GT 64 Championship Edition
Reviewed by Raymond Almeda
Length matters.
Imagineer's first N64 game, the off-road racer Multi-Racing Championship,
was fun but flawed. Although the game delivered fast action and smooth
control, length was its Achilles Heel. While most N64 racers deliver at
least a dozen different tracks, Multi-Racing Championship had a mere
three. No matter how fun the game, it's hard to get overly excited about
three tracks.
Sadly, with GT 64 Championship Edition we find Imagineer is back up
to its old tricks. Like its predecessor, GT 64 has only three tracks.
Unlike Multi-Racing Championship, tracks and gameplay here aren't even
very interesting. Indeed, GT 64 is plagued with numerous design and
gameplay flaws. If this is the "championship edition," I'd hate to see
the "loser edition." With numerous N64 racing games from which to choose,
there is absolutely no reason for gamers to consider GT 64.
GT, why do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways.
The tracks and cars are designed such that they can be successfully
navigated by a two-year old. I'm not kidding. While test playing GT 64,
I witnessed a two-year old kid take the N64 controller and steer wildly
about the course. Granted, C-Man often drove in the wrong direction,
smashing recklessly into walls and fences, but the fact remains that
he was able to do it. Strike another blow against the game's realism.
The actual gameplay is reminiscent (vaguely) of Gran Turismo. But
whereas mastering that game is a challenge, in GT 64 simply mastering
the control is a challenge. Control here is loose and unrefined, which is
not what you want from a racing game. Perhaps Imagineer has secretly
emulated the steering mechanisms of a 1973 Ford Pinto, and simply
transferred those specs to these Porches and Supras. Whatever the reason,
steering these hunks of metal isn't my idea of fun.
Graphically, the game is dull. You would think that a game with only
three tracks would at least deliver three incredible tracks (quality
over quantity, right?). However, that's not the case here. The uninspired
GT 64 tracks are plagued by annoying pop-in and mediocre design.
One suspects that somewhere in Japan, a budding N64 game developer
got his first experience making GT 64 Championship Edition. His gain in
experience is our loss.
It's too bad that Imagineer did not simply improve upon Multi-Racing
Championship. Instead, GT 64 Championship Edition finds the company
taking significant steps backward. A model of below average racing game
design, this is a title to be avoided. Perhaps we should be thankful that
there are only three tracks.
This game NEEDS to be much longer.
Overall 41 out of 100