Buy It, Play It, Love It - With Practice, Of Course
Some subtle in-game branding never hurt anyone
Thankfully, RACE 07 is far more than a compulsory yearly update. Though the 2007 WTCC tracks, drivers and cars are all here, SimBin has worked to improve the game by adding more content and an improved online play. Driving assists and difficulty settings will help beginners get up to speed, but the lack of a lesson system may lead to frustration; you still have to pay your dues to excel. The simulation experience caters to the hardcore set, with a plethora of race options and car tuning settings.
For a price of $29.95 (US) through Steam, the game represents a bargain in terms of content and gameplay, and it's a worthwhile purchase even for those who own the 2006 edition. RACE 07: The Official WTCC Game adds to SimBin's excellent pedigree, and to pass it over is to miss one of the best racing simulations of the year.
Summary of YouGamers Hardware Testing
The publisher of this game state the following specifications for their minimum and recommended requirements:
Component
Publisher's Minimum
Publisher's Recommended
Processor
1.7 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or 100% compatible
3 GHz Intel Pentium IV or 100% compatible
Memory
512 MB
2 GB
Graphics Card
DirectX 9 compatible graphics card with 128 MB memory
DirectX 9 compatible graphics card with 512 MB memory, Nvidia 6800 or better
Graphics Card Example
Not specified
Not specified
Free Disk Space
2.5 GB free space
2.5 GB free space
Net Link
Not specified
Not specified
To learn more about how YouGamers performs its hardware testing, click here. Through our extensive gameplay and hardware testing across the full spectrum of PC configurations, YouGamers suggests that one should use the following guidelines for an appropriate minimum and recommended setup:
Component
YouGamers Minimum
YouGamers Recommended
Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ / Intel Pentium 4 540
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ / Intel Core 2 Duo E6420
Memory
1 GB
2 GB
Graphics Card
ATI Radeon X1600 256MB / NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS 256MB
ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 512MB / NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB
Free Disk Space
2.5 GB
2.5 GB
Net Link
Broadband
Broadband
Scores
To learn more about our scoring methodology, please click here.
Gameplay
90
The same exacting attention to detail found in all of SimBin's racing simulations. Improvements to the game in AI, handling, physics and track detail are a plus, but it's the sandbox-style gameplay and new car classes add depth. Multiplayer that works on release and integration with Steam give the game the online presence it needs.
Graphics
82
Car models are authentic representations of their real-world counterparts, but cockpits are low-polygon. Despite an increased level of detail, tracks still have a static, lifeless feel. The rendering engine is competent but lacking advanced shaders and with recycled textures, the engine is starting to look dated.
Audio
73
Race radio chatter is minimal, but integration with Steam means built-in voice chat in multiplayer. The basics are here, such as well-matched engine sounds and road noise, though the details, such as wind noise, are missing. Competent, but lacking the 'oomph' of contemporary racers.
Technology
84
The visuals are no longer top-end, but the physics and handling models still compete with the best simulations. Multiplayer code is now very functional, and subtle changes to the controls provide improved handling with gamepads. A frame rate analyzer is a nice touch.
OVERALL
87
RACE 07: WTCC is the most enjoyable PC racing simulation to date. The non-WTCC car classes and fully customizable race weekends give the game a sandbox feel, though the graphics engine is showing its age. Integration with Steam and improved netcode give the online play new life. From weekend warrior to race sim fanantic, it's an enjoyable and addictive experience, and the inclusion of more street courses and expanded car classes hint at a less confining theme for future SimBin titles.
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ESRB:
Games: Race 07: Official WTCC Game
AMD Athlon 64 3000+
