Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Street Racing Syndicate

Written by Adam Woolcott on May 02, 2003

First Impressions: Auto racing meetsЕdating simulators?

Ever since Vin Diesel became the latest Hollywood action hero thanks to his part in the 2001 theatrical hit, The Fast and the Furious, game developers have tried to emulate the street racing theme to capitalize on the now-popular racing subgenre of street racing. Some games, such as Burnout 2 employ a special Custom series for racing in tricked-out rice rockets, while game series like Midnight Club (which, for facts' sake, was originally released in 2000 for the PlayStation 2, prior to the FatF craze) were flat out competitive street racers, taking to busy cities such as New York and London. With that in mind, troubled developer/publisher 3DO is doing their part in this phenomenon, with Street Racing Syndicate. Thankfully, 3DO isn't just releasing a cookie cutter street racer that's all bark and no bite - instead, along with developer Eutechnyx (who are responsible for the PlayStation and PC versions of LeMans 24 Hours, and the upcoming Big Mutha Truckers), SRS is sliding some unique, yet oddly placed elements that help the game stand out. We'll know for sure in late June when SRS is released, but at the moment there's a good chance this one will end up being a lot better than you might expect.

The main aspect of Street Racing Syndicate will naturally be a Career mode, complete with regular street races (both legal, sanctioned races, and illegal races) and the special, standard drag races Ц and upon first glance, it's pretty original in terms of style and design. When you start off, you'll be asked to create a character, which you'll play as throughout the game. From there, you get to pick from one of three cities that SRS takes place in Ц these being Miami (insert Vice City joke here), Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. Like a racing simulation, SRS has you upgrade your car with engine parts and such; as well as a customizing system a la the Tokyo Xtreme Racer series, letting you add crazy stuff like different spoiler types or pretty decals.

Where SRS starts taking a turn for the unique is the different prizes and ways of progressing Ц sometimes you'll win the opposing car itself (known as a Уpink slipФ), or win the female companion of your opponent. Using humans as collateral Ц only in America (and since it was developed there, the UK). Women play a huge part in SRS, as they appear pretty much all over, and you can gain and lose girlfriends throughout the game Ц bring dating simulations to racing games. An odd mix, to be sure. Anyway, you also get some email from the ladies, giving out tips or encouragement or whateverЕemphasis on whatever. The fake Internet built in lets you see upcoming races, standings, or buying brand new parts to use to trick out your car.

Eutechnyx is trying very hard to create a realistic racing experience despite the oddball Career mode, and so far it looks good. Besides the great looking visuals that rank up with Burnout 2 and NFS Hot Pursuit 2 as some of the finest racing visuals this side of Gran Turismo 3, thanks to incredibly detailed car models (most, if not all are real, licensed rides), that not only look real, but take damage realistically, creating the element of fear of smashing the crap out of your car, which many other racers forget about Ц it's double the pressure in a racer such as this.

It's not just that though, as Street Racing Syndicate's attempt is also to create realistic, accurate physics for the actual cars Ц none of that silly unrealistic slipping and sliding; instead you'll have to rely on skill instead of dumb tricks. Mix in the damage models and you get a game that hopefully will play as good as it looks. Given that real cars are included (such as a Toyota Celica, a popular, inexpensive choice for a street racer), this becomes even more important and under the microscope.