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Sega GT
Online
Score: 6.3 / 10
The one thing that really gets under my
skin is the recycling of ideas in videogames. What’s worse than that is
a recycled idea that isn’t improved in any way except for online
capabilities. This is where Sega GT Online comes in.
The first Sega GT on the Xbox was first released back in 2002 and soon
after became part of Sega’s bundle with new Xboxes. It’s easy to see now
why Sega GT Online (SGTO) isn’t too far from becoming part of that
bundle.
SGTO is as standard as racing games get. Games such as Project Gotham
Racing, which require more than brute speed and precise turning seem to
garner more attention, and for good reason. The gameplay modes in SGTO
are Sega GT 2002 (career mode), Quick Battle, Chronicle Mode (classic
racing circuit), Time Attack,
and Gathering Mode (mini-games). Quick
battle and time attack are essentially the same really leaving only a
couple of modes.
The Career mode is more in-depth than Project Gotham Racing 2, but not
quite as polished. A downside to PGR2 was its lack of customizable body
parts. SGTO allows you to modify your car with new or used parts,
purchase new vehicles,
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and repair damaged parts through a series
of menus that are a little cumbersome, though seeing your car with the
new gear makes all of the time worthwhile. Once ready to race, you enter
in different events that require specific cars. Winning each event nets
you prize money or, if you do extremely well, new cars that come as
“special prizes.” Keep in mind much like Gran Turismo (on the PS2) you
need to take particular license tests that survey your time and driving
techniques. Earning higher license grades enables more events to race
in.
The graphics in SGTO remain almost, if not, identical to those in the
2002 edition. Edges around the cars are rough, levels feel duplicated
and dry, and crashing into walls causes absolutely no visual damage to
your car (owing to strict licensing issues with car manufacturers). The
details on the cars themselves look decent but not incredible. A small
detail such as decals and reflections aren’t up to par with current
racing games and, being an Xbox exclusive game, doesn’t take advantage
of the graphical power the console has to offer. Backgrounds, such as
trees and crowds are rendered poorly and are no better than 2D cutouts.
In terms of sound, SGTO delivers some of the worst arcade music any game
has to offer. From the menu music to the actual music within the game, I
feel that the cheaply composed artificial beats don’t enhance the
experience at all, and in fact worsen it. While original music is always
good to hear, I think SGTO could have benefited from a complete roster
of licensed audio tracks.
As far as car engines and the screeching of the tires go, everything is
taken right out of the textbook of recreating generic sounds. Much like
the music, the sound of SGTO feels cheaply made. For example, telling
the difference between two different car engines is possible, though you
would have to be a real car genius in order to so. The ambiance and
background noises are vaguely heard, mostly because of the concentration
of making precise moves.
Taking a cue from both the graphics and sound, the gameplay of SGTO
doesn’t deliver. Whether you enjoy realistic car driving or arcade
style, the gameplay system doesn’t live up to current games. One major
problem is with the car handling. Every single car in the game, ranging
from a Mazda to a Dodge handles almost identically. Taking a Mercedes
down a straightaway at 100mph feels precisely the same as taking a 1974
Mustang down a straightway at 100mph. The same goes for turning,
sliding, or braking. I felt let down by this and the fact that the 40
new cars featured in this game did absolutely nothing to change the fact
that the gameplay is simple and linear. Online, you can participate in
two new modes.
Since the game is titled Sega GT Online, I was disappointed with the
small number of people actually online. Either the game has yet to find
its way into a lot of homes or everyone is busy playing Project Gotham
Racing 2 online. Either way, Sega’s online capabilities feel
superficial. Without any unique gameplay modes, racing around a few
tracks online makes no difference than doing so offline. Maybe if Sega
had implemented a kudos-like point system, which encourages drivers to
pull off stylistic moves, the gameplay might’ve been deeper.
Unfortunately adding “online” to the title and a number of new cars
didn’t improve the gameplay or visual mechanics at all.
With the best racing game of 2003 – Project Gotham Racing 2 – still
making noise on and off of Xbox Live, Sega GT Online isn’t an urgent buy
for those looking for a quick drive. In fact, the game shouldn’t even be
considered against the competition. Need for Speed Underground and
Midnight Club 2 are still fun to play and far from outdated, so before
jumping into Xbox live with Sega GT Online, make sure you’ve scouted the
rest of the field. Of course, the $19.99US price point doesn’t make it a
complete write-off.
