F355 Challenge: Passione Rossa

While this review has so far been positive, there are a few negatives of the title. Some people may just find it too realistic for their tastes and may prefer arcade style games instead. Others may not like the fact that there is only one car to drive. You are also always forced to play with an in-car view, which you may or may not like. Also the collision system is very unpredictable. Me? I absolutely love the game. Dare I say it? Best racing game ever. While it may not be everybody's cup of tea, I certainly love it. You really owe it to yourself as a gamer to at least rent it when Acclaim publishes it domestically. Its just too bad F355 Challenge will probably never receive the credit it deserves due to it being such a niche title.

F355 doesn't have the massive variety of Sega GT or Shutokou Battle 2, but it stands well on it's own merits. If this is what simulation games will be like from now on, then just about everyone can get excited when they see this genre. AM2 has created nothing short of perfect graphics and gameplay! Buy it, play it, love it...

Even if you regard Sega Rally to be too technical for your taste, and you consider a hardy serving of Daytona with a glass of Rush 2049 your perfect meal, I still urge you to give F355 a try. The absolute bliss that is the control of this game might just make you realize that it's not the realism that irks you about other sim games, it's their faulty realism! If you fall in that category, simply give it a rental and a full night of your time to see what you think. I'll even let you play with the driving aids on -- I won't tell anyone.

When all is said and done though, these problems still only end up being very minor. If you want a very detailed, challenging, and beautiful racing sim F355 Challenge is by far the very best on the market, well worth hunting down.

Now, of course, the most important thing here is game play. How does the game play? Well, with top-notch physics and handling, challenging and intelligent AI the game is flawless and with tons of replay value even with only one car. This is one game I highly recommend to racing enthusiasts, especially if you're into Ferrari and Sega.

There is no doubt that Ferrari F355 Challenge is one of the best racing games ever. The handling, graphics, detail, options, and most of all playability make this an essential Dreamcast purchase. Yu Suzuki has truly created a masterpiece that has been considerably enhanced from its arcade version. Perhaps if you are more into arcade styled racers such as V-Rally, Speed Devils or Rush 2049 then this may not be your cup of tea. For racing simulation fans this should be top of your list. It's that good.

Overall this game is, undeniably, a masterpiece, but admittedly a very specific kind of masterpiece. Suzuki set out to design the ultimate racing simulation and achieved that more completely than any game I have ever played. If your bag is Re-Volt or Speed Devils, give it a rent before you even think about buying. However, if you are looking for the best racing sim available on DC, or any platform for the matter, you have a friend in F355 Challenge.

There are a few minor problems with F355 Challenge. During a collision with another vehicle the car will automatically try to adjust itself in the proper direction and winds up shifting your car abruptly, making it easy to loose control. The AI also recovers more quickly from crashes and spin-outs than it would for human player to recover. But aside from these minor issues, F355 Challenge is a great technical achievement. It's so realistic and unforgiving that it's not for everybody. But racing fans who won't mind a struggle on the race track are sure to enjoy every lap.

F355 Challenge isn't without its problems, however. The game only has one camera angle - the cockpit view - and aside from the ability to choose from one of three AI drafting and passing techniques, it has no adjustable difficulty settings. For racing fans, this isn't an issue, but the wide majority of casual gamers will undoubtedly cry foul. Regardless, F355 Challenge is the best driving game currently available on any console, let alone the Dreamcast, and once you crest the game's steep learning curve, the addictive need to constantly best other players' lap times will provide weeks of replayability.

"F355 Challenge" ist eine hervorragende Fahrsimulation mit leider viel zu wenig Langzeitmotivation. Genau betrachtet beinhaltet es eine technisch einmalig gute Engine die so ziemlich alles aus dem Dreamcast herausholt, die ihre Power an einem einzigen Fahrmodel verpufft, welches sich ausschließlich auf sechs wunderschönen Pisten austoben darf. Wer Wert auf den Simulationsaspekt legt und wem die guten Zeiten oder die Meisterschaftspunkte Anreiz genug sind sich richtig ins Zeug zu legen, wird von "F355 Challenge" mit einer herrlichen Grafik und viel Spaß belohnt. Wer allerdings ständig mit neuen Features, Strecken und Autos geködert werden will, der sollte in ein anderes Racing-Game investieren.

