Monaco Grand Prix (video game)

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Monaco Grand Prix
Monaco Grand Prix Coverart.png
Developer(s)Ubi Soft Paris
Publisher(s)Ubi Soft
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, PlayStation
Release
1998
  • Windows
    PlayStation
    • NA: June 30, 1999
    • PAL: July 1999
    Nintendo 64
    • PAL: June 1999
    • NA: September 1999
    Dreamcast
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Monaco Grand Prix: Racing Simulation 2, also known as just Monaco Grand Prix, is a Formula one racing game for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and Dreamcast. It was released in 1998-1999. The game is based on the Formula One World Championship, but does not have the licence to use drivers names, official cars, etc. (the licence was held by at the time, who made F-1 World Grand Prix and F-1 World Grand Prix II). The game does however have a licence to use Formula One's official sponsors; Schweppes and Castrol among others, helping add to the authenticity of the game. The game is unrelated to Sega's Monaco GP series.

The sequel to F1 Racing Simulation, it features 17 authentic tracks, 11 teams and cars with their 22 drivers. The Monaco license is used, although the teams themselves are not licensed. A total of 22 camera views are provided. Telemetry is stored and analysed in a similar way to Grand Prix 2, and physics are modeled to be realistic. There are eight different modes to race, the new ones being a career mode in which the player starts with a poor team and must drive well enough to earn competitive rides, and scenarios recreating key races for particular drivers. Returning from the first game are Time Attack, a full championship, and a 1950s retro mode. There is also a track editor for the players to create their own tracks.

Reception[]

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms except the Dreamcast version, which received "average" reviews, according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[3][4][5][6] PC Gamer gave the PC version universal acclaim, while PC Accelerator gave it a favorable review, months before its U.S. release.[32][33] An unnamed reviewer of Next Generation said of the N64 version in its July 1999 issue: "With 16 tracks, 22 cars onscreen at the same time, two-player split-screen racing, excellent graphics, detailed physics, and great gameplay, it's a hard title to stop playing."[29] Four issues later, however, Chris Carla of the same magazine (now labeled NextGen) said of the Dreamcast version: "If you've got a Dreamcast and [you] want GP racing, this isn't bad, but we'd much rather play Ubi's Speed Devils instead."[28] In Japan, where the same Dreamcast version was ported for release on March 11, 1999, followed by the PlayStation version on September 30, Famitsu gave it a score of 31 out of 40 for the former,[34] and 26 out of 40 for the latter.[35]

Pete Wilton of Official UK PlayStation Magazine gave the PlayStation version seven out of ten: "Despite minor annoyances (where's the commentary?) and unrealistic arcade looks, Monaco GP is certainly better than the disappointing F1 '98. The trouble is, some 18 months on, it still can't best F1 '97. It seems like the racing leegends of yesteryear still take some beating."[36] Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the PC version four-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "a great simulation—arguably the best on the market. Its combination of accurate driving model, gorgeous graphics, and solid multiplayer make it the best—modern day—open wheel racing simulation around."[37] Edge gave the same PC version a score of seven out of ten in its December 1998 issue, saying that despite the issues, the game "proves one of the most comptent and technical recreations of modern F1 currently available."[38] Seven issues later, the same magazine gave the Japanese Dreamcast import six out of ten, calling it "a proficient, F1 simulation title with a respectable set of handling dynamics. It's just that things have moved on a little since its original appearance six months ago, and this version is therefore unable to match its predecessor's impact. Some genuine enhancements -- rather than a seemingly straightforward port -- would have been welcome."[39]

AllGame gave the Dreamcast, PC and PlayStation versions each three stars out of five, with Brad Cook saying of the Dreamcast version: "I have to give this game a higher rating than I thought I would simply because I know it will appeal to its intended audience. Just stay away if you want Arcade-style action";[40] Michael L. House saying that the PC version "crosses the finish line in fairly good shape. I'm a firm believer that all games don't necessarily have to fit exclusively in a restrictive "either/or" category but can fill niches in a sliding scale of desirability. Just as those gamers who do themselves an injustice by adamantly shouting there is only one viable golf simulation because of a strict, narrow mindset, so to[o] will racing fans unwilling to experience alternatives in the Formula 1 racing genre";[41] and Jonathan Sutyak saying of the PlayStation version: "While Monaco Grand Prix more than passes from a technical standpoint, there are a few things excluded that keep it from being a classic."[42]

