Grand Prix 3

Hasbro Interactive £19.99 PC CD-ROM Out Now

This game requires the following:

Windows 95/98/98SE/ME
Pentium 233MHz or above (450MHz recommended)
8MB Direct3d compatible graphics card (16MB recommended)
32MB of RAM (64MB or better recommended)
400MB of hard disk space.

If you have ever played Grand Prix 2 you will pretty much know what Grand Prix 3 is like. This game/simulation was highly anticipated and it has to be said that it is just a tad disappointing. Plenty of reviews for this game have come to the conclusion that it should really be called Grand Prix 2½ and its not difficult to see why.

The data for the teams is from 1998 and the 3d engine that they have used looks about as good as you could expect in that same year. The menus are still too complicated and need too many mouse clicks in order to perform simple functions. If the game is unpatched then you may also have difficulty setting up your steering wheel.

As for the actual driving in the game, it still provides the best grip out of all the PC racers but there is an annoying habit the AI drivers have of knocking you off the track. The graphics are occasionally glitchy and you will be disappointed to see the same static pit crew that was in GP2.

Click pics for the full view

The one thing that makes Grand Prix 3 difficult for the deaf gamer is that to make quick laps you need the ability to be able to hear the tyres screeching so as you know you're pushing the car to its limits whilst cornering. It would have been useful if the game had a visual guide to this as without it is difficult to compete properly and can prove disappointing. All in all the game is not too bad but if you found Grand Prix 2 awkward or frustrating (due to no visual clues or indications) then the same will apply for Grand Prix 3.

Overall Game Rating: 4½/10 It has to said that GP3 ultimately fails to live up to the hype.

Quality of text: 4/10 Below par. You really need a visual clue of the tyres screeching.

Graphics: 5/10 Very average. You expect a lot better from a so called 'top title'

Interface: 3/10 Awkward to say the least.

Gameplay:6/10 If there had been visual clues for the tyres screeching it would have been 8/10.