SRS: Street Racing Syndicate

If you are a fan of street racing (especially with Japanese cars), then I highly recommend Street Racing Syndicate, not only for the cars but for the honeys as well. SRS is a very well made game with great graphics, great customizations, great extras, and good sounds. The only reasons I can see someone not wanting to buy SRS is if A) You hate to see good-looking women dance in front of you, or B) You dislike songs about prison sex and god.

SRS is a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing - masked behind pedestrian visuals, a mediocre soundtrack, and a rocky release to market with the whole 3DO debacle, is a racing game with absolutely incredible physics and handling and a fun career mode. Unfortunately, I can see SRS getting passed over like the fat kid when sides are taken for dodgeball - a lot of competition and huge advertising dollars may send this one into obscurity. There is also its difficulty level and lack of crazy visual mods which could alienate the very demographic for which it is intended. In addition, the hardcore race fans that would appreciate things like an analog clutch and individual drivetrain modeling will probably write it off as another physics-defying NFSU. I hope my predictions are wrong.

When it's all said and done, there is a lot to do in SRS. This is a solid racing game my Xbox and videogame friends. This will tide you over under the new versions of Midnight Club and Need for Speed come out. I must say out of all of the Xbox titles, SRS is a decent arcade-style racing game. If you think your ready to test your illegal street racing skills, tune up your car, and make some high stakes, then I would say this is the game to do it with.

Street Racing Syndicate is a decent game that succeeds only because of its timing. If there were any other competition out there right now you’d likely not even give this title a second glance, which is a shame because there are some really interesting elements included in this title that will hopefully be used by future racers.

SRS presents a decent offering of Underground style gameplay with more performance customization options than have been around previously. The game’s certainly enjoyable, just not necessarily long enough or amazing enough to warrant a blind purchase. On the other hand, if you’re really waiting for Underground 2 then you may want to take a look – it’s not perfect, but it can still be a decent amount of fun.

When I first saw SRS being made by 3DO, I thought “Wow that looks pretty cool” but then after Namco bought the rights to the game I thought, “Wow now that Namco has control it’s going to be even better”. I wouldn’t necessarily say I was wrong, but I was somewhat let down. The game has a great tuning set up for your car, and the sound effects aren’t bad, but the core of the game lies in the gameplay which is repetitive, and too slow. At most go for a rent, but SRS is just an old game in a pretty package.

Overall, Street Racing Syndicate is a decent title that offers up some good gameplay experience for the beginning gamer that is looking for a fun, arcade like racing game that has some of the features, like upgrading and online play, that the rest of the genre is offering.

Erst Need for Speed Underground 2, dann RPM Tuning und jetzt Street Racing Syndicate: Illegale Autorennen mit aufgemotzten Reiskochern sind voll im Trend. Wer da nicht untergehen will, muss entweder alles anders machen als die Konkurrenz (riskant) oder alles besser hinkriegen (schwierig). Oder man wählt den Mittelweg, wie Eutechnyx bei Street Racing Syndicate.

SRS simultaneously succeeds and fails as a racing title. On the one hand, it delivers an authentic customization system second to none. It also lets you drive around exploring large parts of three major cities. On the other hand, it fails due to its lack of speed. Namco has sacrificed the excitement of illusion for reality. And as we all know, reality bites. Or at the very least, it’s not as thrilling as fantasy. After all, we do play games to escape the malaise of everyday life.

SRS simultaneously succeeds and fails as a racing title. On the one hand, it delivers an authentic customization system second to none. It also lets you drive around exploring large parts of three major cities. On the other hand, it fails due to its lack of speed. Namco has sacrificed the excitement of illusion for reality. And as we all know, reality bites. Or at the very least, it’s not as thrilling as fantasy. After all, we do play games to escape the malaise of everyday life.

SRS: Street Racing Syndicate isn't really worth your time. There are flashy cars, loud music, and lots of insanely hot women to see, but the huge amount of pain you must go through to get to any of the good stuff reminds me of a sign I once saw in college. I was walking to class and saw a truck drove by that had a sign on it that read, "Sometimes the best sex in the world just isn't worth it." I've never found out what that was for, but I've found that theory applies to any number of the world's headaches. A racing game should be fun and exciting and give me a sense of accomplishment when I complete a level. If I want a sense of relief that I'll never have to play any given mission again, I'll fire up SRS.

