GeneRally review (freeware racing game)
Feb 19 '06 (Updated Sep 18 '07)
The Bottom Line Probably the best freeware racing game around, and certainly the most adaptable.
GeneRally is a freeware racing game that has become probably the most popular game of its type on the web. It’s a small download and features some pretty intelligent AI (depending on the level you set – it goes from 0-255, so there’s plenty of scope to find your perfect challenge!), so racing against the computer isn’t a boring or predictable experience either. Each track is presented on a single screen, which can be a little problematic with huge tracks as the cars are so small, but overall the quality of the graphics is good and quite varied. (The engine sounds are also pretty good but this is not a game to have the volume up on!) Terrain is fully supported so you can have hills and jumps to negotiate. Up to 6 players compete at any one time and fully customisable trophy events are possible.
Damage, fuel consumption, tyre wear, and game speed are also fully customisable. GeneRally really is a game that you can make suit your own playing style exactly. Different cars are available i.e. Formula 1, Kart, Truck, etc. The best thing is, however, that the cars and tracks included with the game are only the beginning – new cars and tracks for GeneRally are constantly being designed and distributed for free download. (See the forums on the official site for these, or try my own tracks – both URLs listed below.) With the built-in, easy to use track editor, you can even make your own tracks!
This is a great game which really benefits from having a huge community developing more stuff for it. Control is with the cursor keys and is about as intuitive as you can possibly get. The scope for playing this game is practically infinitive with the extra tracks and car types available – some of the developers seem positively fanatical about what they do! (On the forums there are also competitions, tutorials, and tons of other things to help aspiring racers / designers.)
Final Ratings
Graphics: - 7/10 – nothing amazing but they do the job well
Sound: - 4/10 – good engine sound but that’s all there is
Playability: - 10/10 – can’t get much more playable than this
Longevity: - 10/10 – almost infinite – wait, actually infinite!
Replay Value: - 9/10 – very, very addictive stuff
Overall Rating: - 9/10 – a brilliant little game with add-ons being made all the time
Download Size: - 1.27Mb (ZIP), 1.17Mb (self-extracting file)
Where to get it: - http://generally.cjb.net/
(My tracks can be downloaded from: http://www.darscom.net/generallytracks.html)
System Requirements
DirectX 8 or above
RECOMMENDED SYSTEM CONFIGURATION
200 Mhz CPU
16 MB RAM
Few megabytes of hard disk space
DirectX compatible display adapter
Windows 95 or newer with DirectX8
Mouse and keyboard
Note: This is not minimum required system
configuration. Tests have proved that P120
· can run the game relatively well.1.4 Ghz and higher processors (you can experience lower framerates on slower processors)
· 3D Graphics Card
· Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP
Final Note
With quality freeware racing games in such short supply, be sure to download this little gem!
Thanks for reading,
Dave
Copyright 2006 Dave Seaman
Please feel free to link to this article. If you wish to quote from it, please feel free but I would appreciate it if you also include a link.
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See CaptainD’s Freeware Game Digest #1 & Index for more freeware game reviews.
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Commercial Racing Game Reviews
Colin McRae Rally 2
NASCAR Racing 3
Sega Touring Car
See also: My Top Ten Freeware Adventure Games (September 2007 Edition)
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Member: Dave Seaman
Location: Birmingham, Merry Old England
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