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Save your money... buy Gallop Racer PS1

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: September 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Coming from someone who spent lots and lots and lots of time playing the excellent Gallop Racer 1 and owns both games... at best, Gallop Racer 2001 is a disappointment. The overall graphics of the Playstation version were more impressive for the system, especially now since 'in the strech' the background now blurs instead of the horse actually moving faster, so you don't get the feeling of rallying and leaving the pack as much, the center of focus is the jockey's overly rounded and large behind, but the backgrounds are cleaner and more crisp. The new betting mode is a flop since it can only be used when you watch a race, and only first player can bet, and scores aren't cumulative or able to be saved. Tecmo has also given it a very Japanese game feeling with the addition of the completely unnecessary navigator girl. The only improvement is buying a horse in season mode, since you can now specify the charateristics you want. Congrats, Tecmo! This is the biggest system switch-over/sequel tragedy since Tecmo Bowl came to Playstation. Lesson learned: Avoid Tecmo sequels like horror film sequels.

'ehhhhh

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: October 18, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Well, I'm not sure about this one. I liked the first one on the PS1, so I figured I'd like this one. Well, I do but I don't. The breeding is pretty cool. Buy two horses and mate them, soon after, you'll have a new one with a combo stats of the parents. Very cool. But the controls! Ugh. I do not like them. I don't like the view, I don't like the way things blur instead of letting the hardware show off the horse pulling ahead, I just don't know about this game. I'm a fan of horse racing. I don't even want to start on Navigator Cindy. She's cute and all, but she needs to get a job somewhere else.

It's a good simulator, just not a great one. Feels thrown together to me, without much thought into a strategy.

Looking forward to this?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Ok - I was looking forward to this game - especially after reading some of the reviews - and yes, the game is addicting to some point. The graphics are great, horses are detailed. The sound is not super, but for those looking for a good Horse management/racing game, it's not a big deal.
On with the game - the 'Racing' part of the game is fun - but after a little while it loses it's fun factor. The game and manual really doesn't give you enough information about the different races and in particular how to win titles and what the GI, GII, GIII races all mean. I've been hunting for information on how to win these titles and what they are all about - but no luck.
I was really looking forward to the management side of the game - but I was not happy with the result. You have very little control over the management - you basically buy horses with points, select which races they will race in, decide when to rest them and you can also breed your horses to create unique ones. The horses have statistics of around 5 different categories... but really there is not enough information on them, and the statistics are in the form of a bar graph - so it's not obvious what the difference is between horses.
Overall it's a fun game - it would be good to have a multiplayer option in 'Season' mode - plus the ability to have more than 6 horses in your stable. I was also looking for more on the management side - Trainers, Training information, Stables, food, doctors, transportation to and from races - that kind of thing. Maybe I was hoping for to much from a playstation 2 game? better stick to PC games for that.

Quirky fun for horse lovers and others...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 16 / 16
Date: December 12, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Gallop Racer is a very quirky game and certainly shows its import roots. The horse names can be bizarre, the animated helper is amusingly out of place, and the translated text is stilted. But I found all of that strangeness sort of refreshing. It helps to embrace the Japanese roots of this game if you want to enjoy it. If you do, you'll be rewarded by an entertaining and deep horse racing simulation.

The game isn't any good for betting, and individual races can get old pretty soon if you have nothing riding on the outcome. The real entertainment in Gallop Racer comes from the career mode, which allows you to buy a stable of up to six horses and race them in various venues throughout the year. You're the owner, trainer, and jockey all in one, and the races take on an entirely different meaning when it's *your* earnings and *your* horses on the line in every race. The career mode can go on for years and years of game time, and you can retire your horses when they reach the right age, breed them, and continue the bloodline.

Whether you've bought your horses or bred them yourself, you can become very attached to them. And sometimes the gutsy underdog is even more memorable than the award-winning stakes champion! There's nothing that feels better than getting a lot more horse than you thought you paid for.

The graphics are pretty decent, with the excellent horse models being the definite standout. The horses come in many different colors and looks, and the horse animations convey a lot of personality.

It can be tough to get a hang of racing, but once you've mastered your jockey skills you can get fairly consistent results on a given horse. The manual could do a better job of explaining how to be a good jockey, but it isn't impossible to figure out.

Gallop Racer could be a lot more polished and it could be even deeper, but I really enjoyed racing my horses. If you've ever dreamed of owning and racing your own stable of thoroughbreds, this game is probably for you. I think most horse lovers will really enjoy the realism and personality of the Gallop Racer horses. Other gamers that enjoy gems in the rough may also enjoy Gallop Racer, but I think the career mode is a must for really enjoying the game.

This Game is The Best EVER

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: November 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Talk about AWSOME! This game has so many options! I brag by saying that I have every horse game ever produced, but this one is the best. I have mastered each of them, but this one still has me stumped! The only thing I would add would be a practice track so you could work out your horse, build your farm, picka trainer, etc. But, every race is different and a challenge. I'm not going to go on and on about the features of this game, you can visit the producers site to do that, but know that this game SO deservers a million stars!

Horses n games

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: March 16, 2002
Author: Amazon User

okay i am horse lover so i wanted a horse game, a rented gallop racers2001 for ps2 and the olsen game called winner's circle for ps1. for gallop racer i thought the graphics were really and i liked how you choose your jockey's silks. i found that after awile the game gets a little boring. i would give it three stars to buy it and four stars to rent it

A must have if you enjoyed the first Gallop Racer

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: August 26, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If you liked Gallop Racer for Playstation, you'll like this one also. I have to be honest in that the graphics and gameplay are pretty much the same, but the new betting option makes for more fun. If you like horse racing, you'll enjoy this game.

Down The Strech They Come

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: September 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

For all Horse fans this game is fantastic. For non Horse fans looking for a great fun game to enjoy with friends, this can't be beat.
Those familiar with the first US version, will feel right at home. The graphics are vastly upgraded, but the gameplay is virtually the same. It is more realistic, you need to pay attention to the horses statistics and ride him accordingly or else foget about winning the race. The horses are more competitive in the races then the last version.
The season mode has changed a bit, more detailed, you are able to order specific type horses which is a great thing, harder to build a winning stable, very challenging to win the races on a consistant basis, overall excellent design.
The VS mode is great for challenging your freinds, improved over the first version, harder to win, no Fast Navy to carry you through.
Bring your friends over and enjoy a night of gambling. It is only one person, but you get enough points to make multiple bets for all your friends.

All in all this version is an upgrade to the first, but it takes getting used to. You won't be winning the races with ease anymore unless you have a great ride, which adds to the gameplay. Too easy means too boring?

Highly addictive

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I got this game for Christmas and couldn't put it down for four hours. I love it the highest place I've gotten though is only 2nd. It is very challenging even on easy mode. Once you start playing it you can't stop untill it says GAME OVER. The only thing I don't like about it is how frustrating it is. but that's my problem so I find this game fun and highly addictive.

Galloping your heart away

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: January 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game is the coolest. If you love horses and don't ride or even have one well then get this game. It's almost like you have your very own horse 'cause you can breed them, race them ect. Anyway, this game is the best game with horses in it. I only wish that they would make more games for ps1 just like Gallop Racer 2001. Trust me if you want to get this game go right a head because it is worth the money!

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