Street Racing Syndicate is a good racing title, just not a great one, and somewhat of a disappointment. The atmosphere of street racing is there (the girls, the rides, and the gambling), but it still feels a bit bland.

So, yeah, Street Racing Syndicate is an enjoyable street racer and has the requisite Pimp My Ride chops, but it needs more cars and it's over too darn soon.

Street Racing Syndicate does a lot of things right, yet for some reason, they tend not to matter as much because it’s just so hard to get into the game and stay there enough to appreciate them. This title should still be checked out; it delivers some very nice racing action (even though it’ll hardly feel like it), and options to boot. Unfortunately, given what the game is touted as, it falls below even base expectations.

Wagen aufmotzen, illegale Straßenrennen fahren und dabei Geld und Mädels abgreifen - das kommt einem seit Need for Speed Underground irgendwie bekannt vor. Doch an EAs Referenz-Raser scheitert auch Street Racing Syndicate. Dabei hat das freche Plagiat auf den ersten Blick ordentlich Pferdestärken unter der Spielspaß-Motorhaube: Im Fuhrpark stehen 40 lizenzierte Fahrzeuge, Gas geben dürfen Sie in Los Angeles, Philadelphia sowie Miami und alle Wagen lassen sich mit Zubehörteilen namhafter Tuning-Hersteller frisieren.

SRS could have been a contender, instead it feels like an unpolished, exploitative dud that falls short in the margins.

After playing Street Racing Syndicate, I’m left with two overriding feelings: the racing itself is pretty good, and the rest of the game feels like a total hackjob. From a racing physics standpoint, SRS is pretty solid. Each car feels different, and the upgrades available tangibly change your experience. The rest of the required pieces are generally cobbled together and left me thinking that this game was supposed to come out years ago…many years ago. The interface for nearly every action is convoluted and hard to follow. Also, I don’t like the reward system. Here’s where it comes down to a little personal preference – the biggest and easiest to find rewards are low-res videos of models dancing. Me? Not interested. Other offerings for good performances are things like cars, parts, and new events. The showroom doesn’t readily tell you which cars are newly available, the tuning options are aggravating to implement, and the races are exceptionally short.

After playing Street Racing Syndicate, I’m left with two overriding feelings: the racing itself is pretty good, and the rest of the game feels like a total hackjob. The title offers free-roaming cities, which it delivers on with versions of Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Miami. The wide-open feel is really there, and each gameplay option is available from this mode – you just ride up to people and start burning rubber.

Street Racing Syndicate ist der bisher dreisteste Klon von Need for Speed Underground 2. Das Spiel gleicht Electronic Arts’ Edel-Raserei optisch und inhaltlich wie ein Ventil dem anderen, erreicht aber die Klasse des Vorbilds nur in sehr wenigen Bereichen. Insbesondere durch die lahme KI und das auf Dauer öde Streckendesign stottert der Motivationsmotor. Da helfen die Tagfahrten und Polizei- Verfolgungsjagden auch nicht mehr. Dennoch ist Street Racing Syndicate kein schlechtes Spiel. Besonders die zahlreichen Tuningoptionen und Autos dürften Rennfans begeistern, und mit günstigen 20 Euro ist der Titel insbesondere für Spar-Raser interessant. Ich hingegen warte lieber auf Juiced.

When it comes down to SRS and its street cred, it tries really hard to be underground and illegal, but what it actually does is so poorly handled that it's really hard to recommend for anyone outside of the most discerning gear head. A lack of tactile speed, a complicated upgrade system and a number of useless features makes SRS much more of a rental for hardcore driving fans only than a must have.

When it comes down to SRS and its street cred, it tries really hard to be underground and illegal, but what it actually does is so poorly handled that it's really hard to recommend for anyone outside of the most discerning gear head. A lack of tactile speed, a complicated upgrade system and a number of useless features makes SRS much more of a rental for hardcore driving fans only than a must have.

