Product Reviews

When you think of fast, exciting cars, Ferraris are probably further up the list than Alfa Romeos. Milestone hopes that Squadra Corse Alfa Romeo (S.C.A.R) will show off the brand's potential with its realistic racing simulation. Sadly, it's a dull and plodding affair that won't have teenage boys ripping their Modena posters off the wall.

While the cars handle realistically, thanks to the physics engine, there's no fun or pleasure in the driving. Rather than swinging wildly round corners you're limited to a more pedestrian rate. This realism certainly doesn't extend to the way damage is handled, either. No

ADVERTISEMENT

matter how hard you crash, the worst harm your Alfa ever displays is a bumper that hangs slightly at the rear.

However, each knock takes points off your car's damage bar, and when it hits zero your car dies. This system is frustrating to say the least and more at home in a beat-'em-up. Even driving on the grass reduces the bar, so a few off-road trips can destroy your car, which is hardly realistic.

Some nice ideas have been thrown into the mix, including driver upgrades. These include intimidation, higher levels of which cause your opponents to make more mistakes when you're close; heart, which improves your driver's health; and car handling.

There's also the rather odd Tiger Mode, which lets you rewind a few seconds of the game to correct mistakes. It feels completely out of place in what's supposed to be a racing simulation.

The graphics are good with detailed backdrops and well-constructed car models, but it's nothing you won't have seen before in other racing games.

S.C.A.R has a stab at introducing some interesting ideas into a racing game but it falls short. It's the Sunday driver of the racing genre, and there are plenty of more exciting titles available.