RACE On review

In our first race, we took the corner too fast. As we smacked into the crash barrier, we saw the hood fly up and away. In the rearview mirror, about 20 cars thundered past in a billow of dust, and one of our wheels followed meekly behind them.

A lot of RACE On’s energies are devoted to letting you live your WTCC (World Touring Car Championship) fantasies. From the driver’s seat, you can hear every whine and feel every bump. The violent shaking when you skid off the track is terrifying. With cars looming in your mirrors, the swerving and the billowing dust – you’re left in no doubt that SimBin are making an expert attempt to put you in that car and show you what it’s like to race in the WTCC. If you don’t have any WTCC fantasies, however, you risk getting lost among the meticulous detail. Which class? Which rules? Which driver?

Even so, nothing else gets this close to the feel of sitting inside cars like these. Hop into a Dodge Charger, head out onto one of the longer tracks, turn off the auto-gearbox, and practise those corners. When you beat your time, you know you’ve earned it with every brake and shift. Once you’re ready, the multiplayer is your best bet for long-term fun, but it’s a grim, competitive affair without decent chat capability.

RACE On’s an expansion for Race 07, but it’s also sold bundled with the original game and the first expansion pack for a few bucks more. Are you buying an expensive handful of new tracks and cars, or getting a great deal on three games? It depends on what you have already – it’s not bad value if you’re new to Race 07, but is perhaps a raw deal for those who own the base game.

Nov 6, 2009