Quality Formula 1!! (Grand Prix 3 (PC))

Member Name: TheDrowningMan

Product:	Grand Prix 3 (PC)
Date:	20/01/01 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great realism, Superb damage, with great replay section, superb sound and graphics

Disadvantages: None

Grand Prix, by Geoff Crammond, has always been a favourite of mine. When i was a kid id play Grand Prix 1 on my friends amiga, and a while ago (before GP3 came out) we decided to crack it out and have another go. Its better still than the new F1 games on the market, even though the graphics leave much to be desired. Anyway, my point being that GP3 had a lot to live up to. And it lived up to it, big style.

The first thing you notice is the graphics. They are amazing. With my 3d card, everything looks so smooth, the track, the scenery, and everything in the mirrors is detailed beautifully!

GP3, as its predecessors, has lots of views by which to play the game, but the in-cockpit view, i think, is everyones favourite. If you got your dodgy fake 'tash out, you could just totally imagine you were nigel mansell.

The racing in the game is really awesome. The computer cars drive very aggressively, and 9 times out of 10, realise you are there and wont just shunt you off the track. This makes for some really good racing. There are a few options to choose from, practise, non-championship race, Championship season, so you can get a wee bit of practice in before replacing Mr Coulthard as McLarens number 1 and going for the world title. The fact you can change the drivers names around, and the teams names, means you can constantly update the drivers/teams as changes occur, or simply mess around and pretend to drive against your mate dave, racing for chigwell racing team.

driving the car using a joystick (joystick is totally the best way to play the game) can be a bit challenging, as you cant just floor it and be away. all that will result in is a lot of smoke, and you pointing the wrong way. You have to get used to gently applying the throttle out of corners and at the start. To ease your way in to things, there are a number of driver aids which you can use:

Steering assistance - the computer will assist you by partially steering y
our car in the right direction.

Braking assistance - the computer will assist your braking, so if you dont know a track, you wont go flying off at every corner

Auto gears - the computer will change gear for you, the other option being you press fire while accelerating (joystick forward) to change up, and press fire while braking (joystick backwards) to change down.

Auto correct - the computer will save your embarassment by turning your car around for you when youve made a fool of yourself infront of all your fans

Indestructable - you car is simply invincible, but you can still cause other cars damage :)

Suggested line - a white line is shown on the tarmac showing you the best way around the track

Suggested gear - the help you know how fast to take a corner, the suggested gear for the upcoming corner is shown below the gear youre actually in, an indispensable aid!

The driving in the game is as realistic as you or i could imagine, i mean ive never driven an F1 car, so how would i know?? The racing is really exciting. The damage is extensive, if you brush wheels with another car at 180mph, you can expect to take off, and crashland, losing most of the bits from you car, including your wheels and front and rear wings (If you do, make sure you press space, then 'R' to watch a replay!!) This is something that takes this game to a different level compared to other games, the realism is something to behold. All of this adds up to a brilliant game, and when you finally do become world champion, you'll know youve earned it, and with 5 difficulty levels to choose from, you can work your way up to 'Ace' and by then, youll be a racing god.

The multiplayer section is such a great thing. Normally you'll get to play split screen against each other if your lucky, and against each other plus 2 computer cars if youre in lottery winning mode. GP3 is so much more. If 2 or more of you want to c
ompete in a championship, you can select 'hotseat' mode. You'll all choose what driver you want, and put your name in etc. The computer will randomly select which one of you starts, and that person drives for say, 2 laps, depending on how long you set the race distance for in the options menu (you can choose 10% - 100%, ie 7 laps to 70), then the computer will notify you of a change, take control for a few seconds while u swap places, then the next player drives his car for the same amount of time, and so on. The computer will drive your car for you when it is someone elses turn. cool no?

If thats not your bag, you can conect 2 computers together, and drive against each other for the full distance, and believe me, this is really really fun. Other options are LAN connections, or modem connections. genuis.

The one drawback (which i dont think really is a drawback) is that casual gamers wont be able to just pick the game up, and be world champion in a day. the game takes time to master, and patience, and you cant think about what youre gonna have for dinner tomorrow whilst driving either, or you will crash. If you want a game thats easy, go get an EA Formula one game, for the die hard simulation fan, this is the one for you.

There you have it, if you like F1, and want a decent game that does the sport justice, then Grand Prix 3 is definately the game you want. And when youre sitting on the grid, waiting for those lights to go out, hearing Murray in your head, you'll know youve made the right choice.

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