APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

[TCrouch]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

I only raced through the first series of races, but I didn't have that problem at all. I raced from hood cam and won most of the races by 4+ seconds on default settings, so I didn't see catch up logic or the CPU drivers acting stupid.

[brendanrfoley]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

Okay, I picked this one up yesterday, and after about 24 hours of owning the game (around three to four actually playing), here are some thoughts:

The driving model is predominantly "arcade," meaning that the game is pretty easy to pick up and play. Skids are controlled very easily, making sharp turns simple to navigate, much easier than a true sim and a little easier than the great and realistic grip model seen in Project Gotham Racing. Driving itself is a hoot, and the computer is a pretty awesome opponent.

The game does not allow itself to follow other cars in the same "train" as GT, nor is it as spontaneous as PG. A fine mix between seeking the driving line( a la GT) and driving with reckless abandon (a la PG), the CPU will put up a fight, pass other drivers controlled by the AI, and make mistakes. Nothing like taking the lead after watching the #2 car take a turn too fast.

What the CPU AI does include, which may turn off some, is rubber band AI. Get too far back, and the other cars will becomes easier to catch up to. Get too far ahead, and you'll start to see the CPU gain.

What does this accomplish? Plenty. Races are tight, close, and palm sweatingly good. Don't worry though, if you drive flawlessly, you will win. The AI is by no means cheap. Keep in mind that this is an arcade racer, and races are designed to be close. If you can accept that fact, you'll have no problems enjoying races.

As for the CPU bumping into you and causing you to lose speed? Yeah, a little bit, but not nearly as bad as some places have alluded to. There is not a car to car physics model that really allows you to play havoc with the other drivers, such as causing them to spin out as in Gotham. If you try that move - and you'll be tempted as the races are close and hard fought - you'll lose speed. But if you focus on racing the track, you'll be fine and experience no ill effects of being bumped.

What must be mentioned, however, are the astounding visuals. Apex is the prettiest game I have EVER played. The car models are incredible and accurately - make that perfectly - reflect the environment. Neck and neck with another car, I was amazed to see the course accurately reflecting in the cars side view mirrors, real time.

Tracks, road surfaces, everything is bump mapped and gorgeous. Speaking of tracks, their designs are incredible. I've opend roughly 12-15 of the 40+ tracks and every single one is incredibly thoguht out and is full of awesome turns and straight aways.

Apex oozes arcade, balls to the wall atmoshpere as well. As good as Gotham was, the driving environments were dead. Apex has animated bill boards, traffic driving on non raceable roads in the distance, planes, helicopters, releasing balloons, birds, waterfalls, water fountains, everything. Tremendous detail and superbly fluid.

Some have made mention of the game "only" running at 30 fps. Do not owrry, however, it is smooth and fast, and once you start building cars which race at higher speeds, the game is as smooth as silk.

The aural experience can be summed up in one way: Use your own soundtrack. The game supplied music is quite avergae, especially given the care and detail seen throughout the rest of the product. But luckily, given the soundtrack feature, I've been racing to Alice in chains and Metallica and loving every moment of it.

In all, APex is a lot of fun. I'm not sure where it ranks in the halls of racing game history - if it does at all - but be rest assured it is worth every bit of the 49.99 you'll pay. Fun, fast, easy to play but difficult to master, Apex has a lot going for it.

In addition to just how much fun it is, it is also the prettiest game I've ever seen - any console, any genre. A worthy addition to my library, I really suggest racing fans try it out.

[brendanrfoley]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

Okay, I picked this one up yesterday, and after about 24 hours of owning the game (around three to four actually playing), here are some thoughts:

The driving model is predominantly "arcade," meaning that the game is pretty easy to pick up and play. Skids are controlled very easily, making sharp turns simple to navigate, much easier than a true sim and a little easier than the great and realistic grip model seen in Project Gotham Racing. Driving itself is a hoot, and the computer is a pretty awesome opponent.

The game does not allow itself to follow other cars in the same "train" as GT, nor is it as spontaneous as PG. A fine mix between seeking the driving line( a la GT) and driving with reckless abandon (a la PG), the CPU will put up a fight, pass other drivers controlled by the AI, and make mistakes. Nothing like taking the lead after watching the #2 car take a turn too fast.