Jes Bickham of N64 Magazine gave the N64 version 87% in his early review, calling it "a rattlingly good game."[43] Cam Shea of Hyper gave it 83% in his early review, calling it "a semi-sim that would make a good introduction for F1 fans intimidated by steep learning curves."[44] Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, and Nintendo Power gave the European version average reviews, months before its U.S. release date.[9][17][30]

The PC version was a runner-up for Computer Games Strategy Plus' 1999 "Racing Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went to Dirt Track Racing. Its staff wrote: "Superb graphics and excellent vehicle physics are the hallmark of the latest installment in this excellent series."[45]

Trivia[]

  • Ubisoft did not have the official FIA license. Therefore they licensed only the Monaco track and named the game after it. All other F1 tracks are also included, but using different names.
  • In the United Kingdom, the title is Racing Simulation: Monaco Grand Prix.
  • In Germany, the game is just known as Racing Simulation 2 and has a different cover.

References[]

  1. ^ IGN staff (May 21, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Ships". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Langan, Matthew (September 3, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (DC Preview)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Monaco Grand Prix for Dreamcast". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Monaco Grand Prix for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 for PC". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 20, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Monaco Grand Prix for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 2, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  7. ^ Goble, Gordon (May 1999). "Formula for Success (Monaco Grand Prix [Racing Simulation 2] Review)" (PDF). Computer Gaming World. No. 178. Ziff Davis. pp. 158–59. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  8. ^ EGM staff (November 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (DC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 124. Ziff Davis.
  9. ^ a b EGM staff (July 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 120. Ziff Davis. p. 126. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  10. ^ "Monaco Grand Prix (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Ziff Davis. 1999.
  11. ^ Bramwell, Tom (January 13, 2000). "Monaco Grand Prix (DC)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on August 16, 2000. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  12. ^ McNamara, Andy (October 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix - Dreamcast". Game Informer. No. 78. Funcoland. Archived from the original on December 2, 2000. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  13. ^ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Chau, Anthony "Dangohead" (November 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (DC)". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 11. Shinno Media. pp. 98, 100. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  14. ^ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino" (June 1999). "Monaco GP [sic] (PS)". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 6. Shinno Media. p. 72. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  15. ^ iBot (1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 14, 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
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  17. ^ a b Vicious Sid (June 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (N64)". GamePro. No. 129. IDG Entertainment. p. 113. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
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  19. ^ Boba Fatt (June 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (PS)". GamePro. No. 129. IDG Entertainment. p. 113.
  20. ^ Taruc, Nelson (September 22, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Review (DC)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  21. ^ Taruc, Nelson (April 19, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Review (N64)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  22. ^ Taurc, Nelson (July 26, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Review (PS)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  23. ^ Ares (October 13, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix". PlanetDreamcast. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  24. ^ Blache III, Fabian (September 8, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix 2 [sic] (DC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  25. ^ Schneider, Peer (October 18, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (N64)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  26. ^ Butts, Steve (June 8, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  27. ^ Harris, Craig (July 15, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  28. ^ a b Charla, Chris (November 1999). "Monaco GP [sic] (DC)". NextGen. No. 59. Imagine Media. p. 115. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Monaco Grand Prix: Racing Simulation 2 [sic] (N64)". Next Generation. No. 55. Imagine Media. July 1999. p. 97. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Monaco Grand Prix". Nintendo Power. Vol. 121. Nintendo of America. June 1999. p. 110. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
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  32. ^ a b Mahood, Andy (January 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation [2]". PC Accelerator. No. 5. Imagine Media. p. 91. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2". PC Gamer. Vol. 6, no. 3. Imagine Media. March 1999.
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  35. ^ "モナコ グランプリ レーシングシミュレーション2 [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  36. ^ Wilton, Pete (April 1999). "Racing Simulation Monaco Grand Prix". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 44. Future Publishing. pp. 90–91. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  37. ^ Walker, Mark H. (May 30, 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2". Computer Games Strategy Plus. Strategy Plus, Inc. Archived from the original on July 2, 2003. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  38. ^ Edge staff (December 1998). "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Stimulation 2 (PC)". Edge. No. 65. Future Publishing. p. 91. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  39. ^ Edge staff (June 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Stimulation 2 (DC) [Import]". Edge. No. 72. Future Publishing. p. 91. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  40. ^ Cook, Brad. "Monaco Grand Prix (DC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  41. ^ House, Michael L. "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 (PC) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  42. ^ Sutyak, Jonathan. "Monaco Grand Prix (PS) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  43. ^ Bicham, Jes (April 1999). "Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2". N64 Magazine. No. 27. Future Publishing. pp. 68–71.
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