Posted by boyo on Aug 22, 2010 20:59 (Aug 22, 2010 20:59)
When you consider how far games could go in terms of simulation in the 16 bit era, you have to admire the efforts made on Indianapolis 500. EA gave the Amiga one of its few major attempts at being as realistic as possible to a proper track day, with Geoff Crammond’s Microprose Grand Prix available as the main competition, but tough competition nonetheless.
This was basically the 90’s equivalent of Forza or Gran Turismo. Tyre choices and pressures, camber, fuel and so on all had to be meticulously fiddled with to ensure you could get the most out of your vehicle to cross that line first and win the most prestigious race in American racing. It also impressed with a nicely smooth frame rate and sharp three dimensional visuals, but we were talking about the unofficial end of the gaming road for the Commodore, as it was a 1995 release, just as the Playstation was ready to pounce.
It played really well and was a heck of a lot of fun, but the only problem was that the ovals were really all you had to race round, so if you fancied some variety in your races then this may not have been a great choice for you, with the GP or Stunt Car Racer games being more suitable, but if you were wanting something as close to realistic as you were likely to get for the time and with some really impressive graphics, Indy 500 certainly delivered.
Nowadays, especially with the racing masters of code grabbing their helmets for the F1 2010 game to release soon, there will never really be a comeback for this one I wouldn’t think, but it can look back at time well served as a racer’s racing game.
