GP 500

Release Date: November 30, 1999

Racing, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet, LAN

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Realistic motorcycle racing, whose main asset is the official license of the 500cm3 class Motorbike World Championship. The authors of "GP 500" purchased a license covering the 1998 season, so that the racers, teams and tracks are fully in line with reality. It is worth mentioning that the player is not limited to choosing one of the real drivers and can create their own character from scratch. The races are held on one of the fourteen tracks, including facilities in Japan, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Australia.

Because the "GP 500" was created in Microprose studios, we are dealing here with an extremely realistic simulation. Like the "Formula One Grand Prix" series, the player can turn on a number of features, although the product has been clearly targeted at more experienced people. For the first time in the "GP 500" it is also necessary to use the brakes (front/rear) separately. There are two basic modes to choose from - Arcade and Simulation - but even in the first one you should be careful. Above all, the few facilitations include cornering assistance, so that the risk of falling off the machine is minimal. The player can choose between three types of races: single, championship and time trial.

Following the example of similar realistic racing games, the authors of the "GP 500" have taken care of considerable differences in driving different machines, of which there are fifteen in total. The player has to determine which type of driving he or she prefers. For example, the Honda NSR 500 is unbeatable on tracks with lots of straights, but it causes a lot of problems on slower tracks with a lot of corners. The performance and design of motorcycles is, of course, in line with reality. Each opponent has a separate AI module, which has a significant impact on their driving style. Some contestants prefer to drive sharply, while others are calmly waiting for their opponents' mistakes. Just like in reality, computer riders make numerous (in this case deliberate) mistakes.

The game's visual setting is similar in level to another title produced by Microprose - "Grand Prix 2". This means that particular emphasis has been placed on the appearance of the track and the machines on it, while the environment is much worse.

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Last updated on August 14, 2015