The good news: Grand Prix 2 is on the streets. The original was a Formula 1 racing extravaganza that leapt to the top of my twitchometer. With time, I was winning on the hardest level, leading to the illusion that I could, just maybe, coupe le moutard at the real thing.
Now the bad news: GP2 shattered my dreams. Since I was the total dog's gonads at the original, I selected the hardest level straight off. Mistake. GP2 is hard. I accelerated out of a corner too fast and spun into oblivion; I slammed on the brakes and ate run-off gravel. The extra sensitivity is infuriating at first, but there is a mouthwatering challenge awaiting those who survive (life expectancy of a novice: under a minute). Nearly all of the 1994 Formula 1 rule changes are acknowledged. You can even play with car-to-pit telemetry settings. The 3-D graphics engine is a triumph. When you find yourself leaning off your chair as you enter a tight corner, then tensing up as you slam into a wall, you know the game's designers are on top of things.
The drawback is that GP2 will take months, if not years, to master. I'm sorry, Michelle. You do understand, don't you?
Grand Prix 2: US$55. Microprose: +1 (510) 522 3584.
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Mmmm, DigiliciousSee Hear
Ruin Your Love Life with GP2
