PC CD-ROM minimum system requirements: Pentium 133mhz; 16MB RAM; 60MB hard disk space; Windows 95; Dual speed CD-ROM drive; DirectX compatible video card with 1MB RAM. £19.99
Car racing sims or games were, and probably still are, the most popular games in the arcade. Now, they are probably the most popular games anywhere, no matter what platform you play on. Everybody has a least one racing game or another, it seems. But, if you want arcade-quality graphics, you have to have a PC. Not just any PC, mind. Nowadays the requirement is not just a highspec machine, but a good-quality 3D card to see the games in all their glory.
This review was carried out using Videologic's Apocalypse 3DX card on a Pentium 200 and the results were stunning. The 3D card brings Ultim@te Race Pro to the front row of the grid and makes a good game great. There are 18 possible tracks (five different track types) and 16 cars to choose from. The tracks differ dramatically in length and difficulty and can be raced under many different, challenging conditions: day, night, wet and stormy night. The cars are grouped into four sets of four and each group has more or less the same characteristics but different styling.
There are the usual modes of gameplay including the excellent Ghost mode. The network game allows you to race others on all the regular tracks but also includes the Ultim@te Arena. Here, you can take on other players by competing in Team Play, Deathmatch (not unlike Destruction Derby) or Rabbit modes. Ultim@te Race Pro also supports Internet play.
The game is addictive and fun to play, but its most outstanding feature is its splendid graphics. Skid marks, smoke, sparks, debris effects and reflections on the cars' metal body are all rendered beautifully.
Ultim@te Race Pro is not another GP2, and doesn't hide that fact. It's all about fast and furious action. The emphasis is more on the fun element and if you are a fan of Screamer then this is another one for your pit lane.
Graphics: 96%, Sound: 84%, Gameplay: 91%