New Star Grand Prix Racing Game Review

Everything old is new again, and that especially applies to video games

. In the 21st century, while some gamers are playing 3D games on a Wii platform that follows the movements of their entire body, others have become obsessed with vintage games. Game designers are now capitalizing on the craze for obsolete games by releasing games that mimic the old style of game play. New Star Games Ltd.'s newest venture is one of them. In fact, New Star Grand Prix could just as accurately be called Old Star Grand Prix.

New Star Grand Prix is a top-down racing game with graphics that the designers themselves call "retro style." That means they are extremely simplistic, with hardly any detail, and the same goes for the sound. You'll begin by choosing your car and your team, and at first you might initially be startled by what appears to be some terrible typography. Never fear: the spelling is intentional. Probably in order to avoid licensing problems, your choices include sound-alikes like Farrari, BNW, Fenault, and Koyota.

Qualifying races give you the chance to practice the track before the real game, and you'll be grateful for the opportunity, as some of the tracks have insanely rakish angles. Your showing in the race determines your position for the "real" race on Saturday, with 17 races to a season. Fans of the real-life Grand Prix will appreciate that the teams, drivers, and tracks are all from the 2009 Grand Prix racing season lineup. The driving itself is simple to master, using the directional arrows on your keyboard.

Throwing a wrench into the race are several variables. You must strategically determine when and how often to make pit stops to change your tires, and how large of a fuel load to carry. If you're a low-level driver, constantly driving through barriers will cause wear and tear on your vehicle. You must maintain good relationships with your boss, the fans, and your pit crew. Even the weather comes into play, and random rain can create a need for a change to wet tires.

New Star Grand Prix invites comparison with a much older game: Micro Machines. The method of driving is similar, and New Star Grand Prix, though it is almost 20 years newer, hasn't progressed much as far as graphics. While the choice is supposedly intentional, it becomes a question of cost. At $9.99, the new game is cheaper than a lot of downloads, but you can probably score a copy of Micro Machines for free. It may not mimic the real Grand Prix, but you'll get to drive on tabletops and in between pretzel twists!

What will entice some to fork out the cash, though, is the online leaderboard for New Star Grand Prix. Being able to compare results in real time to those of other players around the world will bring out the competitive nature of racing game lovers. So, though some may think that the retro look just looks cheap, there will be a place for this game among Grand Prix fans, competitive gamers, and old-school game enthusiasts. For these groups only, New Star Grand Prix gets a thumbs up.

by: Esmeralda Owen

POST COMMENT

Dell Studio 17 Review-video Game More Powerful Bryce Harpers 1st University Video Game Anime Character Dress Up Games Mahjong Dimensions- Imaginative Along With Tough 3 Dimensional Video Game The More You Practice Your Short Game, The Less You'll Need It Flash Games Review The Donut Empire Scorereplikker Til Daygame Online Buying Cheap Price Video Games For You Custom Flash Drives Come With A Multitude Of Benefits Why Settle For Online Free Games Pick The Correct Golf Ball Meant For Your Game With Golf Lessons Derby A Guide To 3d Space Games Information Regarding The Tendons And Ligaments Of Horses