Gamestyle has fond memories of grand prix inspired racing titles from yesteryear. Whether it’s the glory days of the ZX Spectrum with offerings such as Chequered Flag, F1 management simulations or top down racers such as Super Sprint, the playability factor was extremely high. The grand prix genre has been in decline until its recent revival by Codemasters and the joyous Formula 1 title by the now defunct Bizarre Creations.
Magic Racing GP 2 evokes such distant memories with hints homebrew origins and allowing the player to edit all of the teams and drivers. In typical old school fashion the default names are slightly warped versions of the true life counterparts and therefore instantly recognisable. Each of the drivers is rated across a series of categories with a young German driver being the mostly highly rated overall. Yet for all the hype about the young German, things are generally well matched out on the track and you can create your own version of the 2012 season including drivers, teams and schedule. Similarly the circuits are shortened versions of famous tracks that will be instantly familiar to most BBC Sport viewers. Monaco may have been renamed but the famous circuit is here with its tight corners and legendary tunnel. Generally the circuits transfer extremely well to the overhead viewpoint and you begin to appreciate the complexities of mastering each track.
The customisation options are above and beyond the call of duty of an Xbox Live Indie release, going so far as to allow players to edit helmet colours; such is the high level of detail and dedication. Of more benefit is the ability to tinker with the controls and the game speed. This is a game all about control and initially it is advisable to either reduce the default pacing or drop from the ultimate ‘open wheel’ to slower class of kart. Your opening races will be frustrating as the opponent AI will circumnavigate the most complex circuits with ease. Whereas you will spin off and lose ample time in run off areas before re-joining in last place. One mistake is often the end of any potential podium finish, where your avatar will make an appearance on the side-line, looking on jealously. The game AI is also editable and you can tinker with various settings to include damage, special effects and ultimately ensure that Magic Racing GP 2 meets your requirements.
While Magic Racing GP 2 lacks the freedom to offer inventive tracks such as those seen in Micro Machines, there is an ample selection of tracks in this release. Some fit entirely onto your television screen, and others will unfold as you negotiate your way around the circuit. Both methods work well and overall the level of execution is higher than Gamestyle has seen in many Xbox Indie releases. There are some slight issues, which are to be expected and it’s the curse of the pit lane that also blighted Codemasters F1 debut release. These issues will no doubt be addressed with updates and the pit lane problem that prompted us to reboot our console is one that really has to be fixed.
Practice does indeed make perfect, as Gamestyle could visibly see our improvement on the timing sheets and the growing confidence to try out new approaches to tricky corners. There’s far more and skill in Magic Racing GP 2 than you would initially expect. It’s this challenging nature and playability that ushers you back for one more go. Particularly so once you’ve nailed down the control system and edited the button, stick or D-pad configuration to your liking.
Online features are very welcome in Xbox Indie releases and the ability to race other players from across the globe is included. At the moment online take up seems disappointing (although this review was written over the Festive period), but hopefully, as word of mouth grows about the game, more players will take their skills online. Gamestyle is sure that online races will be a riot, with 16 cars on track and much more evenly matched than playing against the AI offline.
Magic Racing GP 2 is a game that should appeal to players of all ages, whether its fans of retro titles or modern day petrol heads. There is a refreshing feel to this release where racing is all about fun and not bogged down with simulations and physics. With a huge range of options and great touches such as steward’s flags, this feels almost like the complete overhead racing package.
