Ford Bold Moves Street Racing
Riddled with pitfalls from the very beginning, this arcade racing affair is little more than a Ford commercial that you pay for. The funny part is that this will not make you want to drive any of the cars presented here. In many cases you're better off going to a dealership and taking a test drive rather than getting behind the wheel here.
Gameplay:
I'm all for a good racing game. There's something about taking to the streets and outperforming other drivers that gets the blood pumping. Whether it's Need for Speed, Burnout or Ridge Racer there's something about these games that is endearing not only to me, but to gamers in general. Because of the popularity of the genre it shouldn't be surprising that budgeted installments arrive every now and then. It also shouldn't be surprising that each of these endeavors deserve to be passed like that old lady on the highway.
Right away Ford Bold Moves Street Racing showcases its straightforward simplicity with standard modes ripe for the picking. For starters there is a Quick Race Mode available if you want to get right into the action without much form of commitment. Beyond that, if you have a buddy over, you could always tackle the Multiplayer Mode for a little bit of split screen racing. For those of you with a Network Adapter; sorry chaps, there's no online support here. The main draw for this game as far as gaming modes is concerned easily includes the Team and Solo racing features.
In Team Racing you team up with some AI partners to form a racing unit and use your winnings to repair cars and buy some new ones. This actually proves somewhat satisfying but in no means outdoes what some of the bigger racing titles have done in the past. The thing I enjoyed most about Team Racing though was the fact that you could swap between teammates on the fly.
While it's not quite comparable to the Battlefield series, the concept is vaguely similar. By pressing the directional pad you can swap autos and take over for that driver in order to set things up for a big win. The better each of your teammates finish, the bigger your winnings become so employing some strategy is a big key to success. There is also a drafting feature that you can use with your teammates to help garner an advantage that will in most cases defeat the opposing team.
In Solo Racing the concept is comparable to the Quick Race or Team Racing, without the team aspects. It's basically just you against the CPU with a few options in between to play around with. My personal favorite was Overtake where your goal is to overtake as many opponents as possible within a specified time limit.
In each of these modes, no matter how mildly interesting they might be, the same gameplay and AI issues plague them to no end. Driving a car; any car, reveals stability issues and problems with hit detection. No matter how fast you are driving the slightest ding or turn makes you fishtail beyond reason. It often feels like you're driving on a sheet of ice even though you are in fact cruising through a sunny cityscape. The slightest bump from another car will send you careening to your doom and force you to lose that spot you've been angling for.
Be prepared to be knocked around beyond reason too because the AI is cheap to the point that they will do anything possible to knock you out of the race. I lost count how many times I would be nicked from behind only to find myself planting face against a nearby wall; and there wasn't much I could do about it. Of course whenever you try to do the same thing to an opponent it's like you're a Ford Tempo trying to take down a Sherman Tank. It's unfair to say the least but gets annoying to the point that it makes the game no fun. Don't even get me started on friendly AI. I found myself being creamed by them as much as by the enemy racers.
Environmental hit detection is another funny area in this game. I found myself numerous times driving right through a telephone pole like it wasn't even there. Other times the slightest touch of a bed of grass was enough to bring my car to a screeching halt. It's difficult to predict what is going to stop you and what isn't but at least if you hit a wall you know you're going to get crunched.
For what it is, Ford Bold Moves Street Racing does what it sets out to do; offer a racing game for a budget price. I didn't say it was a good racing game and to be fair $20 on today's market is still too much for a glorified car commercial. The racing mechanics are light at best and even though some of the modes are promising, they are weighed down by some shoddy systems.
Graphics:
Budget titles are not only known for their poor gameplay, they are renowned for having sub par graphics as well. Ford Bold Moves Street Racing is generic looking from start to finish with no features that add any life to any facet of this game. The environments lack detail and are repetitive; the car models are basically the same way. The one feather in this game's cap is the fact that damage appears on car models after a crash or two. Granted it's only superficial and it never gets to the point where it's impressive, but the fact that some degree of suffering is shown adds some personality to the game.
Audio:
I have a feeling that Ford Bold Moves Street Racing borrowed its selection of sound from a used parts store. The engines all sound humdrum, the music is the pits and when you get right down to it listening to a race gives flashbacks to PlayStation One era racing games. If this is what it sounds like to drive a Ford you can count me out.
Conclusion:
Admittedly there are a couple of things that this game gets right. Some of the modes offer better than average features and a couple of the options to explore are interesting. Beyond those two saving graces Ford Bold Moves Street Racing is a below average title that will be finding its way into bargain bins in no time. Clunky gameplay and cheap AI don't make for a fun experience. A bland presentation doesn't help soften the blow either. In short, just don't bother with this game and save your money.