SRS comes off looking and feeling like the cheaper, uglier cousin to the Need for Speed Underground series.
When I picked up this box in the store, I was generally sold on the graphics and the models. There. I admit it.
And if I could base my critique solely on the models, well, the game would rate a minimum of a 9\10.
Sadly, that is just not the case.
The story line is extremely weak. While most would say that storyline is not essential to a game dealing with street racing, I say that if you’re going to have one, put some effort into it. Often one feels as if they are only doing something because that’s what the games says you must do…which is usually precisely WHY you feel like that.
Graphics are actually a lovely part of this game. Good lighting, smooth transition, and the glare effects are absolutely phenomenal. Sadly, that is about the most positive this review gets.
Except for the models. More on that later.
The cars that are used in the game are also pretty neat. Some I’ve never seen or heard of, but all of them are well rendered.
Sounds in the game are exceptionally poor. Your engine often sounds like nothing more than an annoying mosquito. A really BIG mosquito, with a large attitude. And the soundtrack is even worse. Uninspiring tracks that are too short and far too repetitive. After your fourth race you’re driving around a race track with this small voice in your head going, “Well, we’ve heard this before…”
The handling of the game is also extremely poor. More often than not I felt as if I was trying to manipulate a matchbox around a series of square turns. If you have to play this game for some unmentionable sin, I do not recommend you attack driving with a keyboard. Touching the keys seems to make the car leap across the road at the nearest object or wall on your desired side. Unless you’re on open road. Oh then it does nothing.
Finally, we come to the models. The game has something akin to a rewards system here. By completing certain challenges (all of which are relatively challenging given your sports car handles like a delivery van) you unlock and win girlfriends. Girls will only go for guys with max reputation, so stylish driving and race winning are essential. Most of these models are very good looking and their reward videos are rather fun. Nothing exciting enough to mist up your windshield, but at least they got that right. In the end I was playing merely to see what my next girlfriend looked like.
How sad is that?
And, I might add, the only point to this game.
In short Street Racing Syndicate comes off looking and feeling like the cheaper, uglier cousin to the Need for Speed Underground Series. Despite some good ideas (damage modeling, girlfriend videos) overall it fails to deliver on too wide a spectrum to be worth much notice.