It looks good and covers the basics of street racing, but the bottom line is that the racing is just not all that exciting.

You can take out your aggression, get your adrenaline pumping without being arrested, killed or injured in Namco's Street Racing Syndicate. SRS isn't a bad game at all; it just doesn't deliver how you'd expect. I would recommend SRS for more import racing fans then just your average racing fan. Rent it and check it out.

There are some decent ideas in Street Racing Syndicate, but the fairly uninspired interpretation of racing in the game makes it pretty boring overall. SRS attempts to "get real" by including parts, a Dyno, and other items that make it appeal to real-life racers, but the uninteresting action on the streets means that you'll probably want to look elsewhere for your underground street racing thrills.

Het grootste minpunt is het totale gebrek aan snelheidsgevoel. Je krijgt nooit het gevoel dat je in een wegmonster zit dat over meer paardenkracht bezit dan de gemiddelde manege. Tel daarbij de saaie circuits, zowel open als gesloten, in de drie steden en je komt tot de conclusie dat enkel de grootste racefanaten graten zullen zien in deze SRS.

But if you're looking for a solid street racer with some visual punch, SRS is for you. The gameplay is solid, the graphics are well done, and while the soundtrack is disappointing (no customizing either), the game has enough going for it to be worth a rental. However, if you're into the street racing scene, buy this game. SRS may be as shallow as some twenty-twos, but you may be having too much fun to care.

The verdict is this: SRS is by no means a terrible game, but it has numerous problems. If you're an auto junkie or just love the idea of winning flesh trophies and the cash to upgrade your car beyond your wildest daydreams, this game may very well be what you're looking for. But the fact is that what could have been a great product turns out to have had a leaky gas tank. The confusion as to whether it's a realistic racing simulator or another arcade racer is hard to answer. If only Namco had run the gamut with this one, it could have been something special. The only thing that will keep you coming back to this game is the garage, not the racing. If you dream of building up an unstoppable marvel of automotive ingenuity, then this game is for you. If you want Vin Diesel's skills to rub off, it won't happen here. The impracticable controls, humdrum gameplay and lack of polish just hold this game back too much.

So, is SRS a poor man's NFS:U2? Whilst it does share quite a few similarities, it isn't necessarily a replica, but on the other hand it is definitely not its superior. SRS does have some intense racing on offer and the amount of content is impressive, however there just isn't anything here that really strikes out as unique - the cars and modifications are all pretty expected, the environments and racing modes are all generic, and the unique features, such as "girlfriends", don't add up to anything significant. SRS is a solid street racer, but certainly not at the top of the list in the genre's hierarchy - it will likely appeal to fans of the genre more than new comers but probably won't keep the majority of either demographic occupied for long due to its repetition.

Despite of the nice graphics, the nice online features and the very well done garage, this game lacks a bit of playability and sense of speed. The Babes in "Street Racing Syndicate" are a nice addition to this kind of game and in fact they're quiet unique. Bottom line, Street Racing Syndicate is an average street & tunin' game. There are better race games around but if you're in for a not too demanding race, SRS might be a good choice.

Like many other such games SRS is free-roaming, you cruise around cities finding races and events in order to increase your wealth and respect. The more cash you get, the more you can trick out your ride. And the more respect you earn, the more races you can enter. Other than via races, respect is earned by showing off to the 18 girls in the game. Impress enough of these morally relaxed honeys and you'll unlock further races. Better still, you reveal acres of lady flesh for further sad and lonely enjoyment. The rest of the game is indistinguishable from all the other arcade, fast and furious wanabees, with real-life, flyboy rides modded up and speeding through city streets. Hell, even your nitrous boost is refilled if you drive dangerously or pull huge skids.

So, is SRS a poor man's NFS:U2? Whilst it does share quite a few similarities, it isn't necessarily a replica, but on the other hand it is definitely not its superior. SRS does have some intense racing on offer and the amount of content is impressive, however there just isn't anything here that really strikes out as unique - the cars and modifications are all pretty expected, the environments and racing modes are all generic, and the unique features, such as "girlfriends", don't add up to anything significant. SRS is a solid street racer, but certainly not at the top of the list in the genre's hierarchy - it will likely appeal to fans of the genre more than new comers but probably won't keep the majority of either demographic occupied for long due to its repetition.

