The concept of enthusiast racing games seems counterintuitive. On one hand, their appeal is inherently limited in that they focus on a specific type or brand of vehicle. But on the other hand, building a game around a strong or identifiable brand is an easy way to distinguish it from the hundreds of other racing games that crowd store shelves. More often than not, this type of game often ends up feeling like a cheap marketing ploy, like something you'd get for free with the purchase of a new set of tires. Sure, Beetle Adventure Racing was great, but it's the exception that proves the rule when it comes to the generally poor quality of brand-specific racing games. And Alfa Romeo Racing Italiano, the latest such game from Valcon Games, is no Beetle Adventure Racing.
Strap on your plus-three gloves of acceleration and hit the road in Alfa Romeo Racing Italiano.
As the title implies, this is a racing game focused entirely on vehicles from Alfa Romeo. There are 25 cars in the game, from the Alfa 147 to the 8c Competizione. The variety of cars is limited, though, as many of the 25 cars are just different versions of the same model. For example, one model will have a standard version, a racing version with some decals, and a pro version with different decals and maybe a fancy spoiler. Considering that Gran Turismo 4 has almost as many Alfa Romeos in its roster--in addition to several hundred other cars--it's difficult to get excited about the selection of cars in this game.
The underwhelming vehicle selection is compounded by the fact that the cars look pretty ugly. The vehicle models are accurate enough, and they deform nicely as you crash, but they're jagged around the edges and there's very little to distinguish one car from another. All of the standard models come in one or two plain, unnaturally glossy colors, and as you race, you'll face seven carbon copies of your own vehicle. There are lots of reflective effects on the cars, but they don't quite transition in time with the lighting changes on the course, which often results in an odd flickering effect on the surface of the cars. That said, the vehicles are still the best-looking part of the game.
There are more than 20 courses in the game, taking place on 11 different tracks. Most tracks have both a short course and a full course, so while there are technically 21 different courses to race, you'll still end up seeing the same scenery over and over again. Tracks include real-world raceways such as Laguna Seca and Donnington Park, as well as a couple circuits that have you driving on narrow city streets and winding country highways. As pleasant as that may sound, the courses don't look good at all. They all have grainy, low-res backgrounds that look horribly dated, like something out of the PlayStation era of racing games.
The physics are no better than the aesthetics in Racing Italiano. The handling of the vehicles is skewed toward the arcade style of racing, with powerslides galore and a limited need for brakes. Many of the vehicles do feel appropriately heavy and sluggish, but they still manage to make impossible turns with ease. The handling becomes even more unrealistic when you level up your handling skill.
