Australian Ninja trades his kingdom for a horse
Publisher: THQ Australia
Mon, 5 June 2006
by: Australian Ninja
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Coming up on the inside its Smell Mafinger, still in the lead is Tipsy Fallover, but what's this - Always Last has stolen third place but wait Anita Dick is running hard against Gluestick, with Explosive Baby trailing at the back of the pack, still in second is Cyril's Hangover, it's an exciting race as Tipsy Fallover has knocked herself out of the race taking down Lusty Desire on the way and bringing Gypsy's Curse into fifth place, Mc Useless is racing backwards again and it's looks like, yes it's Gluestick, Gluestick, Gluestick all the way, all the way for the win and to the factory.
Big in Japan, I'm big in Japan. Japan, land of the rising sun, tentacles, golf, pokemon and the horse racing videogame - or should I games - as in millions of them. Usually we don't get much in the way of local releases for horse racing games. But Australian's like horse racing, and damn it if they want videogames to horse around in, then they should be able to. G1 Jockey4 or G1J4 [if you haven't already guessed it by now] is a horse racing game. I don't know it if really qualifies as a simulator but its close enough and a well made effort by the company KOEI, of Dynasty Warriors fame. Putting you in the role of an amateur jockey and training to work your way up the horse racing circuit is what it's all about.
G1J4 has a plethora of training modes and demos to teach you the controls but I was never very successful at the game overall. What I couldn't figure out is who this game is meant for? Someone who loves horse racing but doesn't play many games would find it difficult to get into. More hardcore gamers are likely to be playing something else. The controls seemed simple enough, but when I raced I became rather frustrated trying to control the horse. To me the first thing a good third person perspective game needs to do is give you control of whatever your character/ vehicle/ avatar is doing during gameplay.
 | | A horse is a horse, of course, of course |
Here, the horse basically runs by itself and you need to manipulate what it does with the commands. It may have worked better as a purely menu driven game along the likes of the soccer game Championship Manager. Alternatively I would have enjoyed it more if full control of the horse was available. As it is, it sits uncomfortably between control and non-control, leaving the player confused at the best of times. But that's just my point of view, don't take it as the gospel, but hey send some donations if you like - I won't be promising you lifelong eternal happiness - but I will accept the cash. G1 Jockey 4 is the fourth game in the apparently popular series. Clearly some people out there like this series, enough people to ensure three sequels to the first game.
The career of my chosen jockey was filled with many lost races and lots of talking idly to weird people dressed in soft pink and blue plaid clothing. In real life horse racing is a lot more exciting. I'm sad to say that this game fails to include my favourite horse racing highlight - the crazy hats. My dreams of winning a race, receiving one of those big-ass decorative wreaths and having my photo taken with two middle aged hat wearing floosies were dashed, for alas there is no crowd in this game, no audience to cheer me on to thrilling victory or to a crushing defeat.
Most time in the game will be spent doing one of several things. One is racing, the other is reading all the talk from your manager and the other racers [cut scenes], the third thing is practicing the basic controls and techniques practicing by yourself on the field.
I find horses in videogames interesting. Horses are probably better represented in games more than any other animal. How often do you get to play videogames where you are a cat? There is Nintendogs and Dogs Life for dog lovers, but cat lovers are sadly under catered for. Sure, you can be cat-girls in many Japanese RPGs, but that doesn't count. Anyway, for anyone curious, my favourite horse riding experiences so far have been in Ocarina of Time and GUN. GUN has horse powerslides, how cool is that?
A wide selection of horses are available, some names more crazy and funny than the ones I made up in the intro to this review. Playing the game was difficult for me, and it became apparent that all my years of gaming experience left me rather lacking when it came to galloping around that circle of death. Okay, it was not really a circle of death - but my kind of horse racing would have maces, axes, and some kind of long pointy stick to bludgeon the other horses with so you could steal into first place. Sort of like Mad Max meets Makybe Diva I guess.
G1Jockey 4 is an average looking game at best, although the horse and jockey models are decent looking and nicely animated. The backgrounds are plain and mostly green with little detail - however they do the job and does anyone honestly expect to be wowed by the graphics in a horse racing game? During the cut scenes the 2-D artwork is pleasant if somewhat fruity, as the jockeys converse with one another.
G1J4 is rather lacking in the sound department. I don't remember if there was music or not to be honest. I mean I was listening to something while I played, a music CD or what have you, as the in game sounds were less than compelling. Sound is one area the game can clearly improve on, and the main thing that could be done is adding commentary, just like in real life horse racing.
 | | I bet heaps of people will be rushing out to buy it after looking at this screenshot |
When it comes down to it, G1J4 is an average game in the overall swamp of games out there. In its genre however it is a decent quality game that seeks to recreate the career of a racing jockey and executes this well. My main beef with it [as a newbie] is the controls that to me seem too complicated for casual gamers and frustrated me to no end. The ideas are there, the career is there but this game needs more work if it wants to appeal to a larger audience. The fact that the game is quite stripped down, means that you really have to like the core gameplay or be totally into horse racing to enjoy it.
The gameplay itself is good, the presentation is lacking but the depth [career mode] is there for those who persevere. The game seems clearly aimed at those who have played the previous games. If you've played any of the other games in the series then you will likely overlook G1 Jockey 4's shortcomings and enjoy it regardless. I'm unfamiliar with the series but reading a little online about the history of the series reveals that G1J4 is one of the better horse racing games around.
by: Australian Ninja
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Recommended for fans of the previous games and hardcore horse fans. But not that kind, the racing horses. Shame on you. | |
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