Review: Race Pro (Xbox 360)

If you’re an Xbox 360 owner and a lover of racing simulation games, then chances are you jump at the release of every game that positions itself as a pure simulation. So with the release of Simbin’s Race Pro, is it time to spend your hard earned money on another racing title?

After spending some time playing Race Pro, it’s obvious that Simbin had one task at heart: to make a game that was ONLY focused on hard core simulation racing. No frills, no thrills, just racing. I know it sounds a bit silly, but allow me beat this point home: the meat of the game really is in understanding the true mechanics of racing. That means the handling, the physics, the braking are all the real deal and vary by the car you drive. I wish the game had more of a feel of “speed” to it, but the controls really are top notch.

The game offers a few different modes of play including the traditional time race, but the heartiest challenge resides in the career mode. Things start off defaulted on the Professional level of difficulty, which is the hardest and only those who are really up to the challenge will be able to maneuver their car in this mode. The lower levels add in some driving and braking assists as well as guide lines to help you handle those hairpin turns.

Graphically speaking, Race Pro leaves a lot to be desired.  Simbin was obviously banking on hard core sim fans being willing to compromise visual appeal for technical merit. But even at that, it’s a hard thing to pass on given the impressive presentation of other games like Forza 2. Let’s face it, in an HD era, most people are ready to show off their HDTVs and this game just doesn’t have that type of flare. While the car models suffice, the game’s graphics seem a little bit too grainy for my tastes. The environments and backgrounds are also on the bland side. And don’t get me started on the menus and the game’s interface, it’s about as minimalist as things get.

As for the sound department, RP impresses. The revving engines, the screeching tires, the zoom of competitors, it’s all there. You’ll really feel like you’re in the middle of an intense racing circuit.

As impressive as the robust set of features that RP presents, I wish that the game had more of a “wow” factor. Admittedly, I’m not simulation purist, so I was hoping that a game with as much depth as Race Pro would make itself more approachable by the casual crowd. I’m ultimately left with the desire that the game was held in development longer, only if to give it more of a polish.

The good news is that it starts at a $40 price point, making some of the compromises seems more justified. Hard core racing simulation fans will love this game as it presents their passion in an incredibly deep format. For the gamers that like arcade titles, this one may seem like a bore. Overall, it’s a great racing game, but will have a hard time becoming 2009’s definitive simulation racing title with Forza 3 on the way.