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Worth the wait on XBOX... superior graphics, controls

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: June 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

It took me about an hour to get used to the handling of the game. The game moves so fast! The sense of speed is acute. The cars fly around the track impossibly close to each other. The XBOX graphics show the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in all its glory. I started out driving the car in chase camera mode. After a half hour, I switched to cockpit camera... what a rush! The game works terrific from the drivers seat; other racing games could learn a lot from Indy's cockpit mode. It really makes it much more personal when you can sit in the cockpit. The cockpit view works because your audible spotter is accurate and helpful. I learned to trust my spotter completely and he hasn't failed me yet. He'll shout out "High, High, Still There... Clear!"

This game works great on the XBOX with the Controller S. The triggers make for reactive gas and break pedals. The left thumbstick is the steering wheel, while the right thumbstick is the gear shifter. You use the A, B, X, Y buttons for the weight jacker (ability to balance out car handling during racing) and fuel-to-air ratio (like turbo boost).

This game has so much speed it feels like an arcade racer, but the realism makes it a nice console sim. You adjust the car for eight different mechanical components. You can plan you fuel strategy to beat the competition. Use yellow flags to break the pit window in your favor. Conserve fuel and save your equipment by drafting and running at lower revs. It really works, and you can sometimes outsmart the AI drivers with strategy.

Of course there are the crashes. The physics model is good though tweaked a little to bring more fantastic crashes. Cars flip, wings break off, tires and suspension smash in. If your engine or electronics are damaged in a crash you may be out of the race.

I've waited for this game for a long time, and now I can say I'm "Back Home Again in Indiana" driving the Indy 500.

IndyCar Series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This title is somewhat unique for Codemasters because of its previous efforts such as Colin McRae Rally and Pro Race Driver. After all, it's now entering a market full of Rally and GT racers. Because of this, it's hard to directly compare the game to that of any particular competitor, except the fact that IndyCar series is rather similar to NASCAR -- albeit faster and without all the paint swapping and helmet-throwing.

As it's titled IndyCar series, the game includes all the tracks and most of the drivers you'd find in the Indy Racing League (IRL). You won't find any road courses or street courses here. It's all ovals, and they are a subset of the same set of ovals you'll find in NASCAR titles. Of course, you'll find the Indy 500, in all its glory, with a full 33-car field and even the four lap-qualifying format and Bump Day.

However, there are parts in the game which need to be improved. The lack of USB wheel support and mirrors are two. The field of view from in-car is rather narrow, and I've observed some bizarre pitting strategy by the AI (such as not pitting until two laps after the pits are open during caution - if you're going to pit, you pit at the first available opportunity under caution). The fact that your crew chief doesn't ever seem to change his suggested pit strategy based upon your actual stops is another nuisance, but one you can safely ignore. Although the game itself doesn't break much new ground as a racing title, the fact is that what it DOES do, it does very well. Indy Racing is VERY well represented in this title.

Motorsportgaming would highly recommend this game to all racing fans, especially owners of the Nascar series. The gameplay is very believable with almost every real-life aspect of the sport reproduced for your pleasure. The challenge level is great, the dicing through traffic is adrenalin inducing.

EXACTLY WHAT IT SHOULD BE!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: July 01, 2003
Author: Amazon User

If you are an IndyCar series fan, an open wheel fan, or just an Indy 500 fan..get this game. Having been to the last 15 500's at the speedway, I longed for the day when I could take an IRL driver around the speedway! And the time is now. Graphics are good, gameplay is good and the AI is tough to beat. I own F1 2001 for the xbox, and this is AS GOOD as that title. Both are great games... GO HELIO!!

Pretty good, but certainly not great

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: October 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Overall, this is a pretty good game that can hold its own in the lineup of racing simulations. Of course, there isn't much competition on the xbox as far as recing games go that simulate an actual racing series (as opposed to Project Gotham's action racing style).

However, there are a number of disappointments that come along with this game. For one, the graphics are OK, but not great by any stretch. Probably a straight PS2 port. You won't mistake what you see in-game with the videos you see during the intro.

For some reason, the game also has a feeling that isn't quite right. It feels more like you are driving a remote controlled car, than sitting inside the car. One could argue that this is a problem many racing games share, but that doesn't make it any better. (Perhaps it also has to do with the particular steering wheel I use...). I am always amazed how hard it sometimes is in these games to go in a straight line.

BTW: I saw that some other review complained about a missing damage model. This is actually incorrect. There is a damage system. My fellow reviewer should probably stop racing on the easiest difficulty setting... ;-)

Overall, it seems that none of the racing games really live up to their promise. It certainly seems like the presentation of racing games could be done a LOT better these days...

IndyCar Racing is excellent simulation

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 11, 2006
Author: Amazon User

The IndyCar Racing game is an excellent racing simulation game. Both this version and the newer IndyCar Series 2005 provide very realistic simulations. If you enjoy racing games. check it out!

Don't even bother

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 11
Date: July 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This game isn't realisitic at all. When the cars crash no significant damage takes place just some small pieces fly off but that's about all.

The spotters voice is so dull and doesn't even sound human. It sounds like a robot. If you are looking for a good open wheel sim then don't get this game. If you are looking for an arcade style game then you'll probably like it.

If you want a realistic and fun race car game and you like turning left then NASCAR Thunder is a good game to get. Heck they even throw in a couple of road courses to make it interesting. This game can't even make that claim.

I just wish they would come out more open wheel racing games for The X-Box like some Formula One games. Unfortanately Sony has exlusive rights to featuring F1 games on PS 2.

The one thing that is realistic: Small crowds at each track!!

horrible

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 12
Date: July 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

First off this is Teresas' son Chris. This game is just horrible. The graphics are terrible. Unfortantly nothing eles the game as to offer is any better. I have F1 2001 and it is a far better game then this. Even if you are and IRL fan whcih I am not you won't like this game. I mean how can you make a good game that is based apon the worst racing series in the world. If you wanna go make lefts all day buy a NASCAR game and skip the road races. As for me I'll wait till the next F1 game which I hope comes soon, or even better yet a CART that that I am waiting for...

indy "out of their league" racing

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: May 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Of all the racing games I own for xbox, this is one of the worst.
The graphics are chopping and not realistic looking. The cars don't handle smoothly and really don't convey a sense of realism. The accidents are very tame by racing standards. (not much damage shown).

My favorite is when you pit and they need to do extensive work on the car. It looks like one of members of the pit crew is performing a "massage" on the brake cylinder. LOL..I didn't know that 'magic' hands could do such wonders!

Overall, a sad effort for a racing game.

Very poor game

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: November 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Go 15 years behind to get an idea of the graphic quality,
The game itself is boring, deadly boring.
waste of money if you want to have fun.

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