G1 Jockey 3

The sound has been likened to thunder ­ hooves rending the ground as jockeys guide thoroughbreds in an amazing test of strength, speed and stamina.

It has been called the sport of kings, has captured the imaginations of millions and has been an economical institution for a long time. But as far as a video game is concerned, how can horse racing really translate to a game platform?

Koei seems to have found a way. G1 Jockey 3 combines superb graphical elements with solid racing action for the PlayStation2 platform.

G1 Jockey 3 is already in active release in Japan, having hit the store shelves in December 2002. The game has 10 racetracks (including California, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisiana, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Ontario) with 35 courses, including a steeplechase course, more than 100 rival jockeys, 4,000 playable horses with unique characteristics, changing weather and track conditions, steward’s inquiries, two-player split-screen racing and training modes.

This is a game that isn’t just about horse racing. You have to pick the right mount for the race, and there is training that must be done. The right jockey will also make a difference. If you have a stable of horses, you must pay attention to riding points, which are necessary for negotiating for better horses, workouts and proposing races.

The control elements of the game have been wonderfully tuned so that players won’t be hunting all over the controller for the right button combination. The directional pad as well as the control hot keys (such as the X and the O buttons) are used in a logical fashion. For example, the triangle button drives the horse while the X button pulls it back a bit. L2 and R2 change lead legs on the horses, which is of tremendous value when going into the corners.

The game music is overdone elevator music. The intent was, evidently, to keep it light with a grand hint of the majestic. What has been delivered is music that is mostly of the arcade nature and should be turned off. The ambient track noises are average and the race noises are more or less what one would expect.

The graphical elements are well done, but also border on being arcade-like. The environments are lush and bright, and while the camera is static (save when going to rear look mode) and locked in the third-person view, the game still manages to look very good. The animations are well done and while you will have to use intelligence in the race (you can’t just drive the horse relentlessly or you can say goodbye to the pack), there is not much steering involved here.

G1 Jockey 3 is a game that seems to have some strong ties to the arcade look and sound, but manages to overcome that with some depth of gameplay. Training, negotiating and racing go hand-in-hand here, and with solid graphical elements in support, this is a racing game that appears headed down the track to immersive fun.