We hebben hier te maken met een meesterwerk van de meester zelf. Yu Suzuki bezorgt ons de meest realistische racegame ooit gemaakt op de console en dankzij de schitterende graphics is dit een droom die werkelijkheid wordt voor veel Dreamcast bezitters.

This game certainly is a challenge, just as the title suggests, so I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. Only the hardcore gamers need apply. Even still, F355 Challenge proves to be a worthy addition to any die-hard racing fan's collection.

La curva de aprendizaje del juego hace que, a pesar de no disponer de muchas pistas y de contar con un solo tipo de coche, sea bastante largo, muchas horas han de pasar hasta tener un aceptable control del vehículo en trazados como Sugo o Suzuka. Además de los circuitos de la recreativa original hay otros cinco que estarán accesibles consiguiendo buenos puestos en el modo Arcade. En definitiva, que para nada es corto F355 y si además se consigue encontrar a alguien para competir online (cosa harto difícil) la duración se dispara.

Si beaucoup pensaient que l'adaptation arcade demanderait une baisse de la qualité graphique, F355 Challenge sur Dreamcast n'en fait pas montre. Les véhicules sont évidemment modélisés parfaitement et les circuits sont de toute beauté aussi bien dans le ciel que dans la finesse des décors et des éléments des pistes. Peu de circuits (six au départ, plus 5 décors cachés qui deviendront accessibles au fil du jeu) mais un travail d'orfèvre pour chacun et tout fait penser à un souci de détail très élevé. La fluidité d'affichage est elle aussi à tomber par terre, en toutes circonstances tout comme les effets 3D qui en plus d'être beaux sont vraiment réalistes.

F355 Challenge är ett extremt spel som kräver tålamod och intresse. Med den utmärkta kontrollen och den oerhört läckra grafiken hade man kunnat nöja sig med lite mindre realism och lite mer arkadkänsla. Bara för nöjet att få slappna av lite och glida runt och njuta. En lite mer seriös invändning är kanske att F355 Challenge är ett förbaskat enkelspårigt och ganska variationslöst spel. Tycker man inte at Ferrari är världens bästa bilmärke, ogillar bilspel där man måste vara till hundra procent koncentrerad hela tiden och dessutom föredrar att se hela bilen när man kör är det här helt enkelt inte alls intressant. Vilket är synd eftersom det ju samtidigt är ett fantastiskt drömbygge. Förutom då att musiken suger hårt - men den går ju att stänga av.

L'excellent F355 Challenge n'a pas pris une ride en passant sur Playstation 2. Le soft s'adresse comme toujours uniquement aux fans de simulation, car la conduite est aussi réaliste que délicate. Le gameplay ne plaira certainement pas à tout le monde, mais le titre d'AM2 parvient à tirer son épingle du jeu en proposant une approche encore inexistante sur PS2.

Sound fun? It will be to hardcore sim fans; others will likely loathe all the details that F355 Challenge forces you to consider. An arcade mode takes care of many details for you, but that robs this game of its key point-realism. And with its jaw-dropping graphics and such precise controls, it's a shame to dull the experience, though the outdated 1980s-metal soundtrack does a bit of that anyway. There will be no in-between when it comes to F355 Challenge-you'll either immerse yourself in truly mastering one of the world's most powerful sports cars, or you'll find this about as much fun as taking your driver's test. If you accept its inherent challenges, F355 will deliver the real deal.

F355 Challenge est un excellent titre si l'on prend le temps de se faire à la conduite précise mais difficile à appréhender. Avec une seule vue intérieure, un pilotage des plus techniques, le jeu s'adresse essentiellement aux vrais amateurs de pilotage virtuel, qui ne regretteront certainement qu'une chose : ne pas avoir les trois écrans de la borne d'arcade F355 Challenge.

Ferrari F355 Challenge isn't technically the best game on Playstation 2, not even close. But as a simulation it is unequalled. There is no damage, but then again you won't want to scratch these babies. Beware that this game is rock hard, even with driving assistance turned on. Hardcore driving fans need only apply for this game.

F355 turns out to be a really good Ferrari simulator, but just an average game. All of the control nuances are there, though the move from arcades to the console is not an easy one. Some extra options for the cars, a few more tracks and a third-person view would improve this game by leaps and bounds. If Ferrari is your passion, this game is not one to miss, but other drivers with a taste for customization may want to look elsewhere before picking up the keys to the F355.