Top Gear RPM Tuning
- December 30, 2004 00:00 AM PST
Because suburbia can't get enough of buzzing pocket rockets.
As Z3 fenders, oversized wings, and non-wind tunnel tested body kits (read: useless) have become ubiquitous in tuner culture, so has the phenomena spurned a minor drift-racing craze in video games--Kemco taps into the trend with Top Gear RPM Tuning.Fiberglass Phase
Like most tuner games, there's a career mode where you start out as a low-key racer (whose name is Vince this time) trying to make it big in the imaginary world of North American late-night urban racing. You'll be able to trick out your ride with aesthetic options such as rims, body kits and lights--giving yourself "fame" points. Internals can be tweaked too, offering the conventional options of turbo, nitrous, and chasis upgrades.
Driving in the game's actually closer to real life when compared to the big contenders such as Need for Speed Underground 2 and Midnight Club. Frontwheel drive cars have a tendency to understeer, and rear wheel drive cars such as the non-licensed BMW-look alike require braking to enter into a drift--a pleasant change from the generic driving models of other tuner games. However, the physics are still rough, as RWD cars unpredictably and abruptly spin when entering high-speed turns. AI shows itself to be predictably tame, and traffic on the urban roads seem a bit too sparse--something that would be nice to change.
Graphics so far are sub par compared to other games in its genre--but since it's still a preview build the visual quality is still subject to change.
Econo-rockets, Econo-price
Already released in Europe and in the wake of the release of EA's Need for Speed Underground 2 stateside, the game won't likely leave a notable mark when its released in early 2005--however as a bargain-priced game it may be worth checking out.