What the CPU AI does include, which may turn off some, is rubber band AI. Get too far back, and the other cars will becomes easier to catch up to. Get too far ahead, and you'll start to see the CPU gain.

What does this accomplish? Plenty. Races are tight, close, and palm sweatingly good. Don't worry though, if you drive flawlessly, you will win. The AI is by no means cheap. Keep in mind that this is an arcade racer, and races are designed to be close. If you can accept that fact, you'll have no problems enjoying races.

As for the CPU bumping into you and causing you to lose speed? Yeah, a little bit, but not nearly as bad as some places have alluded to. There is not a car to car physics model that really allows you to play havoc with the other drivers, such as causing them to spin out as in Gotham. If you try that move - and you'll be tempted as the races are close and hard fought - you'll lose speed. But if you focus on racing the track, you'll be fine and experience no ill effects of being bumped.

What must be mentioned, however, are the astounding visuals. Apex is the prettiest game I have EVER played. The car models are incredible and accurately - make that perfectly - reflect the environment. Neck and neck with another car, I was amazed to see the course accurately reflecting in the cars side view mirrors, real time.

Tracks, road surfaces, everything is bump mapped and gorgeous. Speaking of tracks, their designs are incredible. I've opend roughly 12-15 of the 40+ tracks and every single one is incredibly thoguht out and is full of awesome turns and straight aways.

Apex oozes arcade, balls to the wall atmoshpere as well. As good as Gotham was, the driving environments were dead. Apex has animated bill boards, traffic driving on non raceable roads in the distance, planes, helicopters, releasing balloons, birds, waterfalls, water fountains, everything. Tremendous detail and superbly fluid.

Some have made mention of the game "only" running at 30 fps. Do not owrry, however, it is smooth and fast, and once you start building cars which race at higher speeds, the game is as smooth as silk.

The aural experience can be summed up in one way: Use your own soundtrack. The game supplied music is quite avergae, especially given the care and detail seen throughout the rest of the product. But luckily, given the soundtrack feature, I've been racing to Alice in chains and Metallica and loving every moment of it.

In all, APex is a lot of fun. I'm not sure where it ranks in the halls of racing game history - if it does at all - but be rest assured it is worth every bit of the 49.99 you'll pay. Fun, fast, easy to play but difficult to master, Apex has a lot going for it.

In addition to just how much fun it is, it is also the prettiest game I've ever seen - any console, any genre. A worthy addition to my library, I really suggest racing fans try it out.

[TCrouch]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

I agree with almost everything I just read there.

Fun for what it is.

[TCrouch]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

I agree with almost everything I just read there.

Fun for what it is.

[Badgun]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

brendan,
You absolutely took the words right out of my mouth! Well said, my friend!

[Badgun]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

brendan,
You absolutely took the words right out of my mouth! Well said, my friend!

[pk500]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

My impressions of Apex:

I've played Apex for more than two hours after buying it last night, and let's just say I'm underwhelmed.

I'm through the first 14 races of the Dream Mode and ran a handful of Arcade Mode races, and this game is pretty dull so far, to be honest.

The graphics are lovely, with nice lighting effects, and the racing model is less drone-like than I expected. The course design also is outstanding, as others have posted. Proper racing courses in all areas -- speedways, city circuits, mountain courses and true road racing circuits.

But the driving and grip models are dull, dull, dull.

When driving cars in Apex, so far I've never had the feeling that I really need to "hustle" the car. When I say "hustle," I've never really felt that I need to plan turns in advance, thinking, 'OK, that sweeping right is coming up, how am I going to handle it?' So far, Apex just has a point-and-shoot feel to it where I'm just steering the car, not really driving it. I've never needed to practice brake-throttle modulation at all, even with a Toyota GT-One sports prototype. It's brake-on, brake-off, point the car down the track. Not very exciting.

Plus the grip model is way too predictable. I never feel like I'm going to lose the car, even when in a slide. The slides are so predictable and so easy to control that they have created no anxiety so far.

Now, some may read this and think, 'PK, you f*cking moron -- this is an arcade driving game.' True. But so is Project Gotham, and it has a much greater pucker factor than this game at the same stage of progress that I've reached in Apex. Plus sliding does create some anxious moments in that Project Gotham, and you really need to hustle the car in most races.

