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Corvette Evolution GT Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

Corvette Evolution GT Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

Guaranteed to drive you around the Benz

Corvette Evolution GT for the DS has a lot going for it – unfortunately a lot of it is going south. As a racing game it’s got a lot of potential, but one shouldn’t be expected to pay hard-earned cash for potential. What makes this frustrating is that we can clearly see how good this game could be. The vehicles look good, the tracks are nicely laid out, and the controls are responsive and tight. There is even a four-player racing mode that only requires one copy of the game.

Corvette Evolution GT screenshot

So what’s the problem, you ask? It’s filled with flaws and an overall lack of depth. There’s little here to interest any racing fan beyond an hour or so. Don’t confuse the DS Corvette Evolution GT game with the PS2 version. These are two different animals. As far as handheld games go, this one should have been relegated to the PSP. We do make exceptions for games to be dumbed-down to a certain extent when being converted to a handheld system such as the DS, but in all reality, this game should have been renamed since it’s so different from the console version.

The hype will have you believe that you can simulate a career in the world of racing. Earn more money, as well as faster and better cars, as you become a force to be reckoned with on the racing circuit. Challenges increase to match your ever-developing skill level. And babes galore… etc…etc…

Corvette Evolution GT screenshot

The truth is that the closest thing that Corvette Evolution GT simulates is an arcade racer, and an average one at that. For reasons I’ll explain later, the multiplayer mode is far superior to the single-player mode, but still not worth the price of admission. Rental, yes.

In the single-player mode you’ll be forced to use specific vehicles for each race. There are some nice cars to unlock such as the Bugatti EB110 in addition to other vehicles by Mercedes and Volkswagen. There are no customizing options, and each vehicle is similar in responsiveness, although you can notice a slight increase in acceleration and top end speed. At the onset, the races are actually very easy. The speed and relative precise handling of the vehicles make short work of the lenient tracks. The challenge comes from the A.I., which seems to behave in a hive mentally as they band together to prevent you from getting in line. The A.I. basically gang up on you as they line up in formation, often preventing you from moving into the pack, never mind to the head of it. This unfair A.I. is what the developers believe substitutes for a challenge. An increase in difficulty is nothing more than the A.I. acting more unfair. They even get back on the track faster after an accident. You’ll have to contend with riding on their coattails, waiting for one of them to get bumped out of position. Even then you’ll have to move fast before that vehicle returns to take its place in line.

Corvette Evolution GT screenshot

As you progress, the A.I. starts to give you the gears. It wouldn’t be so bad if you could actually fight back as in the console version, but instead you almost always find yourself on the defensive. Later in the game you can actually use this pack mentality to your advantage as they begin to take on each other, causing various accidents and generally slowing down all of the A.I. Just find an opening, shoot through it, and you won’t have much of a problem maintaining your lead. It’s one way to win, but it doesn’t feel as though you’ve accomplished much. You may have outsmarted the programming, but you didn’t beat the game by skill.

Corvette Evolution GT screenshot

Not all is bad news on the Corvette Evolution GT front. While the game is certainly playable, I’m upset about how average the overall presentation and gameplay is. This game could have been a lot more than what it is. The four-player multiplayer mode gives us a glimpse into how good this game could be if only the A.I. were more realistic. Playing with two other players, I was impressed by how much more fun the game was when the only thing you have to rely on is your skill or the lack thereof of your competitors. In this mode you will appreciate the tight control system and large track design.

Other flaws manifest themselves in the technical aspects of the game, most notably the graphics. For the most part the 3D engine does run smoothly, but overall there is a lack of refinement. Pop up and draw distance are commonplace. Sometimes vehicles will disappear from the screen altogether. The tracks are well designed, representing European settings such as the Italian countryside or the city of Berlin. They have good detail and a fair amount of depth.. Licensed cars include GMs, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Volkswagen, and Bugatti. The less they move, the nicer they look. As soon as a number of vehicles appear onscreen at the same time, the resolution drops. The cars lose their luster.

The sound effects are decent, but the music is retro, cheesy 80s rock that repeats ad nauseam. If the developers could get a dozen cars licensed for this game, I’m sure they could have secured the rights to a decent soundtrack. But maybe they figured that not too many people would play this game to the bitter end.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 2.4 Graphics
Unpolished and unrefined. The more action onscreen, the more problems manifest. 3.5 Control
Good solid control system. Simple but effective. 3.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Good sound effects, music is weak and repetitive. 2.3

Play Value
Generic arcade racer. Unfair A.I. is frustrating.

2.5 Overall Rating – Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • 12 cars from the hottest manufacturers.
  • 8 diverse tracks set throughout Europe.
  • Up to four players plus four A.I. opponents in wireless Multi-Card or Single-Card play.
  • Four-stage career mode, Quick Race mode, and Time Trial mode.
  • Fastest lap records and multi-player statistics help track your skill as a racer.

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