No one dies in a Volvo
Well, it’s a new feature to our website and it’s probably one that you’ll appreciate. Free GOTM or for those that like the long description, free game of the month. Each month we’ll deliver you our favourite game each month that is free and I’ll be encouraging all of our staff members to do the same, for each month with a little review to go alongside it, coupled with a download link to the full game. So, how did I stumble across this month’s selection? Well, my thanks will have to go to Paradox Interactive (Majesty 2) for the Gamers Gate press account to find that it was listed in our free games section. Luckily, you won’t have to register an account at Gamers Gate although I must say it’s nice not having to mandatory install clunky software to get a game legitimately.
Volvo racing is developed by Simbin, the famous developer behind PC’s favourite racing series Race and GTR. Simbin have an absolutely polished reputation in the racing simulation scene and Volvo racing although meant to be a marketing effort from Volvo, actually turns into a darn good game, unlike Toyota’s Yaris game on XBLA which is nothing more than a downright sin, in fact I would rather be raped by a pair of scissors than play that game again. Simulation and Physics feel right in this game and although the game has the visual polish of games from three years back, it still stands up as a quality racer. In fact, it’s one of the first games I’ve really felt that the carbon fibre shell on the car had movement whilst going over the apex.
The game does only have two tracks, The Eco Drive Arena in Sweden and the Chayka track in Ukraine. The Eco Drive arena is certainly the more technical track to race, but Chayka feels allot more interesting as it isn’t set in a clunky industrial grey landscape. Now, the game does have several different modes to it, nothing much but race and time attack mode are suitable. There is also an online competition mode but unfortunately this doesn’t mean racing online against each other. Instead it’s a time attack mode for racing line supremacy. It’s a bit of a shame that there wasn’t full online multiplayer but it’s free for god sake. Volvo Racing was a real surprise, I had a horrible feeling that it was going to be nothing more than an elaborate marketing stunt, but the level of detail surprised me. There are various camera angles and a few iconic cars from the Volvo series that you can select too. There’s the ugly Volvo X60 concept and the classic Volvo 240 Turbo A to name just two.
Does the game sound good? Yeah, it does. It has all the bangs and whistles of a racer that will satisfy the petrol head and when you add in three difficulty modes, you’ll also find that the game also accommodates for simulation veterans and novices alike. The game hits around 600meg in size, but it’s worth it, even if you are on a broadband usage allowance. The in game advertising is subtle and not over powering and all in all it’s a good round racing game that lacks the gusto of full titles but is certainly appealing to those that like something for nothing.
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