
riding points, which are necessary for negotiating for better horses, workouts
and proposing races.
The control elements of the
game have been wonderfully tuned so that players won’t be hunting all over
the controller for the right button combination. The directional pad as
well as the control hot keys (such as the X and the O buttons) are used
in a logical fashion. For example, the triangle button drives the horse
while the X button pulls it back a bit. L2 and R2 change lead legs on the
horses, which is of tremendous value when going into the corners.
The game music is overdone
elevator music. The intent was, evidently, to keep it light with a grand
hint of the majestic. What has been delivered is music that is mostly of
the arcade nature and should be turned off. The ambient track noises are
average and the race noises are more or less what one would expect.
The graphical elements are
well done, but also border on being arcade-like. The environments are lush
and bright, and while the camera is static (save when going to rear look
mode) and locked in the third-person view, the game still manages to look
very good. The animations are well done and while you will have to use
intelligence in the race (you can’t just drive the horse relentlessly or
you can say goodbye to the pack), there is not much steering involved here.
G1 Jockey 3 is a game that
seems to have some strong ties to the arcade look and sound, but manages
to overcome that with some depth of gameplay. Training, negotiating and
racing go hand-in-hand here, and with solid graphical elements in support,
this is a racing game that appears headed down the track to immersive fun.
Gameplay: 7.5
The game plays smoothing during the race, however, as expected the mapboards are
finite and there are load times to contend with. The load times and setup seem
long when compared to the short duration of the race itself.
Graphics: 8.3
This game does look very good and the physical dynamics of racing the horses is
well rendered.
Sound: 7.0
This game delivers what one would expect from the style of game. From the
thundering hooves to the PA announcer, this game does capture the sounds of the
racetrack but not much else.
Difficulty: Medium
You want to learn the fundamentals of controlling a thoroughbred around the race
course? This is your opportunity. This game is rife with challenge, though even
new players will find the set-up such that they can jump in and give it a try.
Concept: 7.8
The game has a very nice features package, and the player interface is
relatively user friendly. It takes little effort to get into this game.
Overall: 7.8
It is evident that a lot of time and effort went into this game. This captures
the spirit and essence of the race track, and it looks good and plays well.
