Originally released as an arcade cabinet, Konami’s racer stood out with its bright visuals and a big plastic handbrake to yank as you cornered. It also included an unusual range of small fun cars, rather than the usual supercharged speedsters.
Most innovative, though was its free roaming environment, filled with short cuts, something unheard of in driving games at the time. You don’t need cars bristling with cylinder heads or pumped full of nitrous to make an exciting racing game. GTi Club+ (based on a cult classic arcade machine) instead lobs players the keys to a collection of compact but character filled cars, including the Mini Cooper and Renault 5 Turbo.
Like a sun-kissed Italian Job, racers are a mad dash through the narrow streets and mountains passes of a fictional Monte Carlo-esque Cote d’Azur town. Expect plenty of shortcuts and a few stiff Jason Bourne-style yanks on the handbrake to negotiate. And if you’re not sold yet, then how about the fact that Konami has left PS3 development duties in the capable hands of Sumo Digital, famous for its pitch perfect port of Outrun 2? Best of all, rather than a straight arcade translation, GTi Club+ takes advantages of PS3’s modern capabilities.
It’ll be a PSN download, featuring eight way multiplayer, 720p visuals running at 60 frames per seconds and Playstation Eye Support. You will be able to take pictures of yourself ‘happy’. ‘sad’, or ‘ absolutely furious’ to flash up an opponents’ screens when you overtake or crash in an online race. Sounds like a perfect formula for knockout multiplayer fun, and for $9.99, you shouldn’t have trouble persuading your mates to get in an action as well.
[via IGN]