Peu engageant lors de la preview, SRS confirme l'impression qu'il avait laissé. Jouable, sympathique et accessible, le titre de Namco pèche énormément dans son absence d'innovation et sa fadeur généralisée. Même en le prenant comme un soft à part, en oubliant les NFSU, il fait preuve d'un intérêt trop limité pour convaincre. Toutefois si vous avez à choisir entre lui et RPM Tuning, n'hésitez pas, SRS vous fera passer de bien meilleurs moments, bien que ce soit sur un court terme. Enfin, le bug présent dans la version Gamecube ne se retrouve pas au sein de cet opus. Il vous est donc désormais possible de finir le jeu.

Peu engageant lors de la preview, SRS confirme l'impression qu'il avait laissé. Jouable, sympathique et accessible, le titre de Namco pèche énormément dans son absence d'innovation et sa fadeur généralisée. Même en le prenant comme un soft à part, en oubliant les NFSU, il fait preuve d'un intérêt trop limité pour convaincre. Toutefois si vous avez à choisir entre lui et RPM Tuning, n'hésitez pas, SRS vous fera passer de bien meilleurs moments, bien que ce soit sur un court terme.

Street Racing Syndicate is a bit too bland for this day and age of cutting edge racing physics. While this would be a good title for beginners, the scantily clad women and their dancing caused SRS to be rated T which eliminates a choice demographic of beginner racers. Aside from the use of authentic racing products to juice up your ride, there is nothing here for the hardcore racing fan. It seems as though Namco rushed the production of SRS so it would beat out similar titles like Juiced and Need for Speed Underground 2 to try and capture fans looking to get their street racing fix. Unfortunately this rushing took what could have a fantastic racing game and turned it into a messy and awkward basic racer. Things might have gone better if SRS sported a $19.99 price tag, but at $49.99, this makes SRS a must skip title. Sorry Namco, better luck next time.

Peu engageant lors de la preview, SRS confirme l'impression qu'il avait laissé. Jouable, sympathique et accessible, le titre de Namco pèche énormément dans son absence d'innovation et sa fadeur généralisée. Même en le prenant comme un soft à part, en oubliant les NFSU, il fait preuve d'un intérêt trop limité pour convaincre. Toutefois si vous avez à choisir entre lui et RPM Tuning, n'hésitez pas, SRS vous fera passer de bien meilleurs moments, bien que ce soit sur un court terme. Enfin, le bug présent dans la version Gamecube ne se retrouve pas au sein de cet opus. Il vous est donc possible de finir le jeu.

Street Racing Syndicate ne nous convaincra pas davantage sur PC que sur GameCube. Namco n'est pas parvenu à donner une vraie personnalité à son jeu qui se contente de copier ce qui a déjà été fait sans trouver le moyen de rendre les courses un minimum prenantes. Même au prix où il est proposé, vous feriez mieux de vous en passer.

Street Racing Syndicate tries to make advances in the import racing game scene with a big city and interesting reward system, but its lack of white-knuckle racing and true customization slows it down. All show and no go makes this a dull ride.

Même si SRS offre un mode solo assez complet et un multi pouvant accueillir 4 joueurs en LAN ou Online, il n'apporte rien di bien nouveau ou d'intéressant par rapport à un NFSU 2.

I'll admit that I wasn't much impressed by SRS when it was in 3DO's hands, but I'd hoped Namco could help it out a little. No such luck. Gearheads who lust after things like a shiny new HKS Turbo will probably have fun tinkering with their fleet. Anyone else will fast become furious over dropping fifty bucks on this game.

SRS just can't compete with the top games in the street racing genre. Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition has everything of note from SRS and a lot more. Street racing games are all about excitement and the thrill of the race. SRS rarely generates more than a murmur of excitement, and more often than not makes you like other games all the more.