Are red hot Ferraris enough to get racer fans to take up the Ferrari Challenge?
The game consists of the usual single-player and multiplayer game modes that gamers have come to expect from racing titles. Arcade mode serves up a a combination of races (such as Time Trial and Quick Race) as well as the refreshing Ferrari Collector Card Battle (think of it as a Ferrari edition of the popular Top Trumps card games) which serves as a nice distraction from the sometimes frustrating racing gameplay. The game's Trophy mode allows players to compete in Ferraris which they have bought using the credits from playing through Challenge mode.
The game's multiplayer offerings aren't much to write home about. There is no two-player split-screen gameplay and unless you are on a LAN or don't mind twiddling your thumbs while waiting to get in on an online race, you'll find that most of your time will be spent in the game's single-player elements.
One nice inclusion to Ferrari Challenge is the customising option, which has seemingly been borrowed from the stellar racing title Forza Motorsport 2. This option allows for players to have customisable paint finishes and vinyls to make your Prancing Horse differ from the rest of the online pack. Sadly, while you are able to show off your custom rides to other players, the game doesn't allow you to share your designs with other players, making the customising option seem like nothing but a vicious tease.
Trophy and Arcade mode aside, the crux of the single-player gameplay of Ferrari Challenge is found in the main Challenge mode. The Challenge mode invites players to hop into their F430 (yes, you will spend the entire Challenge mode in one car) and race their way through the three main championships of the real-world Ferrari Challenge. Each championship consists of a series of race weekends where players will take part in a qualifying session and two endurance race sessions per track before moving on to the next round . Players aim to take out the three championships - which take place across the United States, Italy, and Europe - in a bid to reach the main event of the Ferrari Challenge, the World Finals.
Have you got what it takes to make the World Finals?
Even with a number of driving aids to help your cause, the main issue with the Challenge mode is how infuriatingly time consuming it can be. With no option to restart a race or save between races, players will find themselves repeating a significant chunk of the game due the unforgiving nature of the car's handling. Be warned, this is not a game for the arcade fanboy amongst us, this is a serious, Ferrari simulation in an arcade game's clothing. There is no margin for error in Ferrari Challenge, miss your breaking point by a metre and you'll find yourself spinning out of control into the sandtrap, wondering how one mistake could so cruelly rob you of victory as the competition sails on to the chequered flag. While the game does include the option to reduce the race times to five minutes rather than the full fifteen, the number of hours that you'll spend repeating races will still remain as a major point of frustration throughout your Challenge career.
If the handling wasn't enough to put you off, the harsh AI might. The first few races will see you up against opposition that couldn't even out race your nanna to a spot in the supermarket carpark, but after a few races, you'll find that the game quickly tilts to the other end of the difficulty meter where you'll find it a struggle to catch up to the front runners. But while it can be frustrating at times, it's here amongst the middle pack of racers struggling to get to first place that makes the game truly feel authentic. In fact, without the motion blurred visuals and the 'sense of speed' that other racing titles have perfected, this is the only moment that Ferrari Challenge truly feels like a racing simulation worthy of the Ferrari name.
Taking on the pack is where Ferrari Challenge truly comes alive.
The game compiles a number of sixteen tracks from the real world Ferrari Challenge series. Alongside the more well-known race tracks (some of which have undergone name changes due to licensing reasons) like Silverstone and Monza, there are a number of lesser known racing circuits thrown in for good measure, making for a refreshing change from the norm in the tightly contested racing genre. More tracks are said to be released in the future via download from the PlayStation Network.
The game's single-brand focus may not be appreciated by the current generation of racing game players who have become accustomed to the litany of cars on offer in the Forza and Gran Turismo franchises, but the title's focus reinforces the game's essence, which is simply a place to worship all things Ferrari. While Ferrari Challenge doesn't boast the best graphics of the racing games that have appeared on the current-generation of consoles, the game's car models speak volumes.
Car porn in every sense of the word.
As you take your time to sample the fifty Ferrari cars included in the game (with more set for download in the near future) it is plain to see that every car model has been lovingly detailed. Aside from the sleek red paintwork, the game does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of Ferrari with the distinctive burble of the Ferrari engine idling on the start line enough to send thrills down the spine of any sports car afficionado.
Ferrari Challenge is a game with many flaws, but beneath these flaws beats the heart of solid racing title for those looking for a challenge. Though if you aren't mad for the Prancing Horse, you are likely to quickly tire of the single manufacturer approach when there are a bevy of other racing titles out there with more bang for your buck.
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