Gran Turismo 5 is the racing game that everyone with a PlayStation 3 wants to talk about, but Polyphony has been tuning its racing title for ages. Pardon the puns; perhaps it is time to shift gears - or at least cruise in another lane for the time being. Superstars V8 Racing is by no means as detailed, ambitious, or impressive as GT5 looks to be. Still, Codemasters and Milestone have put together a solid racing title that holds up very well as a budget alternative.
It is too bad that Superstars V8 Racing looks and sounds so underdeveloped. Even by PSN standards, the visuals are underwhelming: the track designs are generic, the backdrops are lifeless, and the lack of atmosphere makes each race lonely, even when you pass the camera flashes and cheering bystanders in the grandstands near the finish line. The sky and clouds in the distance often look muddy, particularly when the weather effects are set for rain. Finally, the muffled engine sound effects are lacking the meanness that I would expect from exotic race cars with massive V8 engines hidden beneath their hoods.
Superstars V8 Racing does not really crash or burn due to its flaws, it just bumps into walls and finishes somewhere in the middle of the pack. For $20, there is a lot of content to play around with, and the gameplay turns out well enough to justify the effort. Racing fans that are sick of GT5’s waiting game might enjoy Superstars as a time-killing alternative. It’s too bad the no-frills presentation and the underlying lack of inspiration prevent it from emerging as a hit racing game, bargain-priced or otherwise.
Publisher: Black Bean Games
Developer: Milestone Genre
Sports Release Date: N Amer - 07/10/01
Platforms: PlayStation 3
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