Review: G1 Jockey 4 2008 (PS3)
With our previous form including G1 Jockey Wii, it is a fair to say Gamestyle is no mere novice in this genre. Another fair assessment is to state that not much has changed with the story mode, arguably the main attraction in G1 Jockey 4 2008. In fact the vast majority of content has simply been ported across with little regard for the capabilities of the PlayStation 3.
Just like the opening segment in G1 Jockey Wii, you are on the verge of graduating from Jockey School, with only a few races left to overcome. Once in the real racing world, it’s up to you to negotiate for racing rides via stable owners. Each successful tender in such instances is influenced by your rank and win record. Winning and form are everything here. This partially comes from being very selective and judging the horses on offer, against the course and distance you’ll be racing on. Tactical deployment is a vital ingredient to success; so don’t eagerly jump on the first donkey that passes by. This is after all, your career.
A flaw with G1 Jockey 4 is that even on its easiest difficulty setting, you are still expected to be proficient with control system and onscreen hub. This is one of the most complex systems Gamestyle can recall, as each particular move is almost critical to success. For instance you’ll need to become an expert with the start and what’s called ‘driving’, to even entertain the possibility of a decent finish. Add into the mix several additional moves to motivate and encourage your horse, being aware of several dials and meter levels on display at the same time (and their relevance to your situation), results in a huge range of variables. Balancing these requirements along with the critical element of timing means that G1 Jockey 4 is a difficult experience and at times a frustratingly dull one.
There are three types of control with each focusing on the analogue sticks, D-Pad and face buttons or the motion sensitive aspects of the SIXAXIS controller. All fail to improve the accessibility of the title to new players as the game is slanted towards simulation. The less said about the motion sensitive effort the better, those expecting a fun Wii experience here will be sadly let down.
KOEI to their credit have incorporated a training function easily accessible via the stables, trainers will provide feedback after each race and the local press will also chip in. Even with help being on hand, a more fluid hub and less reliance on statistics would have been beneficial. Certainly some players will find these key attractions to the experience, but on the easiest of settings several could have been removed. Instead of slowly introducing such features, the majority are thrown at you from the off. And as your track record is important, quite often long term damage is done initially, despite a glowing satisfaction when you win every race. Perhaps a longer stint in Jockey School, or at least the option to do so would have been welcome. Instead you’re pushed out the door within moments of starting the game.
The presentation is distinctive of all KOEI titles, using cut out characters and text to drive the rivalry between graduates, banter from the press and meetings with stable owners. While such a method was only just acceptable on the PlayStation 2 and arguably the Nintendo Wii, things should have been revamped for this system. One of our criticisms of KOEI developed titles over the past few years (which doesn’t include Persona 3) is their failure to harness of the potential of each host. G1 Jockey 2008 does not manage to buck this trend at all, failing to show any real graphical flair or utilisation of the most basic of exclusive features such as the PS3 trophies.
G1 Jockey 4 2008 incorporates flat and jumping races, outside the main story mode you can engage in quick races or view saved replays. There is a great deal of customisation available with regards to horses and jockeys, but these cannot camouflage the lack of modes. Having played Facebreaker online recently with great success or even NHL 09, surely the time for online horse racing is long overdue?
At the end of the day, this title is an easy target for criticism. Failing to achieve any resemblance of adapting to the PS3, a niche release and a steep learning curve with added difficulty concerning the controls. Yet there is a certain appeal to this distinctive experience, one that has a great deal of depth and no doubt entertainment for those who find themselves down the bookies on regular occasions. Apart from the Grand National, Gamestyle avoids betting of any kind, G1 Jockey 4 2008 may not be our idea of a thoroughbred game, though undoubtedly there is a market for it.
Rating: 5 / 10
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