As real as it gets.
We can't begin to
describe the hours we wasted as whipper-snappers desperately
squeezing those tint plastic controllers, hoping that our Scalextric
cars wouldn't fly off the track on the next corner. Scalextric was
great, but lets be honest, it was less than realistic, and storing
all that bulky track was a pain in the bum. Back then we dreamed of a
racing game that was quick to set up, realistic in all the details,
and that didn't require a corner of the shed all to it self. Fast
forward 20 years, and our dreams have become reality. We review RealFX Racing.
Here are your headlines: this is a physical racing game involving actual toy cars and RC controllers. You set up the track, the cars go on, then you race around. Sounds simple enough, and not that much different to the aforementioned Scalextric. But... these cars are completely wireless, as are the controllers, and the track is made from super-thin plastic and completely slot-less. Yes, the cars can drive anywhere on the track.
So, how isn't this just
a simple case of small radio-controlled cars? Well, the cars, and the
controllers, are exceptionally smart. Instead of just dropping the
cars onto the track and hitting the accelerator, you get to pick what
kind of race you would like. Should you wish to race in the tradition
of the hallowed Scalextric, you can simply pull on the trigger and
let the car guide itself around the track, with you worrying only
about speed. The sensors in the car can 'see' the track, and know
when a bend is coming. This was a great way to get acquainted with
the set-up (and also a remarkable thing to see the cars steer
themselves about!).
Should you fancy
something a bit more challenging you can select Championship mode,
which is reliant on you steering the car yourself. Fortunately this
is a pretty intuitive thing thanks to the layout of the controller.
The steering wheel (which also doubles as the menu selector when
deciding on racing mode) is on the side, allowing for an easy grip of
both the underside accelerator and the top-side function buttons.
Speaking of which...
The virtual fun to be
had with Real FX Racing goes beyond keeping to the track. Should you
wish, it is possible to set hazards during a race (such as an oil
spill), which can be used either as random occurrences, or as weapons
against your opponents. You can also decide to include mandatory pit
stops, where your car will be forced to pull into the special pit
section of track.
Real FX Racing is so
much fun its hard to fully describe. The winning formula here is the
wealth of features and modes of the racing set, making it several
different games in one. The track slots together in minutes and
(crucially) can be flat-packed away, taking up no more space than a
coffee table book. We also loved that, even with all the extra
features switched off and the track put away, Real FX Racing includes
two very good wireless-controlled cars which, when in RC mode, are
great to drive around freestyle.
After finally playing
with Real FX Racing it is easy to see why the Kickstarter campaign
was so successful. This is a great toy for kids of all ages and is
sure to be a big winner come Christmas.
£49.99
Available from www.amazon.co.uk