Catch-up logic is evident in Apex, as I was warned. But it's evident in a very nasty way that I didn't expect.

Yes, trailing cars will gain on you toward the end of a race to keep competition close. But you will win if you drive well, so I have no problem with that kind of catch-up logic.

But I do have a BIG problem with the catch-up logic I've seen that has benefited me after a crash. Yep, I've [censored] up a few times, hitting barriers or going off the road, yet I seem to catch the field with too much ease and haste. I don't always win, but I do get back into the pack too quickly after mistakes.

That, my friends, is bull****. I didn't expect that would be in this game.

I have a quick question about Apex from those who have progressed further than me: Can you only drive the licensed cars -- and there are some sweet rides available -- in the Arcade Mode? Can I only drive my factory's car in the Dream Mode? If so, I can't see myself suffering through the dull driving and grip mode, along with the back-***-ward catch-up AI, for a ton of races just so I can build more cars from my Keelbry factory. I would do it if I could drive the Pratt & Miller Corvette C5-R, Toyota GT-One and the slew of other cool cars in the Arcade Mode.

Apex is going back to EB so I can get Colin McRae Rally 3. It's not worth $50. Maybe $20 or $30, but not $50. It's a hum-drum, run-of-the-mill racer with pretty graphics.

Project Gotham still feels like a superior arcade racing game that's retailing new for $30 less.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: APEX - Anybody Have It Yet???

My impressions of Apex:

I've played Apex for more than two hours after buying it last night, and let's just say I'm underwhelmed.

I'm through the first 14 races of the Dream Mode and ran a handful of Arcade Mode races, and this game is pretty dull so far, to be honest.

The graphics are lovely, with nice lighting effects, and the racing model is less drone-like than I expected. The course design also is outstanding, as others have posted. Proper racing courses in all areas -- speedways, city circuits, mountain courses and true road racing circuits.

But the driving and grip models are dull, dull, dull.

When driving cars in Apex, so far I've never had the feeling that I really need to "hustle" the car. When I say "hustle," I've never really felt that I need to plan turns in advance, thinking, 'OK, that sweeping right is coming up, how am I going to handle it?' So far, Apex just has a point-and-shoot feel to it where I'm just steering the car, not really driving it. I've never needed to practice brake-throttle modulation at all, even with a Toyota GT-One sports prototype. It's brake-on, brake-off, point the car down the track. Not very exciting.

Plus the grip model is way too predictable. I never feel like I'm going to lose the car, even when in a slide. The slides are so predictable and so easy to control that they have created no anxiety so far.

Now, some may read this and think, 'PK, you f*cking moron -- this is an arcade driving game.' True. But so is Project Gotham, and it has a much greater pucker factor than this game at the same stage of progress that I've reached in Apex. Plus sliding does create some anxious moments in that Project Gotham, and you really need to hustle the car in most races.

Catch-up logic is evident in Apex, as I was warned. But it's evident in a very nasty way that I didn't expect.

Yes, trailing cars will gain on you toward the end of a race to keep competition close. But you will win if you drive well, so I have no problem with that kind of catch-up logic.

But I do have a BIG problem with the catch-up logic I've seen that has benefited me after a crash. Yep, I've [censored] up a few times, hitting barriers or going off the road, yet I seem to catch the field with too much ease and haste. I don't always win, but I do get back into the pack too quickly after mistakes.

That, my friends, is bull****. I didn't expect that would be in this game.

I have a quick question about Apex from those who have progressed further than me: Can you only drive the licensed cars -- and there are some sweet rides available -- in the Arcade Mode? Can I only drive my factory's car in the Dream Mode? If so, I can't see myself suffering through the dull driving and grip mode, along with the back-***-ward catch-up AI, for a ton of races just so I can build more cars from my Keelbry factory. I would do it if I could drive the Pratt & Miller Corvette C5-R, Toyota GT-One and the slew of other cool cars in the Arcade Mode.

Apex is going back to EB so I can get Colin McRae Rally 3. It's not worth $50. Maybe $20 or $30, but not $50. It's a hum-drum, run-of-the-mill racer with pretty graphics.

Project Gotham still feels like a superior arcade racing game that's retailing new for $30 less.

Take care,
PK